El Duque can hit.

In tonight's game against the Cards, he contributed two hits and two runs batted in to the Mets' 4-1 victory, which assures a series win over the defending World Series champs.

Imagine the frustration he must have felt during those seven seasons in the Designated Hitter League. He did manage to bat .333 in inter-league play during a couple of his seasons with the Yanks.

Update: ... and John Maine surely can pitch, as the Mets complete a sweep of the defending champs at Nuevo Busch Stadium. According to the AP story, this is the first time the Mets have had a 3-0 start since 1994. Ah, yes, the "strike-shortened 1994 season", which the Mets ended with a 55-58 record.

I'll continue to be a worrywart until the Mets either (a) clinch, or (b) are mathematically eliminated.

For August: I root for the Orioles, too ... whenever they play the Yanks.

The right reporter on the beat.

Today's New York Times lead article on the Supreme Court's decision concerning carbon dioxide emissions is by ... Linda Greenhouse.

Must I give up backing the Florida Gators now?

After all, I've always had this thing for underdogs.

Mets win opener.

They win it, 6-1, on the road, against the Cards, their nemesis in last year's NLCS. It wasn't as easy as the score indicates, with both Glavine and Heilman having to pitch out of bases loaded jams. In Glavine's case, the escape was aided by a great Beltran throw from center and a LoDuca tag-out of Eckstein at the plate. Wagner pitched the ninth in a no-save situation, and gave up two hits before closing the deal.

I feel a little less nervous than I did during most of spring training, but I have this sense that, for the Mets, losing the opener is a good sign (I believe they lost opening games in both 1969 and 1986).

Tim Marchman nailed it: "Mets fans, by nature, are fusspots."