Even when Kiner and McCarver wander away from the matters at hand, their conversations seem genuine. Though they do not always agree, they always respond to each other. They seem to be involved with what they are saying, not merely talking to entertain the audience. When the game is boring, they say so. The important thing is they are not boring. That's because their exchanges usually take place on a level that requires some effort from them, whether it be thinking about strategy or recalling events or statistics. The result is that this viewer often has the feeling of eavesdropping on a private conversation.

Moreover, their comments are about as unbiased as can be expected given that broadcasters are part of the team's extended family, and payroll. Call it second-guessing if you will, but McCarver's frequent contention that Met outfielders, for example, play too deep is refreshing and informative. Second-guessing is part of the fun of sports, and what's the use of having ex-jocks in the broadcast booth if they aren't going to give their opinions? In fact, the biggest menace in broadcasting today are the ex-jocks who are too soft on the players, making excuses for everything from routine blunders to a lack of effort. The camera doesn't lie, so why do they? Kiner and McCarver, in fact, could give us lots more second-guessing and there would only be more appreciation here.

Of course, there are some catches to all this wonderfulness. The biggest is that there are too many Met broadcasters - a total of five - which dilutes the product. In addition to their individual liabilities, the three other broadcasters collectively are guilty of depriving viewers of more air time for Kiner and McCarver. Can't something be done about that?

The best of the rest is Steve Zabriskie, who teams with Kiner and McCarver on WOR. He has a strong voice, a laugh that rumbles like a freight train in the night, which is to say, pleasantly, and a quick wit, often aimed at himself. (His hair and weight seem to give him trouble, as well as a source of humor.) Each year, he exhibits a little more certainty about his role.

Here, then, is a plea that he complete the confidence-building process. For despite his talents, he too often falls into the trap of sputtering meaningless statistics that should be left to the publicity department. In a recent game, Ray Knight singled. Noting that Knight had had a nine-game hitting streak broken the previous day, Zabriskie said that Knight ''has now hit in 10 of the last 11.'' And Joe DiMaggio hit in 57 of 58, too.

The other broadcasters are Fran Healy and Rusty Staub. Healy, an ex-player who appears on SportsChannel, is simply traveling in company too fast for him. His pearls this year include ''you have to be able to run to get a triple'' and ''Darryl Strawberry has a lot of power.'' Though he does capable player interviews, his response to every thoughtful comment made within earshot seems to be ''that's an interesting point.''

Then there is Staub, who retired as a player after last season. It is not clear from his work on both WOR and SportsChannel whether he is serious about a career as a broadcaster, or just casting around for a way to stay should go to the minor league of broadcasting, wherever that is, and learn the trade. If he is not serious, what's he doing in the booth? Meanwhile, if he's going to recite the statistics handed out by the publicity department, he should at least memorize them. One can almost hear the papers being shuffled as he searches for something to say.

Over all, the difference in quality between McCarver and Kiner on one hand and the other three is too great. The broadcasts are generally of superior quality when Kiner and McCarver work together, and more than adequate when Zabriskie works with either. But any other combination is unpredictable and sometimes unbearable. The worst is when SportsChannel pairs Healy and Staub. That's the time to read.