(Long Island, N.Y.) The Mets entered the second stanza of this season’s Subway Series on a high note. They had won their last two series on the road at Texas and Detroit and were at the .500 mark. Things had been going so well for Terry Collins’ bunch that their recent offensive explosion conjured up talk of the Wild Card spot.

Then the Yankees came in for a three-game set.

All of the reminders why the Mets are inferior to their cross-town rivals came to light. Key hits early in the game with runners in scoring position, strong starting and relief pitching, as well as making your own breaks were one-sided over the first two games this past holiday weekend at Citi Field, and only two errors by a third-string shortstop prevented a sweep.

The Yankees expect to win and their front office demands nothing less. The air was certainly more tense back in George Steinbrenner’s hey-day, but a Bomber in a prolonged slump – especially one that comes with a high priced contract – can expect to see some bench time or worse.

The Mets? They reward someone like Jason Bay by putting him in the clean-up slot when he hasn’t shown a thing in a year and a half in Flushing since signing a $44 million free agent deal. Even with his ninth inning walk and tenth inning, game-winning single in the finale, Bay has been underachieving beyond comprehension.

This is a team that has shown no fire or desire since October of 2006. Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel have lost their jobs because of it and now Collins is experiencing the same. Maybe it isn’t the manager but rather the type of players that have been here. There is definitely something wrong when having the same amount of wins and losses is reason for celebration.

For the Yankees, anything short of a World Series championship is viewed as a failure. They expect to contend for more than just a playoff spot every time they head north from Spring Training.

Eduardo Nunez absolutely tore the cover off the ball against the Mets and knows that he is headed back to the bench when captain Derek Jeter comes off the disabled list. But when a second stringer on one team is more effective than the other’s starters, the separation cannot get any further.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Nunez’s backup couldn’t come up with two routine ground balls and Ramiro Pena single-handedly caused the Yankees from winning their eighth consecutive game.

When Steinbrenner was alive, he treated any game versus the Mets as if it were for a title. Even the old Mayor’s Trophy Game would have him on the edge of his seat. So when interleague games became part of the baseball landscape in 1997, The Boss wanted nothing more than to come out ahead. That still holds true to some extent, but the Mets seem to be making it easy for the Yanks.

The walk-off win notwithstanding, the Mets looked overmatched against the team from the Bronx.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Making the playoffs was all well and good, but the New York Knicks have their eyes set on something a little richer than that. But even the additions of superstar players like Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony was not enough.

No, the team may have picked up a lot on offense, but their defense left a lot to be desired. This group was certainly not one to be mistaken for the Knicks of the 1990s. So Donnie Walsh did what he felt was right in his last act as President, Basketball Operations.

With the 17th pick in the first round of the NBA Draft, he chose Georgia Tech guard Iman Shumpert. At 6’4″, 215-pound, he was known for his defense first and that was what made him attractive to the Knicks.

“We are pleased to add Iman to the Knicks,” said Walsh, who is stepping down from the day-to-day operations due to his health and age. “He is a tremendous athlete, with an incredible work ethic. Offensively, he can play both backcourt spots and defend three different positions.”

Last season, the Knicks finished with Chauncey Billups playing the one and Landry Fields at the two. Shumpert will have the opportunity to get minutes backing up both and his addition may result in Toney Douglas becoming trade bait. In two seasons since leaving Florida State, Douglas has averaged 9.8 points and 2.6 assists per game. On the other side of the ball, he averaged 2.6 rebounds and 1 steal per game. This is the area where Shumpert can distance himself from players like Douglas.

As a junior during the 2010-11 campaign, Shumpert averaged 17.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game for Georgia Tech. That last category was good enough for sixth in the entire nation. Shumpert was honored with selections to the All-ACC Second team and All-ACC Defensive Team.

“We are very excited to have Iman,” Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He is one of the better athletes in this draft who can play multiple positions. He will fit in nicely with what we are doing here, defensively and offensively.”

