-Been pretty busy the past couple of days covering Staten Island Yankee games. On the subject itself, it sure is fun to cover minor league baseball. I’ve been doing it all summer and it’s been a blast! It’s so refreshing to watch first-year players develop before your eyes. Most of these guys who have the defending NY-Penn League champion Baby Bombers in first three games up on the Cyclones were just drafted this past June. It’s impressive to see the kind of chemistry they have developed so far. With less than three weeks to go in the season, they have a 35-22 record and look on course for another postseason. Could a fourth championship be coming here? It’s definitely a possibility with emerging stars such as Mitch Hilligoss, Wilmer Pino and Colin Curtis among a solid group which pitches and usually fields well- plus gets timely hits. Lately, walkoff wins have become more common invoking pleasant memories of last year’s dramatic win over Auburn to capture their third championship in six years. Aside from enjoying the time covering them, it’s also been a pleasure to deal with these players before and after games. Whether it’s for a game story or special feature, they have been very cooperative. If only every big name athlete was that way. It should be an exciting finish for Staten Island and help make up for Mid Island’s disappointing LLWS.

-As Kyle Farnsworth finishes off the hapless Red Sox (Sahhhhhxxx) in this unpredictable five-game Yankee sweep up at Fenway, you have to wonder if those Boston faithful that booed Johnny Damon wish he was still their leadoff hitter starring for the self-proclaimed Idiots. Can anyone say 1978?

-A lot can be said about this Yankee weekend which sent the fading Sox 6.5 out of the division and an alarming 4.5 behind the wild card-leading White Sox. From how well Damon performed against his ex-team to how unbelievable Bobby Abreu was in this series to the incredible clutchness of Derek Jeter in two big spots to Mo Rivera getting out of a tough jam Sunday night to Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada’s big blasts. To A-Rod doing his part and playing exceptional D Monday to help Cory Lidle get the win. To the continued emergence of Robinson Cano. To rookie Melky Cabrera’s incredible poise. You can go on and on. This was a special four days for one team and a nightmare for the other who couldn’t get any help from their beleaguered pen aside from a brave two inning performance by star rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon only to fall short of getting his team a much needed win. Of course, it would also be fair to point out that with the Sox without emotional leader Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon, Tim Wakefield plus even Matt Clement and Keith Foulke, the Yankees should’ve take this series and ultimately did in convincing fashion by outscoring their biggest rivals 49-26 and posting a respectable 3.60 ERA in sharp contrast to Boston’s which exceeded 11.00. We like Boston GM Theo Epstein a lot but does he still think his team couldn’t use a lefty out of that pen or an upgrade? Of course, a lot of people will write off the Sox after this Boston Massacre Part II. But keep in mind that they will get some of those key players back and still have six weeks to make up ground and reach the postseason. Plus there’s also that four-game series at Yankee Stadium in September. We wouldn’t count them out.

-Whatever happened to Josh Beckett?

-The Mets finally honored their 1986 championship team this past weekend against Colorado. From what little we read, it sounded like it was a nice tribute to a truly amazing team that brought tons of excitement on and off the field. What I remember most as a kid watching was that incredible Game 6 ninth inning comeback against the Astros and then Billy Hatcher tying it up late in extras before the Mets finally pushed in front again and Jesse Orosco got the last out. Of course, another infamous Game 6 also stands out from that incredible run. Who could forget seeing them down to their final strike a couple of times but then team leader Gary Carter started that miraculous comeback which ended with Mookie Wilson’s grounder going through Bill Buckner’s glove into the outfield allowing a disbelieved and jubilant Ray Knight to score the winning run which forced that Game 7 that you knew they weren’t going to lose. Even if they did have to comeback from three down late before that lasting image of Orosco fanning Marty Barrett is replayed.

They were that kind of team. Just amazing to watch. Fun. Who didn’t love watching Lenny Dykstra at bat, on the bases or in the field? Or any Darryl (Darrrrrrrryyylll) Strawberry at bat where you knew if you missed a pitch, you might miss a majestic home run. That ball in old Olympic Stadium still hasn’t landed all these years later. Or the superb first baseman and veteran presence Keith Hernandez playing the kind of ball that won in the field and at the plate. Or Dwight “Doc” Gooden toeing the rubber with that electric fastball and nasty curve which kept hitters off balance. Or Wally Backman blowing bubbles and playing a gritty second base and doing the little things which teams need to win. Or team comic and co-closer Roger McDowell playing club pranks and also going out there and pitching well in tough spots. Or El Sid Fernandez throwing that blazing fastball and curve- giving them and that crowd the kind of spark they needed to comeback in that Game 6. Or the underappreciated Ron Darling or Bobby Ojeda taking the mound and just getting the job done. Plus a talented rookie like Kevin Mitchell off the bench who could deliver when needed.

There were a lot of things we liked about that team. The closeness they had. The passion they played with. The heart and resilience they exhibited. Everything. Aside from all that, I remember two things the most. Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully’s dramatic call of Wilson’s ground ball with Knight coming around to score and that diehard Mets lady behind the plate as that unbelievable 10th inning rally was taking place. During the whole thing, she kept waving her hands back and forth. It’s probably been discussed over a 1,000 times. As a kid, sometimes you pick up on stuff like that and think that’s the good luck charm. As it turned out for those special Mets, it was. All this from a team that just wouldn’t give up until they were champions of baseball. Well earned!

-The only thing missing was the now jailed Gooden. It really is ashame what’s happened to his life. He went from being possibly the greatest pitcher of his time (could’ve been) to battling cocaine and alcohol- hitting rock bottom. It really is sad to see and we sure hope there is a happy ending to this story. His buddy Strawberry is a perfect example. He went through the same stuff but is doing better these days. Hopefully, that continues allowing him to live a long time.

-So is Andy Roddick really back after winning his first title this year at Cincinnati this past weekend over Juan Carlos Ferrero- the same man he beat in 2003 for his only Grand Slam title here in Flushing, New York? Only time will tell a couple of weeks from now at the U.S. Open.

-Is Kevin Barlow really supposed to solve the Jets’ problems at running back?

-Is Phil Mickelson still in the same league as Tiger Woods? Just wondering.

-It’s fun to listen to these Giants football ads on WFAN where they replay a Tiki Barber 2005 highlight with popular radio play-by-play man Bob Papa going nuts. But as much as I like it as a Big Blue supporter, I know this might sound crazy. But wouldn’t a replay of Papa’s Jay Feely call where he missed yet another field goal at Seattle have been better just for amusement purposes?!?!?!?!?!

-It’s too bad that Tom Glavine’s season could be done due to possible blood clots. Still, knowing this year’s Mets team, they’re capable of overcoming this.