A SWEEP? THAT'S ALL?

The Mets demolished that drably-garbed & drab playing division-leading team yesterday afternoon, completing the sweep. Ho-hum.

Other than the bizarre spectacle of a visiting player receiving a curtain call after a somewhat important homerun off the Mets ace, what will you actually remember about the Padres?

Me neither.

14 game lead. 7 1/2 games over the Cards for best record in the execrable NL. Met Magic Number . . . 36! Whoo! Anyhow, on to a few Random Thoughts, and then you can get to your weekends.

Or to work. Hell, it's your choice.

The Prince of New York? How 'Bout The King of Cliches? Proving once again that the ceiling to his comprehensive talents is so high, you need a telescope to see it, The $55M Man conducted an impromptu Quotefest in the Met clubhouse after the game. Following an impressive 2-for-3 on the field, Young Mr. Wright outdid himself in the locker room with a stunning 4-for-4 performance. Let's take a look, shall we?

You have to be confident every at-bat. You can't be scared. You have to want to be there. You can't shy away from it.

Mastery! And at such a tender age. To see a 23 year-old handle the use of "there" and "it" -- difficult abstractions that normally trip up youngsters much like curveballs, mental slumps, and gold-digging groupies -- is just breathtaking. To think of what he'll do once he hits his Year of 27. I can't even contemplate it. May we see a repeat of the perfect 17 cliches-to-17 questions that only Steve Gravey & Gary Carter have accomplished? Reporters still discuss Garvey's legendary 1979 performance as if speaking about the Babe's called shot, or Mazeroski's homer. The fact that Smilin' Steve ended up "hitting triplets," as Cyndy stayed home and cooked for the kids only adds to the legend.

Just remember. Someday you'll get to tell the grandkids that you watched David Wright's post-game interviews. They'll gather 'round in hushed tones to hear the tale.

Uncle Cliffy: More avuncular than I need at this point, to be honest with you. Back on the freakin DL again. What a disastrous season. But, as a couple friends said in e-mail yesterday, it'll be nice to have his potentially hot lefty bat come October (one of those friends, FI, also said the Mets are on a "Stealth Winning Streak," which I think is a good one. So I'll listen to his words about Cliffy).

Even though I'm not sure I care. Why . . . ?

Because Endy Chavez Is Hitting 302/346/440: With RISP? 370/455/500. Plus, in case ya haven't noticed, he's a pretty good fielder too.

'Stings: (Credit to Coop, one of the regulars over at Metstradamus & Toasted Joe, for that nickname). The booing has got to stop! The kid's a rookie. The Mets have a 203 game lead. The team's playing great. Fun to watch. No, I can't write in full sentences now. I'm too annoyed. At the booing.

Just ridiculous. There's never an excuse to boo your own player (except if his name's Bonilla, then the Bronx Cheer is most appropriate. Get it? The Bronx? 'Cause he told Bob Klapisch he'd show him the . . . ohhh, never mind).

Stop booing Milledge. Ok, and that's it for the public service announcement portion of our programming.

The Catcher Who Should Be Receiving Curtain Calls (because he catches For The Mets!): Paulie LoD's lifetime post-All Star Break numbers? 264/319/381. This season? 380/430/468. When you've got a magic season, things just fall into place sometimes.

Or, as the King would say, "You have to know when to seize the moment. You can't drop the ball. The window of opportunity opens just once a game. You have to want the spotlight. We're just taking it a day at a time. He was a quiet guy, I never expected him to kill his family. Either you're for us or you're against us."

I Think Julio Franco's Hit Into 62 Double Plays This Year: I'm just saying.

Wright & Reyes For At Least Four More Years!: I needed a smile. Heh, heh.

And . . . as if more smiles are needed: Keith back next week. Nothing against Ron & Gary. But sometimes you just need a little goofiness. And the Eternal Captain always brings that bag o' goof.