I know it’s July 2nd, but I will say it NOW-the Mets and Yankees can start planning for 2009.

The Yanks have too much ground to make up and are too inconsistent-as age creeps in and they have to get younger. At 34, Jeter has had a disappointing year. Will Pettitte and Mussina, Damon and Matsui (is Godzilla done for the year?) even be back next season. Even with his bounce back this year, Giambi probably won’t be back. Melky hasn’t had hit in forever-WHY didn’t Girardi have him bunt last night?

The Mets: Not much different. Pedro, Delgado, Castillo, Alou-all done. None should be back next year. Ollie Perez and Mike Pelfrey aren’t consistent enough. Right now, the Mets’ farm system couldn’t grow organic eggs, never mind major league talent. For this season, the Mets can thank the Lord they’re in the N-L’s LEAST-ern Division. Once the All Star Game is done in a few weeks, we can talk football. Best news of all: Somewhere Joe Torre and Willie Randolph are smiling. It isn’t-and-wasn’t-their fault.

It’s amazing: Sports continues to be the candy store of American society, yet like gas and food prices, the average person continues to be pushed AWAY from sports.

Let’s reference the Giants and Jets, who have made it known that they will charge Personal Seat Licenses just so fans can reserve the right to buy season tickets. They’ll be up to 5,000 seats in the new stadium at the Meadowlands where Big Blue fans will have to pay a whopping $20,000 ON TOP of the high priced season tickets. There are people in this country that don’t even EARN that much in a calendar year.

This stuff is wrong-totally unfair to the consumer. Hard to imagine, this is WORSE than what the Mets do with their “Game Category” tickets, where they set the ticket prices based on the team they play. Example: The WORST seat in the upper deck for the recently completed Yankees series cost $35 dollars in the Platinum category. Those same seats for the Pirates and Nationals-the only games in the ‘Value’ category (12 total) cost $5 a piece. I guess this means that if those two teams play better this year, their games will cost more in 2009.

A game is a game-go or don’t go. Pay for tickets-regardless of sport-no tax or PSL allowed. Otherwise, I can always watch the games on TV.

The Rangers are basking in the glow of signing veteran Markus Naslund, they’ve decided to move on without Jaromir Jagr. The two sides couldn’t come to a deal. Jagr wants to be the highest paid Ranger. It didn’t happen, so Jagr is free to move on-at least in the minds of the Rangers. The team WILL miss his leadership. As Glen Sather continues to re-work the team, you hope that they will keep youth at the forefront of the team.

One of the benefits of working at a TV station is that you get to see some out of town games. Last night: the Tampa Bay Rays finished off a three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox. Can you say first place? Now to my Aunt Patricia and Uncle Jim who claim loyalty to the Yankees (Yes, Patricia goes back all the way to Bucky Dent) this is not a good sign. Like many transplanted New Yorkers now living in F-L-A, they brought their rooting interests with them. They just didn’t figure on the Rays causing them any problems.

For those of you unaware, the Yankees draw as much attention in Tampa as the Rays do-at least till now. The Yankees train in Tampa. George and Hank Steinbrenner have issued directives from the family compound. TV sports highlights almost always include the Yankees during the baseball season.

So it must BE KILLING all those Red Sox, Yankees, and I’ll say it, Mets fans in Florida that the Rays are suddenly so good. Before this season, I cared about the Rays chances of winning about as much as Adulter-Rod’s affair with Madonna. It had no bearing on my life. Now though….

I see a Tampa team with 5 starters that have a chance to win every night. My Mets, even with Santana, can’t say that. With Neither can the Yankees. The Rays? Kazmir (UGH-I’d love him with the Mets. Oh, that’s right-I HAD him) Shields, Sonnanstine , Garza and Jackson are all good-none is 27 as I type this today.

The Knicks will officially announce the signing of Chris Duhon in the next day or so. The move officially ends the Stephon Marbury Error at the Garden. Duhon can play defense-thought to be forgotten by new coach Mike D’Antoni. Actually, the Knicks roster has lots of guards that could stay or go: Marbury, Nate Robinson and Mardy Collins. The knock on the talented Duhon-he likes the nightlife a bit much.

Hopefully the Knicks will buy him an alarm clock and things will go well. Next up: If the Knicks can’t rid themselvesof Starbury, how do he get along with D’Antoni and Duhon? Stay tuned

A few weeks ago I wrote at this spot that the Mets and Yankees seasons were done. Yes, the Mets won last night, but a few things reaered their ugly heads.

Number one: The bullpen-when it’s bad, it’s horrible-the soft underbelly of an inconsistent team. I don’t care if tou’re the worst team in baseball, you cannoy allow a club to rally from 10-1 down. Sunday, you can’t allow a team down to their last strike to tie the game. Good teams win games they have to. Does three in a row over the first place Phillies make the Mets a good team? Not yet. When the Mets are 10 games above .500, than we can start talking about a ‘good’ team in Flushing.

