On Beltran's blasts and the Dodgers back in Brooklyn

My son came running into the kitchen to tell me that Carlos Beltran had just hit a home run. I figured it was his second of the game — I had heard him hit the first one on the radio in the car earlier in the evening — but then Gary Cohen mentioned the three home runs and the six RBI and I realized that the middle homer was how the Mets got from five runs to seven (a period of the game I missed while my son was in karate class).

Of course, Beltran hitting three home runs in a game was just another reason for some to wonder how it will affect his trade value, for when the Mets inevitably deal him to a contender, probably in the American League, before the July 31 trade deadline (along with Jose Reyes, and maybe even David Wright, Mike Pelfrey and possible everyone not named Ike Davis).

This all presumes the Mets are not contenders in July, something that many in the media state practically as fact, like how the summer starts on June 21. For them, it may as well be on the calendar.

For me, I know Beltran won't be here next year, and I'll understand completely if the Mets do fall behind and deal him. I'd rather focus on his so-far remarkable comeback, remarkable not necessarily because of his production but because he has remained healthy.

It's what we've waited for, a Beltran who, while limited in the field, can still rake at the plate, from both sides. That he hit three out on a day when David Wright took his second day off, Davis went on the DL and Willie Harris played third was terrific timing. (And nice to see Harris finally contribute; he was on base each time Beltran went yard.)

Another series win, and now the Mets head to Houston for what should be another two of three. Why so few are willing to even entertain the idea that the Mets are as in contention for a playoff spot as anyone else is somewhat puzzling, but at this point I don't care what anyone else thinks.


Johan Santana is throwing off a mound. Jose Reyes and Beltran look renewed (contract years will do that). The pitching is slowly coming around. Jason Isringhausen (knock wood) has been borderline amazing.

I'm enjoying the season. Are you?

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Great story on ESPN from Howard Megdal on why the Dodgers should and could move back to Brooklyn. Sure, it'll never happen, but Megdal lays out a fairly convincing case that revolves around:

• The Yankees and Mets would be paid off to allow it — by waiving luxury tax for the Yanks and literally paying the Mets, who could use a cash infusion.
• NYC could easily handle three teams.
• The borough would welcome the team back with open arms (and there are several good locations for a new park).
• Los Angeles would get the Rays, a scenario where a weak market (Tampa) is eliminated in favor of two much stronger markets.
• Fred Wilpon would go down in history as helping bring the Dodgers back to Brooklyn.

Megdal doesn't expand on this, but I immediately thought that an ownership swap could be part of the deal, where the Wilpons would own the now-Brooklyn Dodgers, and the Mets get new owners.

Nah, it'll never happen. Still, read it.

Your first-place New York Mets

Hard to believe that less than two weeks ago, the SNY broadcast team was taking calls from despondent Mets fans, panicking at the Mets losing their third straight series to start the season.

As I write this, the Mets are in a virtual tie with the Phillies for first place in the NL East, no games behind but trailing Philly by a mere 8 percentage points. That could change in the next couple of hours, as the Phils currently trail the Giants in San Francisco by a run.

The doubleheader sweep showcased the good, the bad and some ugly defense by the Dodgers, but for the Mets it was almost all good.

Johan Santana gutted out six innings on a day in which the bullpen needed to be conserved as much as possible. After needing 52 pitches to get through the first two (scoreless) innings, Santana settled down and left the afternoon opener with a 2-0 lead. The second of the two runs came on Jason Bay's first homer of the season.

The Mets tacked on two more in the seventh on a two-run single by Luis Castillo.

At some point, Mets fans and a certain blustery radio host will realize that Castillo is the least of the Mets' problems, and is, in fact, probably one of their better assets.

Two scoreless innings by Fernando Nieve and a two-strikeout ninth by Pedro Feliciano closed out the 4-0 win.

We saw the bad Ollie in game two as Oliver Perez gave up a 3-0, first-inning lead (featuring an RBI triple by the percolating Bay), but we then enjoyed the greatness that is Hisanori Takahashi.

A strikeout machine despite the fact that he rarely breaks 90, Takahashi threw 3 1/3 innings and struck out five, allowing just one run -- and allowing the Mets to regain the lead. (Ron Darling said it best; Takahaski pitches with no fear.)

Three scored in the fifth on a single by David Wright and a two-run double by Ike Davis, and the Mets piled on four more in the sixth -- the first on a throwing error on a force at home by Jamey Carroll (playing there after Rafael Furcal's hamstring injury), and the next three on a bases-clearing triple by Mr. Wright.

Wright was 3-for-3 with four RBI in game two and was 4-for-7 on the night with two walks. He looked like the Wright of old, but really, did anyone really not expect Wright to get back on track? The guy is a streaky hitter, and now he's heating up -- just in time for the Phillies series. Nice.

And the Mets' pitchers for that Philly series? Pelfrey, Niese, Santana. Feeling pretty confident with that trio.

The Dodgers have looked as bad as the Cubs and Braves did, and while all three teams have indeed played poorly, credit the Mets for playing terrific baseball, with solid defense (nice catch by Bay!) smart baserunning (Henry Blanco going first to third!), improved hitting and mostly excellent pitching.

We'll see how John Maine comes back from his injury-shortened previous start, but if he can come up strong, the Mets will be looking at a second straight series sweep and a dominant 9-1 homestand.

Dominant? Terrific? These are the words we're using to describe a Mets team that so many wanted to bury after just two weeks of play. There's a lesson in there somewhere.

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On a side note, Ryan Howard is a wonderful slugger but no way is he worth $25 million a year. Adrian Gonzalez is a better all-around player -- does he get $27 million per? That's more than A-Rod. And what about Pujols? $30 million a year? Insane.