There was a time when the Knicks were such an effective defensive unit that the NBA instituted the hand-check rule because of them. Players like Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason played the game in a bruising Eastern Conference style that is a stark contrast from the run-and-gun look out west. D’Antoni plays a run-oriented offense and is known as the type of coach who is one-dimensional from his days in Phoenix and now New York. Perhaps the addition of Shumpert can be the first move to try and alter that somewhat.

In their first round series versus Boston, the Celtics were able to take advantage of second opportunities and made the most of them. Kevin Garnett hurt them in all facets of the game and playing a tougher defense is going to be a must if the Knicks intend on winning a championship one of these years.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Talk about your unlikely post-Father’s Day presents. In the Bichette household, not only will Dante Sr. get to see his namesake son graduate Orangewood Christian High School this month, but also report to his first team as a professional baseball player.

Surely during his 14-year major league career, Bichette dreamt of the day when he would be able to see Dante Jr. suit up and carry on the family tradition and that has become a reality. The New York Yankees drafted Dante Jr. with their first pick (the 51st overall selection in Compensation Round A) and wasted no time getting the power hitting third baseman inked and off to their Gulf Coast League affiliate.

“We were excited to be able to draft Dante and even more excited to get him signed,” Yankees Vice President of Amateur Scouting Damon Oppenheimer said. “Coming to an agreement this quickly will allow Dante to get a full season under his belt in 2011, and gets him ahead of the curve in many ways.”

The right-handed hitter led his Maitland, Florida team in hitting with a .640 batting average and added 58 runs scored, 10 home runs, 14 doubles and 40 RBI in only 30 games during his senior year. Bichette was also named “All Central Florida Baseball Player of the Year” in each of the last two seasons.

Those types of numbers certainly make Dad proud and the four-time All-Star had his fair share of being the producer in the line-up. Bichette Sr. broke into the big leagues with the California Angels and also played with the Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox, but will always be remembered for his time with the Colorado Rockies.

Bichette played seven seasons in the Mile High State and was the heart and soul of a team that went from being a struggling expansion club into the postseason only two short seasons later. In 1995, Bichette slugged 40 home runs as Coors Field was christened and the Rockies qualified for the first playoff berth as the National League wild card entry.

The outfielder retired in March of 2002 with a career average of .299, 26 home runs and 108 RBI. Bichette attempted a comeback in 2004 with the Nashua Pride of the independent Atlantic League as a first baseman and pitcher. His arm may not have been what he hoped, but there was nothing wrong with his bat. Bichette won the Atlantic League Player of the Month Award that August with a .361 average and 13 home runs.

It has been a whirlwind since then for Bichette Jr. The following year, he participated in the Little League World Series and since entering high school, he has been named the team MVP and an Under Armour All-American.

Both father and son are over six foot tall and eclipse the 200-pound mark, important qualities for hitting the long ball. One has been able to parlay that into a successful run in the majors and now the baton has been passed.

It appears that every day is a proud Father’s Day for one Florida family.

(Long Island, N.Y.) It’s a good thing that Citi Field was designed to be a pitcher’s park because the New York Mets have been as productive in the home run department as a team during the Dead Ball era. Injuries have derailed them somewhat, but they weren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard before that.

Carlos Beltran leads the team with 10 long balls and they even put struggling left fielder Jason Bay into the cleanup spot this week in an interleague series versus the Oakland Athletics. He replaced Daniel Murphy, who replaced Ike Davis in the four hole.

Davis was doing well with seven home runs through the first 36 games of the season before he went on the disabled list following a May 10 collision with David Wright fielding an infield popup. The left-handed hitting first baseman suffered a deep bone bruise to his left ankle and possible cartilage damage and may have to undergo season-ending surgery if it does not begin to heal soon.

