It’s long been said that pinch-hitting is one of the most difficult things to do in baseball. But Mets utility man Jordany Valdespin has mastered it through his first one-plus seasons in the big leagues.

Of Valdespin’s 10 career home runs, six have come as a pinch hitter.

Excluding catcher John Buck’s scorching start to the season, Daniel Murphy has been the New York Mets’ top hitter through the team’s first 11 games.

Murphy, who is batting a team-high .381, has hit safely in all but three games. The second baseman has a team-best 16 hits, including eight extra-base hits – five doubles, two home runs and one triple – in 42 at-bats. Last season, he didn’t belt his first two home runs until June 27, when he hit both in consecutive at-bats.

The race was supposed to be one of the most competitive and tightest state Legislative elections in the country. Some were preparing for the possibility of a recount. Either way, nearly everyone on both sides of the campaign thought the final results would be close.

They weren’t.

For months it had been characterized as the closest, most expensive state legislative race in the country. The two-term Democratic state senator faced a challenge from a popular Republican city councilman in a newly redrawn district that is far more perilous for a Democrat. These two men shared the same political base and both served the same community in City Hall and in many cases, had the same supporters.

But in the end, the incumbent came out on top — and it was not even close.

For months it had been characterized as the closest, most expensive, state legislative race in the country. The two-term Democratic state senator facing a challenge from a popular Republican city councilman in a newly redrawn district that is far more perilous for a Democrat. These two men shared the same political base and both served the same community in City Hall and in many cases, had the same supporters.

As a key Republican Party nomination battle for state Senate shapes up between Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Forest Hills attorney Juan Reyes, the Queens Conservative Party today gave Ulrich an ideological boost by throwing him its support.

City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) announced today that he is challenging state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. for the 15th Senatorial District.

With ducks quacking in the background and a forceful wind whipping the American flag and red, white and blue balloons, Republican City Councilman Dan Halloran of Whitestone announced his candidacy Monday for the 6th Congressional District seat, saying it’s time for a real change.

Speaking to supporters, party officials and the press at Bowne Park in Flushing, Halloran, 41, said he is in it to win it and “the campaign won’t be distorted by non-issues.”

Could south Queens see its third special election in three years in 2011?

The central swaths of the borough saw it all this year — even a tornado.

Talk of school closings and casinos dominated much of the headlines this past year in south Queens, but residents also faced their own unique problems, whether they be flooding or dangerous intersections.

Through the offices of civic leader Ruben Estrada, more than 1,000 pairs of new shoes will be distributed this holiday season to New York Goodwill, Newburgh Boxing Club, East Harlem Council, Providence House and numerous other organizations.

Republican Anthony Como has officially conceded in his race to upset state Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) in the 15th Senate District.

State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and son of Queens who grew up in Hollis Hills, won a promotion from the people of New York Tuesday when he was elected governor, easily defeating Republican nominee Carl Paladino and a slew of minor party candidates.

Hundreds of ghosts, goblins, princesses, pirates and even elected officials and candidates of Halloweens past and present last Sunday haunted Myrtle Avenue as the Kiwanis Club of Glendale celebrated its 41st annual Halloween Parade.

In one of the most watched state Senate races in the city, freshman Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) seemingly prevailed over his Republican opponent, former prosecutor and onetime City Councilman Anthony Como, who as of press time did not concede the election.

With the midterm election finish line mere days away, 9th Congressional District candidates Bob Turner, a Republican, and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens and Brooklyn) Thursday night seemed sharply divided on most issues, including the national deficit, stimulus, healthcare and Bush tax cuts as they squared off in a spirited debate at the Juniper Park Civic Association meeting in Middle Village.

The two candidates for the 15th state Senate District debated a final time before the Nov. 2 election Thursday evening in Middle Village.

Governor of New York State: Andrew Cuomo (D) Carl Paladino (R)

Many residents of New York have long held a cynical view of how business is done in the state capital.

State Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) believes in reforming New York’s state government, something he says has been a priority in the nearly two years he has served in Albany.

Election season is in full swing, and several candidates in south Queens races made their pitch to voters at the Ozone Park Civic Association candidates night on Tuesday.

Anthony Como, raised in Ridgewood and residing in Middle Village, is a son of the 15th Senatorial District, a broad swath of Queens he’s hoping to get the opportunity to represent come January. Como, a conservative Republican, faces fellow 15th native, state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), in November, and as he sat down Monday afternoon with the Chronicle, he said he’s getting a sense that constituents are searching for a change in leadership.

Candidates for state Senate and Assembly last Thursday delivered their best campaign pitches at the Glendale Property Owners Association meeting at St. Pancras School on Myrtle Avenue.