IF ONLY APRIL WERE OCTOBER

A few brief thoughts on the 2-0 NY Mets, looking good after the second straight thrashing of the 83 win World Champs.

(Yes, I will remain bitter & a very bad sport about that through the season. Deal with it.)

1. The defense continues to look great. Beltran, healthy & sharp, covers the entire outfield in 3 strides. It's only two games, but he's got that Andruw Jones thing going on: no matter where the ball's hit, he settles under it with a minimum of apparent effort.

(Now, if he'd just play a few feet shallower.)

Plus, with 7 double-plays in 2 games, the Mets are on pace to turn about 600.

2. Met #9 hitters are 5-for-7, with 2 RBIs. I'm gonna guess that along with the GIDP pace, this ain't lasting.

3. Moises Alou is 1-for-9, and has stranded 362 runners so far. Let's see either Endy or 'Stings tonight. 41 year-old leftfielders need off days anyhow.

4. Both of the young fellas manning the left side of the infield have drawn 2 walks in 2 games. Verrrrrrrrrrrry good sign. Plus, Reyes has looked like a Wizard at short (and yes, I used that word intentionally).

5. We're but one game into the SNY season, and the boys in the booth are in mid-season form. Ron Darling continues to show all signs that he'll be doing national games (maybe post-season) by next year at the latest. He's good. Gary Cohen was smoove as always.

And then there's Keith.

Yes, Keith "I'm Keith Hernandez" Hernandez is back, and not a moment too soon. I don't know what could make me happier than watching a Met win with 9 innings worth of The Eternal Captain. By the 2nd inning we'd already heard about Albert Poo-hole's "level swing" three times . . . all during the same at-bat.

But you know what? You don't hit .300 (or .299 actually) over a career by failing to adjust. And when Young Mr. Wright was jammed, yet muscled the ball into left for a single, Keith said he "got bunched" on the pitch. Gary questioned him on this, as Darling chuckled.

I'm still a bit shocked. I like it, but I'm unprepared for such a jolt. Plus, I wonder if we'll now hear it twice a game through September.

And finally, in the late innings, when Delgado reached out to poke a low-and-away slider into left for a single, Keith said the following (or at least I think he did):

He dinked it in there, or he dorked it actually.

Dorked? Did he actually say that? Did he mean "doinked," but it came out wrong? Did I mis-hear? Any help? Any theories?

Anyhow, tonight they go for the sweep behind my man, Johnnie Maine. Plus, they're facing none other than Braden Flooper (Fucking+Looper=Flooper). I think maybe the big sticks arrive tonight.