It’s deja boo all over again. How does one explain it? Two straight Septembers on the final day against the same opponent at home, the Mets season ended in awful fashion at the hands of the division rival Marlins.

Imagine making more baseball history but only the wrong kind becoming the first ever team to lead their division by at least three and a half games with the same 17 games left only to miss two straight postseasons. How could it happen all over again? Sure. The way it did was very different than last year’s season finale in which the Marlins pummeled Tom Glavine into oblivion routing them 8-1 in a game which was over before you were in your seat.

This time, they got five shutout innings from future free agent Oliver Perez matching zeros with Florida southpaw Scott Olsen. Trouble was this was the same opposing starter they’d banged around in three previous outings to the tune of over a 7.00 ERA. Suddenly, the Mets couldn’t hit him which meant the longer the game remained scoreless, the worse feeling you got. Why couldn’t they use the momentum from one of the greatest games pitched by a Met and jump all over him?

Only this team could not take anything into another do or die situation off a brilliant performance from Johan Santana, who dominated the Marlins on three days rest much the way John Maine flirted with the franchise’s first no-hitter on another Saturday a year ago. Instead, the final regular season game at Shea Stadium soon teased a packed house into Believing’ like the team mantra that it would be different when Carlos Beltran answered Florida’s pair of runs with a two-run home run in the sixth to tie it.

But they were in store for an even more heartbreaking conclusion because thanks to the rain, the Brewers and Cubs were playing at the same time with Chicago holding a 1-0 lead until a seventh inning bases loaded Craig Counsell walk forced in the tying run. Suddenly, you had two teams both tied late with no clue whether one would take the wild card or both would wind up in a one-game playoff which would’ve taken place later today at Shea. Any Met fan after Friday night would’ve signed for that.

However, it just wasn’t meant to be as two eighth innings couldn’t have played out any more different cause while Florida pinch hitter Wes Helms greeted Scott Schoeneweis’ first and only pitch with a leadoff homer and Dan Uggla followed suit taking Luis Ayala deep for a 4-2 lead, there was Milwaukee left field slugger Ryan Braun taking Bob Howry’s first pitch out to left for a go-ahead two-run blast providing ace C.C. Sabathia with a 3-1 lead. Plenty for the rental who like Santana pitched on short rest a third straight time finishing the game for his NL best seventh complete game in 17 starts.

Ironically, Braun’s 37th came about two minutes later fully aware they got help from a Marlin team which once again got the last laugh celebrating for the final time on the Mets’ home field.

Somewhere, Willie Randolph had to be smiling. Though replacement Jerry Manuel certainly did a respectable job turning around a flawed team which somehow wasn’t fixed by Omar Minaya, who’s about to be renewed for the same four years he gave to Luis Castillo, who lost his spot at second to fourth string journeyman Ramon Martinez this weekend.

If you want to blame the Mets pigpen for this, it would be very easy to but what about the offense? Where was it? They did nothing in the series opener following one of the most improbable two out rallies before beating the Cubs. And in a game which Santana had to be near perfect in, New York managed just two runs on six hits stranding 10 while striking out 10 times against opposing starter Ricky Nolasco- one more than their Cy caliber stud had.

You still would’ve believed they could muster more than they came up with on the final Sunday of the season. They would be inspired after such a magnificent performance. Not exactly. If not for Beltran’s 27th, they get blanked on just three more hits with everything on the line.

Sure. They didn’t go quietly putting the tying runners on base before veteran Arthur Rhodes got Carlos Delgado to line out to deep left to end the eighth.

Of course, David Wright made yet another useless weakly popping to second starting off the ninth to boos. Endy Chavez, who made a great diving catch in the seventh robbing Jorge Cantu of a go-ahead double couldn’t come through at the plate bouncing back to ex-Met Matt Lindstrom for the second out. Too bad they didn’t keep him dealing him away for virtually nothing three years ago.

At least one of the few character guys Damion Easley came up and worked a walk to send the tying run Ryan Church to the plate allowing everyone in the place to stand praying for one more Miracle of ‘69. He gave a Lindstrom offering a ride to deep right center but it unfortunately didn’t have enough distance allowing Florida’s Cameron Maybin to get to the edge of the track and squeeze the final out of the Mets season breaking more hearts on a day they closed Shea for good.

Somehow after another bitter conclusion, they pulled off a very nice ceremony honoring heroes of the past which ranged from Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Cleo Jones, Tommy Agee, Mike Piazza, John Franco, Al Leiter, Robin Ventura to ‘86 members Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Bob Ojeda, Gary Carter, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson, Len Dykstra, Wally Backman and the man who closed out the Astros and Red Sox Jesse Orosco, who fans must’ve wished they still had.

What remains are lingering questions as to how the Mets couldn’t deliver one big hit with runners in scoring position going 0-for-11 the entire series. Can anyone explain what happened to leading RBI man Wright who tied one of the all-time great Mets Piazza for a share of the franchise RBI record (124)? Why does the third baseman who’s one of two cornerstones along with Jose Reyes always seem to falter in the clutch? Speaking of the speedy Met shortstop who leads off, he had only a couple of hits in the series and another disappointing final month hitting .243 despite playing much better under Manuel.

Something’s missing which is pretty apparent to everyone except for Minaya and club owner Jeff Wilpon, who seems to believe this team “overachieved” as opposed to last year’s epic collapse.

Wrong. Injuries are part of sports and while they did lose closer Billy Wagner, Maine the final month, Church an extended period due to the team’s mishandling of his second concussion and Pedro Martinez a couple of months, they still had a healthy Santana, Perez and emerging Mike Pelfrey in their rotation along with their top five run producers.

The Yankees had their share of injuries too and didn’t make any excuses for missing their first October in 14 seasons knowing full well they underachieved which wasn’t acceptable.

You try to win with the hand you’re dealt and the fact is that these Mets led the Phillies again with 17 to play but faltered down the stretch due to poor performances against the Braves and Nationals before the final week turned into an emotional rollercoaster alternating wins and losses. Unfortunately, they began Monday with a defeat and were due for a loss yesterday.

When you go out and steal an ace like Santana, there are no more excuses. It shouldn’t have happened again.

Instead, the Mets saw their shadow with the groundhog apparently closing Shea for good.

They’re not even my baseball team. It’s always been known that I root for the other New York team known as the Yankees, who this time weren’t good enough to make October. They just never got untracked and by the time they played their best ball, it was way too late to help the cause.

Sure. It’s nice that they’re still playing hard since they closed Yankee Stadium having taken nine of 10 after last night’s 19-8 drubbing of the archrival Red Sox in Fenway helped insure Tampa Bay’s first ever AL East Division Title. How cool is that? I sure hope the Rays do well in their first ever postseason as Joe Maddon’s gritty ballclub deserves all the kudos they get! More than you can say for Joe Girardi’s first season as Yankee skipper and his rocky relationship with the press which he caused by purposely lying about some of his players’ health status.

