These are a few of the things floating around my head as a new week begins: 

1.How if you’re the Mets do you lose all four games to the hapless Padres in San Diego? They’d entered playing a better brand of ball taking their last three series and starting to look like the ballclub many expected them to be. Then, somehow they lost not one, not two but three consecutive 2-1 games to a team which had a brutal record in one-run games. To top it off, closer Billy Wagner couldn’t hold a two-run lead serving up a two out pinch hit three-run jack to veteran Tony Clark in the eighth which made San Diego an 8-6 winner sending the Amazin’s reeling back to Shea two under .500 (30-32). Now instead of building on two of three at San Fran, they trail the red hot Phillies by seven and a half. The Phils just got done sweeping the Braves to increase their lead to three and a half over second place Florida with a three-game series beginning tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Mets will try to rebound when they return to Shea Tuesday and play host to struggling NL West leader Arizona. They could use some home cooking to get this turned around.

2.He did pitch into the fifth yesterday and threw a much better ratio tossing 53 of 78 for strikes but I still feel this Joba Chamberlain move to the rotation is all wrong. The Yankee pen is just not equipped for it and what happens when Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes return?

3.It’s amazing to think that suddenly Jason Giambi has rediscovered his stroke leading the Pinstripes with 14 dingers including a go-ahead in their 6-3 win over the Royals. Where would they be without the rejuvenated first base slugger? Ditto Johnny Damon who has been unbelievable lately.

4.When you look at the Mets’ inconsistency, you no longer can say that it’s Jose Reyes who isn’t performing. The shortstop who bats leadoff has done his part heating up for the Queens club frequently hitting and getting on base. He’s hitting for power and stealing bases again. It’s the rest of his teammates which aren’t getting it done. Why is Carlos Beltran so streaky? How come David Wright’s hot streaks come and go?

5.A day later, I’m still extremely disappointed in Roger Federer’s performance against Rafael Nadal. Why was his energy lacking in such a big match? Sure. Nadal was too good. We get that but you don’t normally see him just mail it in. Once the second set was over, I knew where the match was headed. Pretty sad state of affairs for the 12-time slam champion who continues to fail at winning on the red clay at Roland Garros.

6.Who cares what Tiger Woods thinks about the NHL anyway.

7.Nice performance by Team USA finishing in a scoreless tie with Argentina in a men’s soccer exhibition where nearly 80,000 packed Giants Stadium last night. Freddy Adu showed off some serious ballhandling skills generating several great chances late and veteran Landon Donovan was sensational.

8.NL MVP race:

A.Chase Utley, Phillies

B.Chipper Jones, Braves

C.Lance Berkman, Astros

D.Albert Pujols, Cardinals

9.AL MVP race:

A.Josh Hamilton, Rangers

B.Carlos Quentin, White Sox

C.Manny Ramirez, Red Sox

10.Can anyone explain why ESPN/ABC continues to troll out Michael Wilbon for these NBA Finals?!?!?!?!?!

11.You know what’s sad about Hillary Clinton. Even after she finally conceded, the New York Senator still thinks it’s all about her when she was outclassed by Barack Obama.

12.You really could see what all the hype was about with Reds rookie center field prospect Jay Bruce.

13.Belated congrats to Chipper Jones on slugging career home run No.400 a few days prior. To think that the third base Atlanta Brave veteran did it while hitting over .400 is just remarkable. He’s going to miss a few games but when he returns, who doesn’t want to see him take a run at .400 a la John Olerud circa 1993?

14.When Daily News sports columnist Mike Lupica claims that the Yanks haven’t produced a starting stud through their farm system since Andy Pettite and Ron Guidry, I don’t know about you but Chien-Ming Wang isn’t exactly chopped liver. Though he has been struggling lately. Speaking of which, here’s a little trivia for Mr. Lupica. When exactly is the last time the Mets produced a starter out of their system who could win 18-20 games like Wang? You have to go all the way back to Dwight Gooden because they foolishly gave away Scott Kazmir.

15.I don’t know about you but when Chris Bosh buried his Raptors jersey out back in TD BankNorth before Game One of the NBA Finals, I had a good chuckle.

16.Jim McKay came before my time but from everything you read and hear about the legendary former ABC Wide World Of Sports anchor, he had the kind of memorable broadcasting career many could only wish to emulate. From all accounts on his unbelievable humanizing of the awful 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy which saw 11 Israeli athletes murdered by malicious terrorists, you can tell just how much McKay’s chilling details meant to the world of a terrifying ordeal. Watching the video the other day and seeing all the tributes to this man made me realize just how special he was. He’ll be sorely missed.