Edgar Alfonzo instantly dismisses any suggestions that his All-Star brother suddenly forgot how to hit this season. And to hear the Brooklyn Cyclones manager tell it, the Mets’ second baseman is struggling for one reason and one reason only.

His back.

“I used to have back problems,” said Edgar, who speaks to Edgardo every day. “It becomes so hard to just swing a bat, and you have to make adjustments for the pain.”

Over the last two seasons, Edgardo has recorded career highs in batting average (.324), home runs (27) and RBIs (108) while establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Met lineup. But through 54 games this season, Edgardo – who was slated to come off the disabled list and return to the Met lineup last night – was batting a very un-All-Star-like .251 with nine homers and 24 RBIs.

Even more disturbing was the fact that at the tender age of 27 (he’ll turn 28 in November), Edgardo was experiencing the type of back trouble that some worried might be chronic.

According to his brother, however, the 15 days off helped Edgardo immeasurably, although he’s admittedly a bit leery about what might happen come gametime.

“He’s feeling much better, and the pain has gone away,” said Edgar, who insisted that the back also wasn’t bothering Edgardo during the World Series when he batted just .143 and looked uncomfortable at the plate. “But he’s still a little bit scared. Hopefully he’ll be all right in the game, and if so, I think you’ll see the Edgardo Alfonzo of the last five years.”