While the circus will be officially letting out of the Bronx Zoo Monday after a great 13-year ride, that other New York team is driving their fans nuts wondering if they’ll somehow make the playoffs or if it will be another September to forget. The last three days still can’t be explained unless you’re a Met fan.

I’ve never really cared one way or another since I was a little kid rooting for the 1986 Amazin’ Mets take this city on a wild ride nobody will ever forget. If you were around, you know where you were the day Bill Buckner let Mookie Wilson’s little trickler as legendary announcer Vince Scully called it get through his legs into right field allowing a disbelieving Ray Knight to score the winning run in one of the greatest two out rallies in World Series history. I can still see the WS MVP’s hands on his helmet. It’s just one of those defining moments which stands out along with all the unbelievable two strike two out base hits Davey Johnson’s destined ballclub strung together to shock the Red Sox and NBC.

Twenty two years later, here is another resilient exciting gritty bunch facing possible elimination from postseason contention today with their bread and butter ace Johan Santana taking the ball on three days rest against a Marlins team who openly has stated they want to end their season just like last year. The question is will the heavy rain forecast for today’s game at Shea delay making baseball’s most schizo fanbase wait even longer?

In such a topsy turvy roller coaster ride of emotions since the personable Jerry Manuel took over for Willie Randolph in June, why not? What’s another 24 hours for these Met fans who are living and dying with every pitch? The dying of course should be underlined considering the kind of stinging losses their team has inflicted making something which seemed so promising a week prior look so dire because now the Mets need help from Lou Piniella’s Cubs, who are getting ready for October resting guys in Milwaukee this weekend.

Not only must Santana deliver another big performance on short rest for just the second time in his career but his team will be curiously watching the scoreboard hoping for Cubbies to cross home plate against Ben Sheets, who’s taking the ball despite questions about his arm in hopes of getting the Brewers to their first serious baseball in 26 years.

The Mets need a win and a Brewer loss to at least have destiny in their own hands for Sunday’s final scheduled regular season games. Somehow, they want to come out with two wins and hope Milwaukee splits so there’s at least a one-game playoff to be played in Queens due to New York winning the coin flip.

Cause at the moment, the NL East looks lost as the Phillies have played tremendous down the stretch winning 11 of 14 thanks in large part to NL MVP candidate Ryan Howard, who slugged a three-run homer and had an RBI double knocking in half in their 8-4 win over the majors worst team the Nationals. The same one which took the first two drawing a split of four against those Mets last week when things looked much more hopeful. Then, the division was realistic. Now, they’re two behind with two to play and the Phillies’ Magic No. is down to one. So, one win or a Met defeat will seal a second consecutive NL East to Charlie Manuel’s bunch.

How did the Amazin’s get into this pickle? Well, losing two to Washington and two of three to the hated Braves in Atlanta wasn’t exactly the recipe. It still pales in comparison to what’s taken place this week. Even if you were the most optimistic Met fan, you didn’t want to see the Cubs at Shea for four because that’s how good they really are. Piniella sat out star players in every game and still came away with a split.

Santana of course won his game tossing a career high 125 pitches in eight frames fanning 10 Tuesday to even up the series. Everyone knows what happened the next night where this team suffered their most excruciating loss of the year blowing so many golden opportunities to win the game in one of those final at bats. If only David Wright didn’t chase ball four with bright eyed rookie Daniel Murphy 90 feet away with nobody out. If only the bad Oliver Perez didn’t show up spoiling Carlos Delgado’s grand slam for what should’ve been a win. If. A word which might be repeated often by a frustrated fanbase dying to see their team come through erasing last year’s bitter memories.

Such a defeat had fans exasperated fearing the worst even leaving NY SportsDay colleague Joe McDonald to declare the Met season finished.

But with this team, you knew better. Under Manuel, despite not having any pen to speak of with no Billy Wagner, this team has always responded well to adversity. They showed plenty of heart Thursday never giving up coming back from three down against the Cubs with the kinda improbable two out eighth inning rally which made even this guy think maybe they’re destined for special things. How could one not when Carlos Beltran beat out an infield hit and then Ryan Church followed with another hit to keep it going?

Then, it was little used reserve second baseman Ramon Martinez who is of no relation to Pedro’s older brother and former Dodger delivering the big hit getting his desperate team a run closer. By now as I was driving home from a meaningless Lightning-Rangers exhibition game, I knew third string catcher Robinson Cancel would somehow come through because if Martinez, who entered with one hit the entire year could get a hit, so too would another journeyman delivering a tying single but not without dramatics. Church was a dead duck but even without sliding, he somehow eluded the tag touching home plate to miraculously tie the game 6-6.

Howie Rose’s excitement on WFAN was at a decibel level. You could feel the little kid in him coming out. Why not? This Met team has been fun to watch even for opposing fans. In the ninth, it didn’t matter that Murphy missed a sign bunting foul for strike three with Jose Reyes on first. The lightning rod of the Met offense swiped second a batter later and would come around to score three batters later when Carlos Beltran walked off after Piniella intentionally walked Delgado putting two runners on. It didn’t matter if Wright again came up small striking out because Beltran was the hero allowing his team to celebrate along with the 20,000 loyal fans who remained despite lots of wind swept rain.

There were the Mets saving their season because the Brewers a few minutes later responded with Ryan Braun’s first career grand slam in the 10th sweeping the Pirates to keep pace. You had to feel good though because they were still tied for the wild card and only a game behind the Phils, who dropped two of three to Atlanta.

Then came last night where the Marlins immediately scored a pair of runs off Mike Pelfrey beating him for the fourth time this season by a count of 6-1. The troubling aspect was it looked too easy despite all the runners the Mets left on base the first few innings against rookie Chris Volstad. They just couldn’t muster up enough energy to carry the momentum from such a magical come from behind win.

Why not? Because this is who these Mets are this season. The weirdest team in baseball. Where one day they look like a serious contender who just won’t die. And then the next, they invent tough ways to lose or lay a proverbial egg like last night putting their season on the brink with the Brewers winning a fifth straight 5-1 over the Cubs and the Phils taking care of business.

So, do they have another miracle in them? It’s not entirely up to them but you can bet they’ll try their best to take Met fans home.

Hopefully not for good.

-The Met bats finally awakened tonight in the nation’s cap slugging four home runs including a pair from Carlos Beltran with his solo shot late proving large because no lead is ever safe with that pigpen. A game they led 8-2 suddenly became 8-5 on an Elijah Dukes two-run shot in the Nats’ seventh. Beltran responded with his 26th restoring order. He quietly has put together a good final two months and is up to 106 RBI’s.