You can write the same story for the Yankees, who were lucky to split with the BoSox this weekend. For the first time in a LONG time, it’s not Yanks-Red Sox and everybody else. The first place Rays are in town the next two nights. I’m tired of hearing, “The Rays have to feel the pressure and beat the Yankees.” Tampa owns the best record in baseball RIGHT NOW. They play the Yankees well whether they are awful or not. Remember, the Rays are the chased, not the chasers. The pressure lies on the Yanks and Red Sox, looking up at a different nemesis in early July.

Yesterday Hank Steinbrenner put out his missive about how many injuries the Bronx Bombers have. No one feels sympathy for the Yankees. Brian Cashman better skip town if the Yanks don’t sign C.C. Sabathia in the off season.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel spread some more fertilizer. “We’re putting together some good play.” This from a guy who is 11-9 as interim manager. So I’ll stick to my guns: There will be NO OCTOBER BASEBALL for the local nines.

Last night’s All Star Game was, in a word-TERRIFIC. The pomp and circumstance with the Hall of Famers. George Steinbrenner making an appearance, great. Plus, the guys played hard, played like they wanted their league to win.

The 15 inning affair was the longest in history-nearly 5 hours long. NL Manager Clint Hurdle was ready to use David Wright as a pitcher if the game went to the 16th inning. That hideous word ‘tie’ was making used car salesman Bud Selig choke on his hot dog in the later innings.

Honestly, there was NO reason for there to be any thought of a tie. To state the case, just compare to the 1967 All Star Game that also went 15 innings.

In 1967, 12 TOTAL pitchers were used, last night - 23. In ’67, pitchers went longer-Catfish Hunter twirled the final 5 innings of the game.

Therein lies the biggest problem-you DON’T need 12 pitchers on each staff. Seven or eight is fine. If you want to honor guys like Kazmir and Webb that pitched Sunday, great, but only 8 active guys on a staff. If guys who are normally starters aren’t ready to go

Let the big stars play longer. Here’s a tidbit: Willie Mays played 11 full All Star games. Jeter and A-Rod should be willing to go 7-8 innings. Wouldn’t you rather have the biggest stars playing with the game on the line? You DON’T need every team represented either. Just take the best 25-28 guys, period.

Did you here Giants owner John Mara on WFAN this morning, To hear him justify the Giants’ “need” to stick fans with Personal Seat Licenses is like listening to George Bush explain our continuing involvement in Iraq. But hey, you get the ‘right’ to hold onto your seats! Plus, if I’ve got Mara right, Big Blue will steer you to banks and finance companies to help you cough up the cash to watch 10-read that again-10 games per season. Whether a fan winds up paying $1,000 or $20,000 for a PSL, this is wrong. The correct word - and I said this 2 weeks ago was sinful. The Good Book says that the love of money is the root of all evil, and the Giants today-and the Jets in early August-have stretched the limits of avaraice.

So basically, let’s say you have 2 $700 tickets in the new stadium. Your PSL is $20,000 on each seat. To hear Mara tell it, you get 20 months to pay $40,000 for your one time PSL rights. Add on one season of 2 tickets at $700 apiece for 10 games. That’s $54,000 that some will be paying in a span of less than 2 years.

Let’s remember: these two teams don’t NEED a new stadium. As much as we love sports, this is not the same as paying more for the school budget, or new roads, or new taxes. Those are necessities that affect the quality of people’s lives. This is millionaires like the Mara family and Jets owner Woody Johnson telling you that they need YOU to finance their business. Do you pay your boss money so that you can have a job? No. You work for your boss so that the business thrives enough that you get a share of the profit. It’s called a paycheck. There’s no one time fee upfront that “entitles” you to the job till you get fired, retire, or resign.

Can you say Amazin? You don’t have to be as stunned (or as stunning) as my friend Nikki in Long Beach, C-A. THE FIRST PLACE METS!! The turnaround has been a shock. If you’d told me that the Mets would be sharing the N-L East penthouse with the Phillies this morning-you all KNOW I wouldn’t have taken that bet.

I’m still not totally sold on the club. Johan Santana is a prima donna now using the Billy Joel concert as an excuse for his hideous performance last night. Hard to believe that Santana is a student at the O. J. Simpson School of Alibis. I thought I was getting an ace, not a guy who has yet to let the team ride on his back.

BUT-this team suddenly is more relentless than MMA star Robbie Lawler. Last nighr’s ninth inning rally was classic. I knew something good was afoot when David “Stormy” Weathers entered the game for the Reds. Suddenly, Delgado and Tatis are Mantle and Maris. Therein lies my dilemma: Outside of Pedro Martinez, who I can’t count on-just like El Duque-the starting pitching is good to great. Pelfrey, Maine and Ollie Perez are settling in. You hope Santana will inherit some intestinal fortitude soon and start getting it done. MORE AFTER THE JUMP

The world champion Giants did the smart thing and finally traded disgruntled Jeremy Shockey to the Saints for two draft picks. Yes, Kevin Boss isn’t as good, but the chemistry on the team just got better. Now, if only someone could tell Plaxico Burress to shut up and play out his contract like most of us do.

