NL May Be Out of Its League

"We talk about it a lot," the Orioles' Brian Roberts said. "Look at the Tigers, Indians, White Sox, Blue Jays. It's unbelievable the arms that they run out there every day. I don't think too many people enjoy facing our guys either."

And what about the NL? True, two of the game's "big arms" -- Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett -- went to the AL either via trade or free agency over the winter. But the senior circuit's problems may be more systemic.

"Veteran pitchers like to pitch in the National League where they don't have to face the designated hitter, so they migrate over there," Baltimore Manager Sam Perlozzo said.

"Where did Roger Clemens go when he left the Yankees?" Hall of Famer Jim Palmer said. "To the National League and, his first year, his ERA was 1.87. Old pitchers aren't dumb."

Look at a typical AL team, like the Orioles. You'll see 6-foot-7 Daniel Cabrera, who sometimes throws 101 mph, a 24-year-old closer named Chris Ray who has hit 98 and, until this week, the rookie phenom for the future, lef-thander Adam Loewen, who's 6-5 and weighs 235 pounds. At 27, emerging ace Erik Bedard is practically an old-timer.

"I like the American League style of ball better. It's survival of the fittest. You never get a breather in any lineup," said Orioles reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who throws 96 and has pitched in both leagues. "In the National League, they play for one run more -- pinch hitters, guys who can bunt, hit-and-run. In this league, look down the bench. There's nothing but bangers."

On the NL side of the coin, just look at the starting rotation of the Mets, the league's best team so far. Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez, Steve Trachsel and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez have gloves older than most of the Tigers' staff. When Manuel is asked the best pitch of the majority of the pitchers on his Phils staff, he says, "Probably the change-up."

The Nats illustrate this embarrassing NL tendency to pick up crafty pitchers with limited stuff or stamina that might not survive in the AL. Washington's rotation was stress tested in Fenway Park last week. Livan Hernandez, Tony Armas Jr. and Shawn Hill lasted 11 innings and allowed 18 runs on 28 hits. The three managed to strike out a total of two Red Sox hitters.

When a player is extraordinarily hot, veterans say, "He belongs in a higher league." Now there may be one. Unfortunately for the National League, it's the American League.