Still, any Amazin fan knew the game wasn’t over when the ninth rolled around. Who exactly can Jerry Manuel trust to finish games at this point? The luster has come off waiver pickup Luis Ayala. So, he trotted out Joe Smith, who proceeded to put the first two on thanks to a David Wright error and a walk. Then after Pedro Feliciano got two straight, he allowed a two-run single to Wil Nieves making things a little too close for comfort forcing Manuel to opt for the team’s eighth pitcher of the night Ayala. The ex-Nat got the job done striking out pinch hitter Roger Bernadina with an outside 2-2 heater to pickup his eighth save and temporarily allow their fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

-While the pesky Nats were chipping away at their lead making things tough, the Phillies scored four in the first and went on to a 6-1 win in Atlanta for a sixth consecutive win remaining half a game up for the division.

-Don’t look now but the Marlins apparently forgot that they’re supposed to be out of it. Instead, they used three homers including a pair from star shortstop Hanley Ramirez and a Jorge Cantu grand slam to rout the fading Astros 14-2 remaining five out of the WC and now a game behind the Astros who haven’t won since Hurricane Ike going 0-4 when it looked like they had all sorts of momentum. As for Florida, they’ll just have to keep winning and hope for help until that final three-game series of the season at Shea.

-The Brewers are on the verge of closing out the Cubs leading 6-1 in the ninth. Prince Fielder had a bases clearing first inning double and teammates J.J. Hardy and Corey Hart knocked in the other half in the seventh to give them some breathing room in a game Ben Sheets lasted just two innings due to right shoulder tightness. Can you say buyer beware this winter? Assuming Salomon Torres gets the final two outs, it would snap their losing skid at five and keep them half a game behind the Mets.

Update: Torres gets the final out keeping Milwaukee a half game out of the WC.

-The Diamondbacks are aiming for their third in a row hoping to gain a game on the Dodgers, who lost in Pittsburgh by a football score of 15-8. They lead the Giants 6-3 in support of 20-game winner Brandon Webb, who helped his own cause with a two-run double in a five-run second to get himself off the hook. Justin Upton also went yard. If they win, they’d be within three and a half of first.

-How resilient are the Rays anyway? They get smoked the first game of a crucial three-game home set against the Red Sox but then hold Boston to a run last night pushing across the winner on a walkoff and then follow it up with a convincing 10-3 win highlighted by three homers including three hits and a homer from utility man Willy Aybar, who seems to have found a home following stints with the Dodgers and Braves. Did we mention he’s only 25? So much for teams preaching patience. The Rays are now two up on Boston for the AL East. What a great story.

-Some more history was made in the Bronx when Alex Rodriguez followed a Johnny Damon three-run shot with an opposite solo blast of his own in a four-run eighth becoming the first player in MLB history to hit at least 35 home runs, drive in 100 and score 100 in 12 seasons surpassing Babe Ruth. In fact, he also broke Sammy Sosa’s (1995-2004) record of at least 35 dingers by making it 11 in a row (1998-2008). Congrats to a great player on this accomplishment.

As for the game, the Yanks played spoiler beating the first place White Sox 5-1. Phil Hughes finally returned to the mound for the first time in almost five months working the first four frames permitting one earned on four hits while walking a pair and fanning four on 89 pitches (57 strikes). Not bad but four innings? How overcautious can this organization get? Remember when Hughes and Ian Kennedy were locks for the rotation? Now look what’s happened. Kennedy’s disappeared to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton probably exiled and they don’t even have enough confidence to let their prize pitching prospect go at least five. Would you trust this braintrust with your top pitching prospects?!?!?!?!?!

-How is it that the Mets who were supposed to have exactly zero top pitchers in their farm can let 21 year-old Jonathon Niese go eight innings in his second start without giving up as much as a run while striking out seven? Did we mention he was a 2005 seventh round pick? Not a first round “can’t miss.”

-Phil Coke has pitched well for the Bronx Bombers since coming up tossing 10 scoreless in middle relief including two tonight. Is it cause they didn’t rush the once rumored pitcher in the Xavier Nady deal allowing him to develop at the age of 26?

-I like Brett Favre but how many times do we have to hear him defend that god awful conservative play calling against the Pats from near the goal line with three straight runs? How do you think this Jets team will fare against an angry San Diego bunch out West on Monday Night? They’re nine point underdogs. Think Darren Sproles’ eyes are lighting up?

-It sure didn’t take long for the Vikings to pull the plug on this Tarvaris Jackson experiment after falling to 0-2 making Week 3 at home versus 2-0 Carolina critical. But I was under the assumption anyone could QB Minnesota with Adrian Peterson doing the running and lead them to the NFC Title Game. Would you trust Gus Frerotte to run your ship? I can already hear the Viking ship sinking. Why didn’t they give Chad Pennington a call? Ya know. They’re QB situation is so dire that they ought to consider giving Randall Cunningham a call.

-The Chiefs are going with somebody by the name of Tyler Thigpen at Atlanta. Gee wiz. This team just might be even worse than co-host Jeff Bashlor thinks. Paging Steve DeBerg. Paging Joe Montana. Paging Steve Bono. Is anyone home? Ya know what’s sad is they can’t even blame this one on Herm “Play To Win Da Game” Edwards. Who would’ve ever thought staying with the Jets would be such a better option?

-Hockey training camps have begun! I just wanted you and especially diehard puck fan John “JPG” Giagnorio to know.

-If hockey had any common sense, they’d go global like soccer and tennis. Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Why on God’s earth would you who loves the sport say this?’ Because like the other two sports, it’s more popular all over the world. How many diehard hockey fans are there really in The States? Soccer is more popular in Europe. So too is tennis which explains why three of the four grand slams are played in Australia, Paris and London.

Hockey is a sport only real fans love. And while there are enough to support teams here and especially north of the border, just think how ga ga fans in Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia would go if they suddenly had teams competing for the Stanley Cup. It already travels all over the world due to the global impact. Perhaps it’s time for the league to really consider expanding and having a World Conference or Division. Why shouldn’t players such as Jaromir Jagr of OMSK be able to still compete for Lord Stanley? It also would eliminate the Alexander Radulov hearing. Just the NHL being lame.

It might sound crazy but I’d seriously explore it. Let all the European teams play each other with the winner advancing. And ditto for North America. The definition of a Stanley Cup with the best in the world competing.

-Tune into my Hard Hits show tonight. It’s sure to be unscripted and totally out there.

Live 12 midnight to 1:30 AM

-The amazing Mets continued their clutch stretch play thanks to a two out ninth inning rally coming from a run down against shaky Florida closer Kevin Gregg. After he retired the first couple, ex-Marlin Luis Castillo kept it alive with a two strike single followed by a David Wright base hit. Gregg then hit the dangerous Carlos Delgado with the first offering loading the bases for Carlos Beltran. As unclutch a big name star in this town with only the chronicles of Alex Rodriguez worse, the $119 million center fielder drove the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a go-ahead grand slam which WFAN play-by-play man Howie Rose nearly orgasmed to.

