Was their Sunday call of Nelson Figueroa's 4-0 shutout of Houston, in the Mets' season finale, the trio's final performance together?

Following the game, on the air and in no uncertain terms, Hernandez raised that very possibility. Cohen had just finished talking about how well they've worked together and Darling thanked fans for sticking with them during a season of Mets injuries and abysmal play.

It was then that Hernandez steered off course, dropping a bombshell.

"I've enjoyed the four years and, hopefully, I'm in the middle of negotiating my new contract, hopefully, I'll be back (next season)," Hernandez said.

Darling, eyebrows raised and totally surprised, looked at Hernandez and asked: "Are you doing that (negotiating your contract on TV) now?"

"Hopefully I'll be back," Hernandez said. "If not, it's been a great four years."

Responding to our question about Hernandez making his contractual situation public, and raising the possibility he could be history at the network, an SNY spokesman would only say: "We don't comment on contract status or negotiations."

Hernandez has earned a well-deserved reputation of delivering the unpredictable. His loose lips are a big part of his persona, his on-air charm. While SNY suits have become accustomed to his style, they likely were surprised to hear Hernandez air his business laundry on television.

This likely is not part of some calculated plan or negotiating strategy.

Or as one broadcast agent said: "Even if you work without a safety net, like Keith Hernandez, you are usually inclined - and encouraged - to keep contract information private. Your employers don't expect to turn on a game and hear you say you are negotiating a contract and may not be coming back."

Then again, everything about the Mets' 2009 season has been strange. From the injury epidemic, to Omar Minaya's meltdown over Daily News sports writer Adam Rubin, to the lack of fundamentals on the field, to Jerry Manuel's confounding postgame soliloquies.

Considering all this weird stuff, maybe no one should be surprised that following the final game of the season, a few minutes before signing off, Hernandez would announce his uncertain future at SNY.

What's going on here? Unless there's something bubbling under the surface, all appearances suggest SNY is happy with Hernandez, and he's happy working with Darling, Cohen and the network's production team. A negotiation could be about many things, including the number of games a voice works. Perhaps Hernandez wants to cut back his schedule.

Of course, in most of these situations, it's all about the moolah. On this issue, from the outside looking in, Hernandez may have some leverage. Darling is locked into a multiyear contract. Cohen ain't going nowhere, either. SNY's Mets booth is the best in the city, maybe - in terms of regional telecasts - the best in the country.

Does SNY want to risk breaking up its highly acclaimed team by letting Hernandez walk over dough?

Probably not. Still, in this business strange things can happen, as evidenced by what exited Hernandez's mouth Sunday afternoon. On this account, Hernandez made a huge mistake.

And it has nothing to do with business.

In the final two minutes of this telecast, the only eyeballs left were diehard Mets fans. Throughout the season, these loyalists have swallowed plenty of garbage from management and players alike.

So now, when it's finally over, when they can finally take a deep breath and begin waiting until next year, Hernandez, a voice synonymous with their baseball summer, ends their terrible Mets season by delivering more bad news, basically saying this: Hey, I'm negotiating a contract. And if I don't get my way, I'm out of here. Thanks for the memories.

That's no way to treat fans who stuck by you to the bitter end. Unless you, Keith Hernandez, want to be perceived as just another selfish ex-ballplayer.