You never would have thought it, but the Yankees greatest need right now is hitting, not pitching. Molina, Melky and Gardner will be around, and that weakens the lineup - last night’s 12 runs against the Twins notwithstanding. Forty-four times this season, the supposed Bronx Bombers have scored 2 runs or less. Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Matt Holliday may be available. BUT - the fact that it’s New York may lead teams to try to fleece the farm system. The Yanks could just try to ride the wave till Hughes or (Lord help them) Pavano return. The club isn’t losing and is still in good position as Oakland and now Minnesota start fading.

The key: Will the Rays fall off the pace? Not if they get pitching like they got from Kazmir last night. But if the Yankees DON’T make a move, that will have to be what they hope for-and keep on winning with Pettitte and Mussina continuing to pitch well. Like the Mets, the Yanks have enough to get to the postseason. It remains to be seen if they have enough to stay thrive in October.

The big game tonight: Mets and Phillies open a three game set at Shea. Both clubs enter the series tied for first place in the National League east. The best player on the field SHOULD be Mets starter Johan Santana. We’re still not sure.

This afternoon, Mets owner Fred Wilpon admitted what all in New York have known: The team was wrong in the way they fired Willie Randolph-after midnight following a win against the Angels on the West Coast, and 3:18 am New York time.

To borrow Bill O’Reilly’s term: great to see a club finally take a ‘no spin approach to its actions.

We all know that I’m one of those guys that always says, “Baseball is a marathon, NOT a sprint.” A six month season has more twists and turns than Eliot Spitzer’s personal life. Most people get that. But here in New York, the Mets and Yankees are treated as 162 individual soap operas. The fans live and die with the teams. One day, all is great with the world. The next, your team stinks and there is no hope for the future of civilization.

Last night was one of those rare exceptions. The Mets had the day’s headlines all to themselves. Yes, the Yankees are better and are streaking right now. But the Mets were tall set to reach first place-three outs away from putting a season of inconsistency behind them. More after the jump.

If you’re like me, you probably watched Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith for free on CBS’ Elite XC MMA card Saturday night rather than drop down $50 bucks for Pay-Per-View of Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito scrap. Both fights were good - Lawler retains his middleweight title (185 pounds in most MMA organizations) with a second round knockout. More after the jump.

I know the Jets are trying to design themselves to win NOW, but I am all about looking for the best of both worlds. Do like the Patriots and Giants-building depth so that your good long term. If the Jets bring Favre here, that stunts Clemens’ and Ainge’s growth. You can rid yourself of Chad Pennington if you wish, but he is a proven leader - beloved in that Gang Green locker room. The Jets have to be sure Favre WANTS to be here. They have to know whether he is committed to one or two years. Mangini’s crew doesn’t need the circus that comes with Favre. Plus, are they going to give up a #1 pick-that’s what the Pack will ask for - for a guy who’s 39 years old? A guy who, charismatic as he is, makes as many big mistakes nowadays as he does big plays? This sounds bad to the media, but Brett and his gunslinging and personal issues made him a bit overhyped. Guess what his career record is in the playoffs: 12-10. Another Packer QB, Bart Starr, was 9-1 in the postseason-and that loss was the 1960 NFL Championship Game. Favre’s one Super Bowl win was 11 years ago. More after the jump.

Baseball is New York’s summer game, and the locals are moving right along. Johan Santana FINALLY showed some manly virtues and pitched like an ace yesterday. ‘Bout time., even in the watered down pitching we have today.

Let’s face it, the Mets are a collapse Tuesday by the pen and a big hit on Saturday from being 4 or 5 games ahead. Carlos Delgado has rediscovered the Fountain of Youth (hopefully not steroids) and the starting pitching, minus Brandon Knight’s rough outing Saturday, has been good. A big three game set with the Marlins at the Fish Tank starts tonight in Miami. By the way, is Raul Ibanez in the Mets’ future? NOT if it means Niese and NO WAY Pelfrey. Perez for Manny Ramirez? Maybe-check back Friday.

The Yankees have been dominant since the All-Star break, and they show no sign of slowing down. They won eight straight heading into Sunday night’s game with Boston. Days before the trade deadline, they strengthened their lineup by acquiring outfielder Xavier Nady and relief pitcher Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates. But in a division like the AL East, there is always room for roster improvement. So the Yankees will do anything to gain an extra edge as they head into crunch time in September… even consider signing the Homerun King himself, Barry Bonds!

On paper, Bonds is one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the game. (Whether steroids allowed him to break the homerun record is still an unanswered question.) Sure, he’s been a great player, but whose to say he’ll even perform after being sidelined since last season? More after the jump.

Manny Ramirez is a vital part of the Red Sox team that has thrived for the past decade. Even so, the 2004 World Series MVP and the Sox organization have parted ways. But neither the Red Sox nor Manny will benefit from this trade at this point in the season.

The Red Sox, even with David Ortiz, are out of their minds if they think their team will be better off without a slugger like Manny. He’s consistently been the team’s best hitter and clutch performer. Without him, the Red Sox may even drop out of playoff contention in the AL East.