Did we just say that? Well, I was in the car and he did. Sometimes, you get the impression the Met announcers think this is some sorta miracle that the NL’s highest payroll is winning these kind of big games and now up two games over the reeling Phillies with a month to go. Granted. The Mets have had their share of injuries but you want to talk about over the top. Rose and Co. have lost their minds. If they sugarcoated anymore, you’d think they were adding even more sugar to a batch of cookies.

Take nothing away from Jerry Manuel’s club’s resiliency. They deserve to be where they are atop the NL East. But why shouldn’t they be? The Phillies are very flawed as proven with that eighth inning implosion in which Delgado tied it with a homer followed by a couple of more big hits including by David Murphy. They just don’t have enough pitching and their big hitters come up pretty soft in big spots. Paging Chase Utley and Pat Burrell. Jimmy Rollins is no better. Ryan Howard’s hit or miss literally. Honestly, the two guys I’d fear in a big spot are outfield overachievers Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino as they always seem to be in the middle of a comeback.

As for the fading Marlins, they’ve always been a flawed team due to the lack of fundamentals in the field and at the plate. Have you ever in your life seen a more undisciplined free swinging team which struck out more than Fredi Gonzalez’ bunch? Unless the ultra talented Hanley Ramirez matures and Dan Uggla (soon to be renamed Uggly for his dreadful 2nd half and fielding), they’ll continue to fail in big spots. As for their pen, Gonzalez deserves plenty of criticism for sticking with Gregg when he’s continually choked away leads blowing game after game to put them seven out. How in the world did he not send out ex-Met Matt Lindstrom for the ninth when he needed only five pitches to record the final out of the eighth? Just call it a case of bad managing 101. When your team desperately needs a game as much as his did, you don’t always stay conventional and remain loyal to struggling performers.

Precisely why managing by the book is vastly overrated.

Not surprisingly, the Marlins nearly tied it with a two out rally of their own scoring twice off Luis Ayala before he finally got Wes Helms to bounce out to short stranding the tying run at third and winning run at second. Does this mean the luster is finally off the ex-Nat pickup as temporary closer for the Mets? Who knows? Manuel is mixing and matching doing the best he can because he doesn’t got much no thanks to Omar Minaya. If the Mets do fall short, it won’t be for lack of heart cause they got plenty of that. But due to a pen which makes every Amazin fan squeamish.

Still, they should have enough to win the division. Especially with Jose Reyes playing well while Wright and Delgado rake. With plenty of contributions from unsung heroes such as Damion Easley, Murphy and even light hitting defensive catcher Brian Schneider who amazingly enough has gotten a couple of more big hits than A-Rod the past two months, they should score enough runs to support a superior staff led by Johan Santana, Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey. Now if only they could get Pedro back on track.

-I know it’s a few days late but what you saw from Joe Girardi’s Yankees those first couple of crucial games against the Red Sox was really how it’s been all year. They just never come up with the big hit or even the big pitches. It’s easy to point the finger at last year’s MVP along with Jason Giambi, who at least saved them the humiliation of a sweep driving in all three Thursday. However, it’s awfully hard not to get on Andy Pettite for his poor showing in such a big spot. To be outpitched by old and older knuckler Tim Wakefield is embarrassing. Even if a banged up Sox club didn’t hit every ball hard, there’s no excuse. Aside from that, who didn’t like that money showing by that pen in a Boston seven-run eighth featuring a Dustin Pedroia grand slam turning a close game into a laugher? Not like they couldn’t have used Kyle Farnsworth there?!?!?!?!?! Oh. That’s right. He was traded for the useless Pudge Rodriguez who looks about ready for retirement.

So, is there anyone out there who doesn’t believe the former Texas catcher didn’t cheat his way to an MVP season in 1999 and was still producing fairly well just a few years ago? I’ve always liked Pudge and he does belong in Cooperstown when it’s done but it’s very hard for me not to think he did something out of the ordinary to manufacture those numbers.

-Whoever would’ve believed that Carl “DL” Pavano would actually be 2-0 after two outings even outpitching Yankee killer A.J. Burnett last night?

-It’s not often you see Andy Roddick outslugged from the baseline but finding a way to persevere and pull out a well earned four set win over the other birthday boy six years younger talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Especially when the now 26 year-old American was dangerously close to being down two sets just a couple of points before reeling off the next seven games to assume control. Who knows. Maybe this big win gets the former 2003 U.S. Open champ going for a run and possible quarterfinal against No.3 ranked Serb Novak Djokovic. Who wouldn’t want to see that come down with probably Roger Federer waiting in the wings for the semis? In a year where the final tennis grand slam doesn’t have quite as much appeal on the women’s side with former champ Maria Sharapova sidelined and French Open winner Ana Ivanovic losing in the second round to a little known Frenchwoman, they sure could use the best players on the men’s side to go far.

-I don’t care about who Djokovic “hooked up” with at the Olympics in Beijing. What I want to know is why hasn’t he asked countrywoman Ivanovic out yet? At least it might better explain her poor second half bad thumb and all.

-When Osi Umenyiora went down during last week’s meaningless exhibition versus Brett Favre and the Jets, of course it was said not to be that serious due to the first MRI coming back negative. But anyone who saw the way the Giant sack leader landed had to know better. By the next day not surprisingly, he was done for the year putting a damper on Big Blue’s Super Bowl defense. There ya had it again. Just another reason there are too many NFL preseason games. How many times have you seen a big name star go down before the first real snap? Football more than any other sport can be brutal to its fans. This was just the latest example. Does it all end for the Giants now? Not really cause even if Michael Strahan doesn’t have his “heart in it,” they can move Mathias Kiwanuka back to his original position and get plenty from rising pass rusher Justin Tuck. I still think Steve Spagnuolo finds a way to keep his attacking D a step ahead. Especially with a secondary which should be improved with promising rookie Kenny Phillips. As much as we look at the D, the offense doesn’t have any injuries and should put up points. This is now Eli Manning’s team and time. I expect him to step up.

If there’s an area to be concerned over, it’s the kicking game where they don’t know if NFC championship hero Lawrence Tynes will be ready for next week’s opener versus the Redskins. Given how poorly Josh Huston has performed, they better get Tynes back sooner rather than later.

-It ain’t often they do something right but kudos to the Knicks for acquiring Patrick Ewing, Jr. from the Rockets in exchange for <gulp> all-time draft bust Frederic Weis. Where’s Ed Tapscott these days anyway?

-Is Chad Johnson plain crazy having his name legally changed to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco or just taken too many hits to the head? Here’s the link.