That will put added pressure on Terry Collins to find the right man for the spot. Easier said than done and even Wright is not an option with him being on the shelf himself with a stress fracture in his back. It has been cleanup hitter by committee and that appears likely to continue until someone can step up and distance himself from the pack.

Perhaps that person will in fact be Bay, who did display some decent power ability throughout his major league career before signing with the Mets last winter. Since 2004, Bay hit 26, 32, 35, 21, 31 and 36 home runs before hitting bottom with a scant six during his first year in New York. That has continued this season with only three, but the 32-year-old has shown glimpses of finally breaking through of late.

On Tuesday evening, Bay had three hits, including a home run. “I was real excited for him,” Collins said to reporters. “He hit those balls hard – even the single was hard. It was a good night for him.”

And also a good night for Collins, even though the Mets were defeated by the A’s, 7-3. He has been pressing Bay’s buttons, moving him down in the batting order and even benching him when necessary. Only time will tell if the game was an aberration or not, but Collins rewarded Bay for it right away and that showing of confidence may be a springboard for better days ahead.

If Bay doesn’t work out there, then Collins may have little choice but to give Lucas Duda a legitimate opportunity to show that he can hit for power at this level. He has a sweet left-handed swing and may grow into being a power hitter. Duda, 25, hit 10 home runs in 38 games at Triple-A Buffalo before being called up. Being a corner outfielder/ first baseman will help get him at-bats, too.

Someone on the current roster will have to get it done because the Mets will be sellers and not buyers at the July 31st trading deadline. Duda has the most upside out of the contenders, so Collins may be better off letting him endure the growing pains most young ballplayers go through.

(Long Island, N.Y.) The transactions column for the NFL has been silent as the labor negotiations continue, but that hasn’t stopped a flurry of ‘activity’ from almost taking place. Such is the current situation everyone is in as briefcases and law manuals have taken the place of chalkboards and play books.

While awaiting the settlement, team front office personnel have had more than ample time to set their plan of attack. Free agents are in limbo and general managers will have to kick into high gear once the bell rings. But it certainly helps when a potential impact player sends more than smoke signals to become a part of your team.

Plaxico Burress may have made a bad decision and paid his dues to society for it, but that doesn’t take away the fact that the guy can play the game exceptionally well – when he feels like it. His tenure with the Giants was rocky to say the least, with Burress and head coach Tom Coughlin not seeing eye to eye on anything.

While that should raise some red flags, it certainly helps when your head coach is the antithesis of Major Tom. Rex Ryan is viewed as much more of a ‘player’s coach,’ and that has played a big part into the Jets’ success since the former Baltimore defensive coordinator came to the Big Apple.

On a recent appearance on ESPN Radio, Burress was upfront about his love for New York and the possibility of becoming a Jet. “It’s been thought about,” he told host Stephen A. Smith. “I am not going to sit here and front. For me to go to one side to the other side and win a championship in the same city, how many people have done that? And do I have the capability to lead a team to a championship? Without question.”

Two of those aforementioned free agents just happen to play the same position as Burress and have had their own off-the-field and character issues. Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes have both been productive during their stay here, but either or both are replaceable. Especially Edwards, with Burress being a very similar player. Both are tall and lanky and are effective going long on the sidelines, while Holmes is more of a slot receiver.

There will be a lot of rust that Burress must work off after spending 20 months in jail for gun possession, but he has a few good years left (he turns 34 in August) and will be hungry to prove that he is far from finished. Another issue will be the salary cap, with Edwards and Holmes both commanding expensive deals and Burress not having as much of a negotiating stance.

Even if Mike Tannenbaum does not want to add Burress or someone such as Randy Moss, he can use their availability to get the price down on Edwards and/or Holmes. The more options that are out there give the Jets general manager more negotiating power and all four possess the type of talent that a team close to a title would need on their roster.

