MLB

HAMELS CAN’T STOP DISSING METS

PORT ST. LUCIE – Cole Hamels can’t seem to quit talking about the Mets.

In yet another salvo in the ongoing Mets-Phillies rivalry, the Philadelphia ace and reigning World Series MVP is sticking with his description of the Amazin’s as chokers.

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Hamels had created a stir in the offseason by telling WFAN the Mets were “choke artists” for their collapses each of the past two Septembers. He stood by that sentiment in an interview with Philadelphia radio station WIP last week.

“The word ‘choke’ means you weren’t able to fully come through when you were supposed to,” Hamels told WIP, according to a transcript. “I think the Mets had the top teams [the past two years], they pretty much had the championships in the bag and they weren’t able to come through.

“A lot of guys will perceive them as choking in the end and not fulfilling their end of the bargain because they should have taken it. You know what? It really does show the strength and hard work and I guess the deep down guts that we have to take it away from them.”Hamels, though, doesn’t think he deserves all the blame for this particular Mets-Phillies dustup.

The WIP host told Hamels he thought the WFAN hosts had put words in Hamels’ mouth to provoke the “choke artist” comment, and Hamels agreed.

“I wouldn’t have thought of it myself,” he said. “I like to do most of my playing out on the field and I don’t need to be mentioned in the media or trying to attack someone because that’s not the person I am. I’ll attack you when I’m out on the mound.”Hamels’ personal feud with the Mets began, at least publicly, with the WFAN interview in December.

Prodded by hosts Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on whether he thought the Mets were “choke artists” after their repeated September woes, Hamels was ready to talk trash.

“Last year and this year, I think we did believe that [the Mets were choke artists],” Hamels told the station. “Three years ago we didn’t because they smoked everybody, and I think we all thought they were going to win it all. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. But, yeah, that’s kind of what we believed, and I think we’re always going to believe that until they prove us wrong. For the past two years, they’ve been choke artists.”The teams have continued to trade barbs since then, with new closer Frankie Rodriguez this month declaring the Mets “the team to beat” in the NL East and Jose Reyes blasting the Phillies for their seeming obsession with Reyes and his teammates.

Jerry Manuel continues to applaud the bickering, saying a heated rivalry is just what baseball needs.

“It’s all good,” the Mets manager said.

bhubbuch@nypost.com