-Mike Lupica’s correct that the Yanks salvaging that final game versus Boston felt more like “saving face” than saving their season. However, the Daily News know it all columnist is quite wrong if he actually believes the best way for them to field a World Series contender in their new Stadium next year is to spend, spend, spend. That change in philosophy is what turned a once modern day dynasty into a colossal disappointment with little to no chemistry continuing to head the wrong way.

-Only in the NL West could the defending NL champion Rockies who improved to eight under .500 (64-72) thanks to a pair of Garrett Atkins homers and five RBI’s in a 9-4 road win over the Padres still be within six of the first place Diamondbacks. Who says history can’t repeat?

-I liked Barack Obama’s speech 45 years to the day after Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech in accepting the Democratic Presidential nomination in Denver. However, what the heck were they thinking turning it into that fake Washington cathedral stage?!?!?!?!?!

-And finally, here’s a cool sports video on YouTube I just can’t get enough of of Olympic triple world record gold medalist Jamaican runner Usain “Lightning” Bolt featuring hilarious commentary.

-The Mets rebounded with a 4-1 win over the Marlins thanks to Carlos Beltran’s two out go-ahead single in the sixth plus some insurance off the big bat of Carlos Delgado, who took Marlins’ lefty Renyel Pinto deep for a two-run blast in the eighth for his club best 23rd of the season. Oliver Perez went six innings allowing only a run on five hits while walking three and fanning five tossing 100 pitches. He wasn’t lights out but did just enough to give his team a chance escaping a first and second one out situation with a 1-6-3 double play. He notched his seventh victory dropping his ERA to 4.02.

New York also got solid relief from Aaron Heilman, who after walking a couple in the seventh settled down to toss two scoreless while fanning four. Billy Wagner retired the side in order whiffing a pair for his 27th save.

-For the Marlins who dropped a couple out of first, Scott Olsen wasn’t bad by any stretch matching Perez for nearly the same amount but couldn’t get that final out in the sixth walking Delgado and then giving up Beltran’s go-ahead base hit. Following a Fernando Tatis single, the lefty was pulled having gone five and two thirds while allowing two earned on six hits walking a pair and striking out five.

You have to wonder why Florida skipper Fredi Gonzalez didn’t stay with reliever Matt Lindstrom after he baffled the Mets for one and a third scoreless with two K’s. Something Howie Rose and Wayne Hagan alluded to on the radio cast when Pinto came in to start the eighth, allowing the Mets to ice the game.

If there’s an aspect the Marlins lost this game, it was stranding runners as they left 16 on compared to New York’s nine. They aren’t the most fundamentally sound club as evidenced by their D the previous night and their continued free swinging approach which saw them K 11 times including All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez going for the hat trick. There also was a big at bat where former Met Mike Jacobs pinch hit in the seventh with the tying run just put on via a walk on five pitches by Heilman. Instead of being patient, he swung at the Met setup man’s first offering harmlessly popping out. It might have been wiser to be more patient in such a big spot. But often with younger teams, they’ll be overly aggressive showing inexperience.

That’s an area Florida will have to continue to get better at if they want to seriously contend over the next couple of years.

-The Yanks again were victimized by the opportunistic Orioles who broke open a one-run game by putting up a four spot in the seventh off the combo of Darrell Rasner and recent lefty pickup Damaso Marte in a 7-6 win. With Rasner in trouble, the ex-Pirate came on and subsequently gave up three consecutive hits including a bases clearing double to hitting star Aubrey Huff and a Melvin Mora RBI two-bagger making it 6-1. Till that point, the Yanks had their lone run on Alex Rodriguez’ solo shot for his 22nd off Daniel Cabrera.

With Joe Girardi sending out Mariano Rivera to get some work after a few days off, the closer couldn’t escape Huff, who earlier in his at bat just missed a right field upper deck homer. It would take a couple of more pitches before he straightened out a fastball which got too much of the plate serving it out into the short porch for his 22nd putting the stamp on a four hit, four RBI night. As it turned out, that big swing proved large because the Bronx Bombers rallied for three in the home half versus closer George Sherrill.

Following a Johnny Damon leadoff hit, Derek Jeter walked. Then Bobby Abreu doubled in a run putting the tying run to the plate but A-Rod struck out swinging. A Jason Giambi two-run base hit suddenly made it a one-run game. When pinch runner Justin Christian swiped second, they had two shots to get him in but Sherrill buckled down getting both Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit swinging to end any chance of a miraculous Yankee comeback.

-The loss prevented the Yanks from gaining a game on the Red Sox, who were no-hit for eight and a third by Angels’ ace John Lackey Fenway before second baseman Dustin Pedroia broke it up. Though he lost his shutout bid on a Kevin Youkilis two-run dinger, Lackey finished the game with a two-hitter walking a couple and K-ing four on 120 pitches with 91 for strikes in improving to 9-2. The 29 year-old Angel ace who tossed his 12th career complete game got a nice hand from the Boston faithful.

-Off the field, Lackey’s team made some big headlines by packaging first baseman Casey Kotchman along with 24 year-old Double-A pitching prospect Stephen Marek to the Braves in exchange for 28 year-old first base slugger Mark Teixeira, making it the second straight year before the deadline the former Texas Ranger star was dealt. In 103 games this season, the former Georgia Tech star was hitting .283 with 20 homers and 78 RBI’s plus a .390 OBP and .512 slugging. In 157 total games as a Brave, Teixeira totaled 37 home runs, 74 extra base hits and 134 RBI’s. In the final year of a contract, he’ll now go West to LA to try to help deliver the Angels’ second world championship in six years. He’s making $12.5 million in the last year and could become a UFA this November.

Said Teixeira of the deal:

“Hopefully, I can just go over there and be one more piece of the puzzle.”

It should make the Halos even tougher to get out. Particularly with a middle of the order which now features Vlad Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Teixeira.

The slugger also added of his new ballclub:

“The Angels have always been one of the best teams in the league. They’ve always had great pitching, great defense and find a way to win games. I want to be the one who hopefully gets them over the top.”

The two-time Gold Glover also paid tribute to his former team where he enjoyed his brief stay:

“The last couple days I knew it was coming, so I prepared for it. It’s a little bittersweet. I really enjoyed my time here. I had a great year here. I love this team. I love this organization. I love this city. It’s tough to leave.”

Class all the way.

-In Milwaukee, Carlos Zambrano helped the Cubs to a second straight win over the Brewers easily outpitching Ben Sheets by going eight strong scoreless scattering five hits walking two and fanning nine as the NL Central leaders prevailed 7-1 extending their lead to three games. Four Cubs had at least two hits and Aramis Ramirez finished with four, two runs scored plus an RBI as Chicago put a hurting on Sheets scoring six times on 11 hits in five and a third to hand him his fourth defeat. Every Cub had at least one hit including Zambrano, whose infield RBI base hit to short highlighted a five-run sixth which broke open a one-run game. Japanese rookie Kosuke Fukudome and veteran utility man Mark DeRosa each drove in a pair giving the Cubs their third straight victory while dealing the Brewers their third loss in a row.