(Long Island, N.Y.) One major criticism of LeBron James last summer was that he took the easy way out. Instead of staying as the leader in Cleveland or filling that role in New York, he chose to become one of three big name players in Miami and ride Dwayne Wade’s sidecar with Chris Bosh en route to an NBA championship.

But a funny thing happened on the way to becoming the next dynasty. James, instead of being ‘the guy’ on the floor and wanting the basketball in big moments, deferred to his teammates more times than not and the Heat fell to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

Winning your conference and representing it in the NBA Finals is certainly an accomplishment in itself, but the Heat did not bring James and Bosh in to lose a series like this. The Mavs are a very talented team and deserving of a title, but the Heat had the star power and with the majority of the series being decided in the waning minutes, James could have and should have made more of a difference.

While South Florida is certainly a bigger market than Ohio, it is still way down on the list in comparison to New York. When the Gotham sports talk radio programs were filled with irate callers accusing King James of not being brave enough to put Madison Square Garden on his back, they may have been on to something. James did have a productive regular season (27.6 points per game) after a slow start, but he needed to prove that he is even capable of being in the same conversation with someone such as Michael Jordan. And that all starts with championship rings.

James now has two Finals losses on his resume and zero wins. He did lead the way back in 2007, but he had no pressure on him in that series. The Cavaliers were still an up and coming team that year and James’ supporting cast was made up of pedestrian players and others that were on the downside of their careers, so beating San Antonio would have been viewed as a huge upset.

That wasn’t the case this time around. Miami was expected to take care of business like they did in 2006, but they couldn’t get the job done. James’ frustration was apparent in his post-game comments and all of the flak he received from last summer’s dog and pony show may have played a part in it.

“At the end of the day, all of the people that (were) rooting on me to fail, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today,” he said to reporters after the Game 7 loss. “They have the same personal problems they had today. I’m going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy that with it. They can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be about being happy about not only myself, but (also) the Miami Heat about not accomplishing their goal, but they have to get back to the real world at some point.”

Even though James backpedaled some a day later, it still shows that he lacks the maturity to take a public beating like Patrick Ewing endured throughout his tenure on Broadway. The Knicks have ‘recovered’ quite well after James didn’t accept their free agent offer and – while not in the Heat’s caliber yet – are clearly on the right track and have two quality superstars of their own in Carmelo Anthony and A’Mare Stoudemire.

By qualifying for the playoffs, the Knicks got a small taste of what will be a part of their immediate future, and they will know that LeBron made the correct “Decision” in the long run.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Having just won his seventh consecutive decision to start the season, it would have been easy for Dillon Gee to speak with some sense of bravado. But the 25-year-old right-hander took the high road and resorted to his dedication as the reason for the success.

“I definitely feel like I’m gaining more confidence every time out, but it’s hard work here and I have to just keep working hard to maintain where I’m at and get a little bit better, too,” he said by his locker following the Mets 8-1 victory in Pittsburgh on Friday night.

Not only does Gee have a perfect 7-0 record, but also the Mets are 9-0 in his 12 starts. Numbers-wise, he has a 3.05 ERA and 44 strikeouts, while walking only 20 batters. But even with all of the positives, Gee feels that he hasn’t even reached the potential of his full repertoire of pitches.

“The curveball has been kind of hit or miss,” he acknowledged. “The slider was pretty bad to begin with and now that I’m throwing something else, so there’s definitely still a lot of work to be done, I feel like.”

One can only imagine what will be the results once Gee is comfortable throwing any number of pitches in certain spots. “Before, I never really thought about locating the change-up,” he said. “I just kind of threw it. Now, I try to locate the outside corner with it, especially to right-handers and its definitely gotten better.”

In 2010, Gee had ‘a cup of coffee’ in the major leagues and was impressive in five starts with a 2-2 mark and a low 2.18 ERA. But new manager Terry Collins decided to let him start the season at Triple-A Buffalo and whatever the strategy was, it is paying dividends now.

