NEW YORK -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa recently formed a fast friendship with another big-name coach.

La Russa, who already counts Bill Parcells, Bob Knight and Marquette's Tom Crean among his friends, was expecting New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick to be at Shea Stadium for Game One of the N.L. Championship Series last night when the Cardinals faced the New York Mets.

Belichick, whose team has a bye this weekend, showed his support for La Russa by wearing a Cardinals jersey to a news conference earlier this week.

"I'm a Tony La Russa fan. I was in training camp with him this year for a couple of days. It was a lot of fun. It was a great experience. I learned a lot," Belichick said. "Tony is a great leader and manager and tactician, and just the way he handles the team, sitting in the dugout with him down there and watching him manage the game and all -- it was pretty enlightening."

La Russa said yesterday that he was introduced to Belichick this spring.

"He was so down to earth," La Russa said. "I was interested in what he was doing, he was very forthcoming and he would ask questions about our sport and said, 'I'd like to visit.' "

La Russa said he and Belichick had dinner twice during spring training and hit it off.

"The other day he called and said, 'We've got a bye week and if you guys get in and it's the Mets, I think I'll be there,' " La Russa said.

More work to do

After going 71-91 two years ago, the retooled Mets entered the NLCS only four wins from their second World Series appearance in 20 years.

Second-year manager Willie Randolph and GM Omar Minaya have received much of the credit for New York's quick turnaround, though Randolph thinks the job is far from finished.

"It's still a work in progress," he said. "But yeah, they have obviously bought into what we're doing because we've been consistent since we've been here."

The power of Pujols

Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols came into Game One batting .371 (26-for-70) with 7 homers, 17 RBI and 15 runs in N.L. Championship Series play.

He was the 2004 NLCS MVP against Houston, hitting .500 (14-for-28) with 4 homers, 9 RBI and 10 runs. So it's no wonder the Mets know they have to find a way to contain Pujols in the clutch.

"He's an impact player. When you look at their lineup, he's obviously the guy that stands out. But again, he's the one guy in the lineup, if you focus all your attention on him, the other eight are going to kill you," said Mets right-hander Steve Trachsel, slated to start Game Three in St. Louis on Saturday.