-With the Cards prevailing 8-3 against the DL-plagued Braves who just lost Tim Hudson for the season and placed leading hitter Chipper Jones on the DL, they’re within a game of the wild card behind Milwaukee. Albert Pujols slugged his third long ball in four days scoring three times and catcher Yadier Molina added three hits and two RBI’s.

-The Phillies remained a half game behind the Mets thanks to a stellar effort from Brett Myers, who went seven innings allowing just one unearned on four hits, walking one and striking out a couple for just his fourth win. A much better effort than his prior one against the Amazin’s which was good news for the Phils, who just sent Adam Eaton back to Triple-A to get straightened out. The Phillies got a two-run homer from Chase Utley (26th) which was enough to edge the Nationals 2-1 keeping pace with New York.

-The first place Rays gained a game on Boston going two up and four on the Yanks thanks to a 3-0 complete game shutout by Matt Garza, who outpitched Roy Halladay for win No.9. He got an Eric Hinske inside the park homer and a two-run Evan Longoria two-run eighth inning triple as he five-hit the Jays on 106 pitches walking one and striking out five. In a losing effort, Halladay went eight frames allowing three earned on six hits walking a trio while fanning eight in falling to 12-8. He tossed 118 pitches. What a horse.

-The Twins rallied from 4-0 down scoring five in the fifth and one in the seventh to comeback and beat the White Sox 6-5, pulling within half a game of first. Justin Morneau’s bases clearing double was the big hit but as it turned out teammate Joe Mauer’s run scoring single proved to be the difference due to a Nick Swisher solo homer off closer Joe Nathan in the ninth. Nathan then got the final batter to notch his 29th save.

-The Mets are now in first place in the NL East after scoring two runs in the home eighth to beat the Phillies 3-1 at Shea on Kids Day. Carlos Delgado continued his resurgence by knocking in the two go-ahead runs delivering a clutch two out two-run double down the left field line plating both Robinson Cancel and David Wright, who was intentionally passed over to get to the first base slugger. Though Delgado was only 2 for his previous 17 against Phils’ lefty reliever J.C. Romero, that really couldn’t be factored into pitching to the Mets’ hottest hitter in such a crucial situation. Honestly, I think I would’ve walked him also and gone after switch hitting center fielder Carlos Beltran, who doesn’t have the best reputation deliver in big spots and frequently keeps the bat on his shoulder. Not surprisingly, the numbers bare it out:

Beltran 2008 Situational Splits

Particularly with men on base and two outs, the $16 million man is not doing much. Not only would it have been a more calculated move but Beltran hardly has any power from the right side with only two of his 15 home runs and 17 of 70 runs knocked in coming from that side. Sure. He doesn’t face as many lefties but who would you rather have beat you? A sizzling Delgado or a fragile Beltran, who seems to always fail in these situations? It’s a no-brainer.

-The Amazin’s had to also be extremely pleased with Oliver Perez, who has continued to dominate lately. This time, he went seven and two thirds permitting just Jayson Werth’s seventh inning tying dinger on six hits, intentionally walking one and fanning a season best 12 with half that impressive output coming against Chase Utley and Ryan Howard (three apiece). Perez did a good job pitching out of a couple of jams getting Howard swinging to end one threat. He also got some help from winner Aaron Heilman, who came in and got Werth to fly out harmlessly to Beltran leaving the bases loaded in the top half of the eighth.

-The Phils did a poor job with runners on base stranding double the amount the Mets had: Phi-12, NYM-6. Early in the contest, Utley and Howard failed to get a runner in from third both whiffing. Left field slugger Pat Burrell also didn’t get the job done in another frame popping out to shallow left with one out. It’s no wonder manager Charlie Manuel wasn’t pleased with his club’s performance as they have now dropped all four series to the Queens club posting a 4-9 record with a couple of series left:

“Something’s not in tune. We have to pick it up. I don’t know if it’s hungry enough. I haven’t put my finger on it, but we have to get after it more. We don’t now have that extra kick, the kick we used to have.”

-By contrast, Jerry Manuel gave high praise to his resilient club who not only battled back from a seven and a half game deficit but bounced back in a big way taking the next two games responding to Monday’s debacle:

“I’m very proud of the way this team bounced back after that game the other night. We’ve been resilient for a long period of time.”

Under the new skipper, the Mets boast a 21-12 record and have won 13 of 16 to lead the Phillies by a game and the Marlins by two after Florida fell to the Cubs 6-3 at Wrigley.

-One other disturbing note from the Phils was that Jimmy Rollins was scratched by Manuel due to arriving late at the ballpark for the early 12:10 start. That’s inexcusable and not the first time the 2007 NL MVP has been sat down. Replacement Eric Bruntlett had a solid game finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles off Perez. It’s hard to comprehend why J-Roll would be late for such an important game. Perhaps Manuel’s onto something in his assessment about his team not having that extra edge as they did last year.

-Also lost in the defeat for Philadelphia was an outstanding performance from veteran southpaw Jamie Moyer, who allowed just a run on two hits while walking three and striking out six in seven innings of work on 91 pitches. What more could they have asked for from the crafty 45 year-old out of Pennsylvania who continues to defy logic? I realize he’s pretty old but don’t you think the decision to have Romero start the eighth was a mistake? Moyer had baffled the Mets all day. You’re telling me he couldn’t get a couple of more batters? Sure. Romero’s been a reliable late game reliever for Manuel. Just maybe Moyer should have remained in this one time. Always easy to second guess here.

-Condolences go out to Mets’ starter Pedro Martinez, who lost his Dad Pablo Jamie to brain cancer at the age of 79. The three-time Cy Young winner arrived back home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic yesterday to pay respect to his old man, who he said was “a great support to me from the beginning of my career.”

Martinez was tonight’s scheduled starter versus the Cards but obviously won’t return to the mound for the first time since July 12 with instead Mike Pelfrey going on regular rest.

-The Warriors signed guard Monta Ellis to a six-year $66 million deal. No shock here as the 22 year-old former 2005 second round steal is finally ready to assume a leadership role with Baron Davis gone to the Clippers. After improving leaps and bounds in his second season, Ellis continued his emergence averaging a career high 20.2 PPG along with five boards, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals. He also shot a very efficient 53.1 percent from the field.

-How is signing former Florida Gator long range bomber Anthony Roberson going to make the Knicks any better?!?!?!?!?!

-Now that he’s lost early in Toronto in three sets to Gilles Simon, should Roger Federer be concerned about his top ranking? If Rafael Nadal figures out the hard courts, look out.

