A question for Fred

Fred Wilpon, what were you thinking? Why did you build a ballpark that doesn't suit your best hitters? It's so large that Beltran and Wright are struggling to reach the fences. Unless you plan to move in the fences, I hope you're planning to start stocking the team with singles and doubles hitters and with outfielders who have enough speed to roam the large stretches of outfield grass. Of course, that would eliminate most of the outfielders on the current roster.

Speaking of power-hitting outfielders, this past off-season Raul Ibanez signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Phillies. Sure, he's 36 years old, but who would you rather have playing left field. Ibanez or whoever it is that the Mets are currently inserting into that slot.

In only 61 games Ibanez already has 22 homers and 59 RBIs. His OPS is 1.037. Unfortunately, when the Mets had the chance to sign him they instead left their piggybank on the shelf, unopened, just as they did with Derek Lowe.

Yesterday, the Mets won, but in one of those odd occurrences, Bobby Parnell got charged with two runs even though he gave up only two singles and neither baserunner scored on his watch. There's something wrong with baseball's scoring system when a pitcher such as Parnell should bear full responsibility if his successor allows his baserunners to score. They should at least share the responsibility.

Now for some good news. In Triple-A, Larry Broadway won his first game. Six innings, three hits, one earned run. His ERA is now down to 5.97.

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For those of you who visit Brooklyn, the Cyclones are assembling their 2009 team. Here is their current roster.

Where's Reese Havens? According to Baseball America, "Havens has yet to play this month as he’s been on the DL with a quadriceps injury. A first-round pick last year, Havens is hitting .228/.343/.413 in 44 games with high Class A St. Lucie, and he’s also committed 15 errors."

If the Mets gave an award for most games missed by a minor league due to injuries, Havens would be a contender for it.

Baseball's Back!

In the two openers I watched, two pitchers caught my attention. One pitches for the Mets: Francisco Rodriguez. One doesn't because of Minaya's penny-pinching: Derek Lowe. Rodriguez could make a big difference this year, closing out games the way a closer's expected to. Lowe will make a big difference too this year. Unfortunately, it will be for the Braves.

Last night, Lowe dominated the Phillies, holding them to two hits over eight innings. Further, he didn't walk a batter.

After Santana, none of the Mets other starters can compare with Lowe. He exhibited the control, stuff, and smarts that would have made this season's Mets hard to beat. And though he's 35 years old, I'd take him in my rotation over Maine, Pelfrey, Perez, and Hernandez in an instant.

Here's why: The current Phillies who have faced Lowe are only hitting .168 against him. Ryan Howard's average against Lowe is .105; Shane Victorino's is .125; and Jason Werth's is .143. And Howard has never homered off Lowe.

Let's hope that Minaya's mistake doesn't come back to haunt the Mets.

Mets LOSE one, win one

Wilpon's cheapness cost the Mets Derek Lowe, who's signed with the Braves; however, the Mets did sign a player: Alex Cora. Last year with the Red Sox he hit .270, but in 2007 he hit .246 and in 2006 he hit .238. Not a hitter who's going to strike fear in any pitchers.

The Mets aren't going to win a pennant by stocking up with bit players.