On the Mets beat

Billy Wagner is never at a loss for words, but he wore his feelings on the front of his blue T-shirt after last night's 8-2 win over the Phillies. "Go Big Pelf" was the message, in large white letters, and the Mets were happy to get a boost from him in his first -- albeit delayed -- start of 2008.

It was only five innings, and the Phillies took the heat off Pelfrey by handing the Mets six unearned runs, but who's complaining? With Pedro Martinez unable to pitch until mid-May because of a strained left hamstring, and Orlando Hernandez out indefinitely with a tendon strain in that mangled right foot of his, the Mets are hurting for starters.

That's why general manager Omar Minaya placed another call to the agent for Claudio Vargas last night in an effort to get the free-agent righthander to Port St. Lucie ASAP. Vargas isn't the second coming of Johan Santana, so don't expect any quick fixes here, but at least he's an experienced major-league pitcher, even if the Brewers discarded him at the end of spring training.

As for non-pitching related injuries, it seems that Luis Castillo needs a little extra time to get his right knee defrosted after the aching joint forced him out of Tuesday's opener and had him on the bench again last night.With temperatures expected to climb to 70 degrees today, maybe that will help in his recovery.

And guess what? The Phillies aren't perfect either, as my colleague Ken Davidoff points out this morning. They can kick balls around, too, and they get hurt just like everyone else. One key injury -- in this case Jimmy Rollins -- and the Mets can start a winning streak of their own.