The tale of two New York baseball teams is being told as we approach the final weekend before the superhyped final All-Star Game at legendary Yankee Stadium in the cathedral which will soon be replaced by a brand new state of the art ballpark across the street.

For one team at least, they can feel pretty darn good about themselves because the Mets have finally discovered that magic formula under interim manager Jerry Manuel reeling off seven in a row including last nite’s 2-1 squeaker over the visiting Rockies at Shea.

Oliver Perez was rock solid for a third consecutive outing permitting just a run despite walking six before giving way to a pen which wiggled out of a couple of bases loaded jams including Aaron Heilman getting the last two Rockies swinging in the seventh. Pedro Feliciano followed suit by escaping a similar jam in the eighth keeping the contest tied to set the stage for surprising veteran second baseman Damion Easley who provided the heroics with a solo shot in the bottom half to give his team another huge victory.

For once, Billy Wagner closed it out 1-2-3 getting the final out on a deep fly to Carlos Beltran which kept the Amazin’s red hot with a season high seventh win in a row to remain tied with the Marlins a game and a half out of first.

Meanwhile in the City of Brotherly Love, the Phillies cameback to beat the one under NL West-leading Diamondbacks 6-5 in 12 innings getting a crucial two-run eighth inning tying triple from gritty center fielder Shane Victorino and a walkoff Jayson Werth RBI base hit to win for the second straight time. Ryan Howard added his major league best 28th dinger.

While the Mets should feel good for closing the gap after trailing by as much as seven to the Phils, the Yankees have to be increasingly frustrated with their inconsistency.

Having looked like they were about to put something together by taking the last two against Boston and sweeping a two-game series from the suddenly slumping first place Rays (lost fifth straight last night), they followed it up by turning Paul Maholm into a Cy Young candidate scoring just two runs in a depressing 4-2 loss to the Pirates in a makeup game Thursday. After a Bobby Abreu two-run single tied it, Pirates’ All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth responded by hitting a gamebreaking two-run home run off normally reliable Jose Veras in the seventh.

It allowed the Pirates to take the series despite another good outing from veteran Mike Mussina (6 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 5 K’s).

The problem for the Bronx Bombers is that the very next night, they had to deal with Toronto ace Roy Halladay, who brought his ‘A’ game to the table outpitching rookie Joba Chamberlain (6.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, HR, 9 K’s) while going the distance for his impressive major league-leading seventh complete game two-hitting them while walking one and fanning eight.

Only veteran infielders Alex Rodriguez (fourth inning single) and Derek Jeter (ninth inning ground rule double) got hits off Halladay leaving the Yankee captain singing the Toronto ace’s praises:

“He never throws a ball over the middle of the plate. If you face him four or five times a game, you might get one pitch over the plate. He goes from corner to corner as good as any pitcher in the game. He’s probably the best starter in baseball, I would think. I know I’m a little biased because we face him 10 times a year. He’s as consistent as anyone.”

Pretty hard to disagree with that assessment. It’s always been my belief that Halladay and Brandon Webb were the best pitchers in the game. Cue up the arguments.

Unfortunately for Jeter and the Yankee Pinstripes, they blew another golden opportunity to gain valuable ground on Tampa Bay, who lost again to the lowly Indians 5-0. It’s also worth noting that second place Boston also dropped a home game to the Orioles 7-3 remaining a game and a half out of first while the Yanks still trail by six and a half and seven in the loss column.

It’s vital for them to bounceback over the next two days before the break. However, that doesn’t seem likely with struggling fifth starter Darrell Rasner going against Jesse Litsch later today. If he does win, then the finale would see veteran southpaw Andy Pettite take on fireballer A.J. Burnett in a potential great match-up.

We’ll see if Joe Girardi’s ballclub can finish strong.

The plug was officially pulled on Willie Randolph nearly an hour ago. Reported by the Daily News, word came down on WFAN’s overnight show via Tony Paige at around 3:20 AM.  

For a silly reason only known to Mets management, they waited until the team flew across the coast 3,000 miles away and won their first game of a six-game road trip 9-6 over the Angels on the bat of Carlos Beltran’s two home runs. Ironically, it was their third win in four pulling them within a game of .500 (34-35).

How does this make sense? Firing Randolph after a win is one thing but having the nerve to allow him to fly with the ballclub and get a final ‘W’ before giving them the axe is bush league. Or as he referred to it as Omar Minaya sharpening the machete three weeks prior.

As it turned out, Willie was ultimately proven right about the untouchable Mets GM giving him a vote of confidence being the “kiss of death.”

Sadly, the proverbial writing was on the wall when rumors resurfaced heading into the weekend via WFAN SI baseball reporter Jon Heyman who hinted that the former Yankee second baseman’s job could be in serious jeopardy. Why they waited until after they flied out to the Pacific is baffling. The timing just seems eerie. Already on Paige’s show in the last half hour, both FAN beat reporter Ed Coleman and Daily News Met beat writer Adam Rubin have trashed the move referring to it as “bush league” and “classless.”

Also out along with Randolph are pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. Former White Sox skipper Jerry Manuel will take over managing duties on an interim basis while Ken Oberfell, Dan Warthen and Luis Aguayo were all promoted.

Not only was this a move the organization knew they were forcing Minaya into but the GM was non-committal as to whether Randolph’s staff would be in uniform for last night’s game. There’s a right and wrong way to handle this kind of stuff. Sadly, the Amazin’s led by the dumb and dumber Wilpon duo chose the wrong path and come out looking pretty small.

The only salvation for Randolph is that the awful last month where the dark storm clouds were hanging over his head ready to strike at any moment are finally over. Perhaps that’s for the best. Clearly, this classy a man didn’t deserve the kind of second rate treatment he received. It had a similar feel to how lowly Hank Steinbrenner and nerd Randy Levine mistreated Joe Torre last year making him feel unwanted and wisely walking away before winding up across the coast in Dodger blue.

Now, the Mets have no more excuses and neither does a fanbase who had favored getting rid of the manager despite the improvement it showed in his three-plus years even capturing the NL East for the first time since 1988 getting within a game of the World Series two years ago.

Unfortunately, Randolph’s tenure will best be remembered not for how close they came but rather for the awful collapse last September blowing a seven-game lead with two weeks left to the Phillies to miss the playoffs.

Even with his team underperforming, Willie always kept a straight face and calmly answered questions when the situation had to be extremely stressful.

Is this the right move for the Mets going forward? We won’t know the answer until three months from now. They’re capable of playing much better. Maybe the change will work sparking energy.

Once the skipper goes, that usually means the players or guy who organized the roster are next. The pressure’s on the personnel to perform. If they don’t and miss October again, you could see an entirely different roster next year.

For now, it is what it is. Bush league.

Copyright Getty Images

The Mets have become the biggest story here in NYC. They finally have all the back pages as many of their diehards have craved for so long. Only thing is it’s not for how well their team is playing on the field and certainly not for the unnecessary distractions off it.

