As if the stumbling Mets needed the help, Brian Bannister is making their braintrust look even more foolish. Bannister, whom the Mets traded Kansas City before last season for the immortal Ambiorix Burgos, is 3-0 with a ridiculous 0.86 ERA for the Royals after a three-hit, complete game win over the Twins today.

Meanwhile, Burgos is out indefinitely because of elbow surgery and remains best known for having $270,000 in jewelry briefly stolen from his hotel room in Port St. Lucie during spring training this year.

Hmmm … you think Omar Minaya wouldn’t mind a do-over on that trade about now?