“He has pitched great,” said Collins. “I can’t say enough good things about the job he has done on that mound, controlling his emotions, keeping himself in the game.just making pitches. It’s been really amazing to watch.”

Gee even admitted that he has moved fast through the Mets system and had no regrets about not making the opening day roster. “The guys were pitching really good in the rotation and there was no spot for me,” he commented. “I understand that and it’s disappointing that some of the guys got hurt but I’m just glad that I could step in and help out.”

One of those pitchers that Gee was referring to was Chris Young, who pitched extremely well during the spring and in his four starts (1-0, 1.88). But the former Padre has had a history of arm-related woes and that unfortunately continued in Flushing. Young suffered a torn anterior capsule in his right shoulder in May and will undergo surgery, likely ending his season.

Once the eight-year veteran went down, Gee became an important part of the rotation and has more than held his own. At this rate, he should be highly considered for the All-Star team and Rookie of the Year Award.

Not too bad for a guy who was visited by ‘The Turk’ in Port St. Lucie a few months ago.

(Long Island, N.Y.) When Stan Ross collected his 3,000th major league hit, he abruptly retired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the middle of the 1995 pennant race. The star then used the moniker “Mr. 3,000” in several business ventures and laughed all the way to the bank.

That is, until nine years later when a thorough official scorer’s check revealed that Ross was credited with three more hits than he should have. At 47 and far from game shape, he then needed to come out of retirement in an attempt to reach the milestone.

Don’t expect Derek Jeter to go through the same experience as the late Bernie Mac did in the 2004 comedy. The Yankee captain needs only 11 more hits to get there following Wednesday night’s 11-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox and is primed to become only the 28th player in major league history to do so.

More importantly, Jeter will become the first Yankee to amass 3,000 hits. When you consider the greats that have worn pinstripes throughout the years that is as surprising as anything. Neither Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio nor Mickey Mantle holds that distinction.

It is no coincidence that the Yankees are having a strong season with Jeter back in the fold after he was re-signed to a three-year, $51 million contract last December. Although his numbers may not be high (Jeter was hitting .261 with two home runs and 17 RBI through the first 57 games of the season), it is his leadership qualities that are most important. Even with his production down, Jeter still puts the team on his back and leads it to the Promised Land.

“Every year we go out and try to prove that we have the best team in baseball,” the 11-time All-Star shortstop said. “And that hasn’t changed. That has been my focus since Day One and that will always continue.”

But even Jeter realizes that there will be certain people who question his abilities as the veteran grows older. “Criticism is a part of the game,” he admits. “I’ve never shied away from [it]. I’ve always taken it as a challenge. I’ve gotten older over the years but I’ve never seen anyone getting younger.”

Although he will be turning 37 later this month, Jeter has a lot left in the tank. “I’ve always tried to get better year in and year out, and that will continue,” he said. Jeter’s conditioning and preparation are the standard and he is emulated by teammates young and old.

In the Bombers’ clubhouse, he is tied for the longest tenure with Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, and the trio is the last group from the all-important 1996 team. That World Series championship club began the current dynasty that is still paying off, with a title as recent as 2009. And Jeter isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.

“I don’t look towards the end of a career when you’re in the middle of it.”

And 3,000 hits is certainly an indication that Jeter’s career would make a great movie some day. But the script is far from finished.

(Long Island, N.Y.) When the Knicks hired Donnie Walsh three years ago, he was brought in to do a number of things. First, the new president of basketball operations had to bring in a head coach that would be willing to have the same patience that he would have to show while the roster went through a complete overhaul.

He tabbed Mike D’Antoni to be that guy and then turned his attention towards ridding the team of the deadwood that was taking up the entire salary cap. Walsh did a masterful job of trading away all the albatross contracts Isiah Thomas saddled him with and even though they missed out on LeBron James, the Knicks were able to become a competitive playoff team that has a bright future.