Just call it the circus in Flushing. For years, it’s always been the Yankees who perfected the art not knowing how to handle situations. Joe Torre had to deal with so much garbage. Well, now it’s former bench coach Willie Randolph who’s on the hot seat never really knowing day to day whether he’s staying or going.

Truthfully, it’s not all the former Yankee second baseman’s fault that his team has underachieved headed into a three-game set at the Angels two under .500 at 33 up and 35 down. Does the manager have a responsibility in this mess which has the Amazin’s trailing the Phillies by six and a half entering tonight? Of course. Ultimately, his ballclub hasn’t played the brand of baseball needed to make fans forget last year’s dreadful September collapse.

There’s just been zero consistency for a team many expected to not only win the NL East but had going to the World Series. That’s why they play the games. If talent and highest payrolls always won, then the Yankees wouldn’t be first round failures since that colossal choke job against the rival Red Sox. You can spend all the cash you want on a few of the best players the league has to offer but it doesn’t always account for chemistry.

Last winter, Omar Minaya patiently waited playing a perfect game of chess before cornering the Twins for lefty ace Johan Santana. This was the big deal that would put the Mets over the top. The same way once the Yanks acquired Alex Rodriguez, it was over for the rest of baseball. Despite two MVPs to his collection and a record-breaking new contract, how has that worked out? It’s been eight years since the Bronx Bombers won a 26th World Series.

There’s no such thing as a guarantee in sports unless it’s Rafael Nadal on clay or the Knicks continuing to suck no matter who Jim Dolan brings in.

Are the Mets a colossal disappointment through the first 68 games this season? Undoubtedly. So too are their crosstown rivals who finally got to four over by sweeping the Astros over the weekend. Despite that, they still got bad news when ace Chien-Ming Wang sprained his right foot tearing a tendon while scoring a run in yesterday’s 13-0 win. He’ll likely be lost till September. What that means for New York’s postseason aspirations is a giant sized question mark.

It’s never too late for the Mets to turn around their season. Five in the loss column can be made up quickly. Especially with this much time left. All they have to do is put together a hot streak and the Phils could comeback to the pack. It would be nice for the Queens club to at least demonstrate to their fans that they’re actually capable of that. A couple of weeks ago, it looked like they were coming around but then came that awful four-game series in San Diego and three vicious losses during a mediocre .500 homestand against Arizona and Texas.

After splitting a doubleheader with the Rangers thanks to a solid six from Pedro Martinez and the right move by the much maligned manager pulling his starter for pinch hitter Robinson Cancel who delivered the clutch two-run hit, the Mets headed West for six games against the Angels and the Rockies beginning tonight.

Despite taking two of three over the weekend, there was still a lingering question as to whether Randolph would still be managing them. Such is the chaotic nature of Met management letting the classy former player who grew up in Brooklyn hang in the wind. A published NY Post report indicated that Fred and Jeff Wilpon had given Minaya the authority to axe Randolph and his coaches if he felt it was warranted.

How nice. The owners have no backbone or common decency. Instead, they let their GM who hasn’t exactly done a good job this year bolstering a shaky pen or making the bench younger do all their dirty work cause they want nothing to do with it. It can’t possibly be that the $140 million they shelled out could produce such a mediocre club. Never occurred to them. At least Hank Steinbrenner is hands on even though he’s extremely irritating.

Where’s the accountability? If Minaya fires Randolph or say Howard Johnson, guru Rick Peterson or Sandy Alomar for that dreadful decision sending Brian Schneider which cost them a chance at a great comeback in the first game yesterday, who’s to say it’s going to change a team which can’t rely on Carlos Delgado or Moises “DL” Alou. Luis Castillo isn’t much better due to his knees yet was signed to a four-year extension.

Then there’s Ryan Church who was on his way to the All-Star Game in the Bronx before the Mets rushed him back from a concussion. You don’t ever do that under any consequence.

Will a new skipper automatically change Jose Reyes’ approach? What about the streakiness of stars Carlos Beltran and David Wright? Is it just Randolph’s fault that John Maine throws too many pitches to go more than six most nights? What about Oliver Perez’ continued Jekyll and Hyde act?

They also don’t have a complete game from Santana who makes too much money not to at least go nine once or twice and save the bullpen from wrecking a probable win as what transpired last week. Remarkably, Mike Pelfrey came the closest pitching into the ninth before Billy Wagner blew it serving up a tying three-run dinger. At least the Mets still won thanks to a Beltran extra inning blast.

The options to setup Wagner aren’t great with Pedro Feliciano and Scott Schoeneweis proving to be the best thus far. But both are lefties who can be taken yard. Aaron Heilman has struggled and Duaner Sanchez hasn’t done much better. Joe Smith’s been alright but is never a lock due to comman.

How can it all be on the skipper when this mess of a pen has repeatedly blown games? Isn’t that the GM’s responsibility?

How come a vast majority of the late inning options off the bench are all aging vets such as Damion Easley, Fernando Tatis or Marlon Anderson?

It sure seems like one person is being given a lot more leeway than the other. Why?

It’s hard to put into words what’s wrong with the Mets. Even not being a fan of theirs, I can’t even believe how brutal some of their recent losses have been. That Billy Wagner blew a third consecutive save after Johan Santana had his best Met performance fanning 10 in seven frames is just unthinkable.

You would’ve thought the Amazin’s would get so much momentum from last night’s Carlos Beltran 13th inning walkoff. And for the first seven innings, you would’ve been proven correctly. Then Santana left having thown 116 pitches for the vaunted Met pen. Joe Smith gave half the lead back on an eighth inning Mark Reynolds two-run triple which some on WFAN felt Beltran misjudged. No matter.

Wagner entered looking to atone for another poor outing last night in which he served up a second straight three-run home run which forced extras before Beltran’s bat rescued the Queens club from a five-game skid. Once again, the lefty fireballer couldn’t finish the job allowing two runs to score including a Conor Jackson RBI fielder’s choice which extended the misery.

Unfortunately for Met supporters, this time their team wouldn’t be so lucky as the D-Backs escaped a bases loaded two out jam in the home ninth due to great defensive gems and then pushed across the winner on a Miguel Montero sac fly.

Arizona closer Brandon Lyon tossed a second straight scoreless inning inducing Chris Aguila into a game ending 5-4-3 double play to give the D-Backs the series and send the Amazin’s to a sixth defeat in seven back to three under.

Afterwards, a frustrated Wagner who never minces words harshly critiqued himself saying, “I suck right now.”

What a bad time for Billy The Kid to go into a funk.

So, can the Mets get it turned around? Who knows what to think anymore? They’ve become way too hard to predict and their inconsistencies continue to prove costly.

Are they really this mediocre? I still have a tough time buying that. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.