High & Inside: NL Notes

By Phil Anastasia

Inquirer Staff Writer

Billy, don't be a hero

Lots of folks think the Mets, not the Phillies, are the team to beat in the NL East because of the burgeoning strength of New York's starting rotation.

The Phillies and their fans can hang their hopes on one man: Billy Wagner.

The garrulous lefthander raised concerns anew with his performance in Tuesday night's All-Star Game. Given a chance to nail down the eighth inning with the National League ahead, 3-2, Wagner entered the game with two outs and nobody on base - and left three batters later with the score tied.

"I made good pitches," Wagner said.

Wagner blew six saves in the first half of the season (Related question: How does a closer with six blown saves even make the all-star team?), and his lack of reliability could make things more tragic than magic for the Mets in the final days in Shea Stadium.

New York won nine in a row to end the first half, thanks to a starting rotation that is beginning to look like the best in the league.

The key: the emergence of righthander Mike Pelfrey, New York's No. 1 pick in 2005.

"I really believe Pelfrey can be a No. 1 starter," a scout told the New York Daily News. "He's blowing people away with just his fastball, his four-seamer up in the zone, and his two-seamer that runs so hard down and in on righthanded hitters."

The scout also said New York starters John Maine and Oliver Perez "have the stuff to throw a no-hitter every time out." Add in ace Johan Santana as well as Pedro Martinez, and it's easy to see why the Mets believe they can win the division.

But with Wagner at the back end of the bullpen, the Mets and their fans aren't going to breathe easy.

Central casting

Based on records, the three best teams in the National League reside in the Central Division: Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis.

The Cubs made their big move recently by acquiring pitcher Rich Harden from Oakland, and await the pending return of outfielder Alfonso Soriano from the disabled list. Milwaukee picked up the best player on the market by trading for pitcher CC Sabathia from Cleveland.

St. Louis isn't likely to counter with a similiar stroke, and not only because there really isn't much remaining on the shelf. The Cardinals are counting on the return of former starters Adam Wainwright (finger) and Chris Carpenter (elbow), both of whom are projected to come off the disabled list by August.

Notable

The Diamondbacks yesterday acquired first baseman Tony Clark from San Diego. Clark, 38, spent the previous three seasons in Arizona, serving mostly as a pinch-hitter. . . . Hideo Nomo announced his retirement. The 39-year-old righthander finished with a 123-109 record and a 4.24 ERA in 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Milwaukee, Detroit, Boston, Tampa Bay and Kansas City. The 1995 NL rookie of the year with the Dodgers, Nomo pitched a pair of no-hitters.

Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223

or panastasia@phillynews.com.