Unfortunately Walsh will not be around – at least in a major role – to reap the benefits. The 70-year-old turned down a contract extension due to health reasons and a desire to spend more time with his family.

“Following a long series of discussions regarding his future role with the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh and I have mutually agreed that he will leave his position as president, basketball operations of the Knicks at the end of June,” executive chairman James Dolan said in an official statement released by the organization. “Donnie will remain with the team as a consultant for the 2011-12 season.”

There was a lot of speculation when Walsh entered the 2010-11 campaign as a lame duck GM, and he kept telling the media that everything would be taken care of in June, when his contract expired. Would owner James Dolan push him out the door? Was Thomas waiting in the wings?

The way it appears now is that Dolan realized that Walsh was the best man for the job and sincerely wanted to keep him right where he was. Walsh has been dealing with a number of medical issues and that no doubt played a part in his deciding to step down.

Now the big decision has to come as to Walsh’s permanent replacement, which was also touched on by Dolan in the statement. “We will now begin an immediate search for a new president and general manager, but do not have a timetable for the decision,” he commented. “Glen Grunwald, the Knicks’ senior vice president, basketball operations, will serve as interim general manager, beginning in July, overseeing all player transactions.”

The last important call that Walsh will be making will occur at the upcoming NBA Draft. The Knicks are picking 17th and adding an impact player at that spot is not that likely, but an important role player can be found. In the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Knicks had to give up a number of players that Walsh had amassed for that reason and also to be retained. Because James went to Miami, Plan B had to be utilized and the trade route needed to be taken. Now depth is on the checklist with two superstars (Anthony and A’Mare Stoudemire) already in the fold.

So Walsh’s departing gift to the fans may not be as splashy as what he has done so far, but may pay nice dividends down the road.

(Long Island, N.Y.) When the New York Mets decided to replace both their general manager and manager, it appeared that the much-needed rebuilding process was well under way. Sandy Alderson was tabbed as the replacement for Omar Minaya and his managerial search resulted in Terry Collins being named the twentieth in team history.

There was a sentiment amongst the fan base for Wally Backman to get a shot at the job. The former second baseman was a spark plug on the beloved 1986 Mets championship club and did a good job as the skipper of the Brooklyn Cyclones last summer.

Backman interviewed for the position, but Alderson decided on someone with major league experience as a field boss. Collins may have had that advantage over someone such as Backman, but he also has had a history of meltdowns and being unable to handle the heat.

We were reminded of what occurred to Collins in both Anaheim and Japan during his post-game press conference following the 9-3 home loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I’m running out of ideas here,” Collins said with obvious frustration. It’s hard to blame Collins for being handed a team that was thin before injuries ravaged what little talent they had, but throwing your hands up and admitting that there is not much left to do to correct the problems won’t do much for ticket sales – especially on the first of June.

“I don’t have the answers,” continued Collins. “I’m trying. I’m wringing the rag dry of coming in here and looking at you guys (the reporters), and having you look at me like I’m a stinking fool. And I told these guys (the players), ‘We’re good enough. We’ve got to play the game right. We just can’t continue to make foolish mistakes.”

It is human nature to become frustrated when things are not going as planned, but Alderson had to know that periods like this were to be expected. The purse strings were and will continue to be tight so there will be no saviors coming into town by the trading deadline. That will probably be the day that we say goodbye to Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, so things are going to get much worse before they get better.

By beginning to commit to younger players in 2010, the Mets are a few years away from competing for a wild card spot. Knowing that and continuing the trend, Alderson would have been better served by going with a minor league skipper to grow along with the roster. Bringing in a burnt out retread like Collins is a stopgap measure and he will not be around when the team’s fortunes begin to turn for the better.

At least Collins is showing some emotion, and that is a breath of fresh air from his predecessor. Collins may have been a step in the right direction, but Backman is the antithesis of Jerry Manuel and that is what the Mets needed.

Perhaps Alderson will rethink it after the season concludes.