Hey, Billy... Shhh!

Yeah, Billy Wagner is at it again. When asked about the Phillies by a reporter from Sports Illustrated, ol' Billy just couldn't resist. Here are some of the notable quotes:

Comparing the Mets to the Phillies:
"That team has as much talent as this one. But there's something lacking there... "

On the lack of team leadership:
"Nobody ever gets upset. If somebody does, he's a big mouth and nobody likes him. They take it as, 'I did my best. I'm going home.' There's nobody screaming, "Hey, we're better than this!'"

On the potential of Bobby Abreu going to the Yankees:
"I don't think he'd mind [going to the Yankees]. Bobby Abreu's a good guy, but he's not a vocal leader. The one thing you have to know here (in New York) is, you have to come every day. He's got a real laid-back attitude."

On Brett Myers:
"As far as stuff, he's a No. 1. But mentally, he's a No. 4."

Much to the credit of the Phillies, they didn't take the bait. Quietly, they probably reacted the same way as everyone else when they were alerted to Big-mouth Billy's latest salvo, which is: "Yawn... hey, did you see what Billy said? Man, he really needs attention, huh? Do you want to get some lunch?

The Phillies are not a threat to the Mets. They are 12 1/2 games out of first place, a game-and-a-half away from falling into last place, and it isn't even the All-Star Break yet. The Phillies should be in Wagner's rearview mirror, especially since the Mets gave him the contract he wanted.

Nevertheless, Wagner certainly says a lot about the Phillies for a guy who only saved 59 games in two seasons and ranks behind Ricky Bottalico and just ahead of Al Holland on the team's all-time saves list.

Hey, he was no Jose Mesa.

Kidding aside, here's the link to the Sports Illustrated story. On another SI-related factoid, writer Gary Smith stopped by the press box during Thursday night's game against the Padres.