Cliff Lee

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The Mets haven’t hit a home run at Citi Field since May 6, when Jason Pridie managed to hit one. They went into Wednesday night’s game against the Pirates without hitting a home run in 10 straight games overall, the team’s longest streak since 1980.

Citi Field is too big and everyone knows it.

Terry Collins does feel for his hitters, though, telling The Post earlier this week of Citi Field: aThis sucker is big. You can hit a ball between that 384 sign (in left center) and the Xerox sign (to the right of the 415 sign in right-center), and you have a centerfield go and catch it, I can see where itas frustrating.aa

aIf there was a discussion,aa Collins said, he would offer some suggestions about the park, but that does not appear to be happening.

aIf Iam a good pitcher, especially if Iam a fly-ball pitcher, this is the place I want to come to,aa Collins said. As for the hitters, Collins said, aIf you are going to hit 25 homers, get 15 on the road and 10 at home.aa

Mets ownership envisioned the big ballpark paying off, a lottery of NL East success. It hasnat worked out that way, and in a big way the ballpark has contributed to the Mets woes. The Phillies, for example, have dominated the Mets since the new ballpark has opened.

Even more amazing is that the Phillies keep bringing quality pitching to their ballpark, adding Cliff Lee this offseason. Pitchers want to pitch at Citizens Bank Park. They donat want to have anything to do with the Mets.

The Mets were hoping that pitchers would clamor to pitch here but so far it has only appealed to pitchers looking to come back from injury. The Mets should do everything in their power to make this a friendlier ballpark to the hitters. But the Wilpons do not seem to want to help their hitters in that way — maybe that is why they are not superstars.

So there will continue to be long drives to right-center that turn into outs. There will still be mammoth shots to right field in the Mo Zone that would basically be long gone anywhere else that will remain in the ballpark.

Collins pointed out that The Mo Zone cost David Wright three home runs earlier this year.

The Mets rank 24th in home runs with 38. The Yankees lead the majors with 82 home runs. Playing in a hitter-friendly park can do so much for the confidence of a hitter. Playing in a bigger park can do the opposite and it can cause a player to alter his swing, which hurts him on the road as well as home.

The Mets rank 25th in the majors in hitting with runners in scoring position (.227) and that remains a problem.

Collins has made a point to tell his hitters not to try to loft the ball here.

aYou canat go to the plate thinking you have to hit a home run here and then you try to lift the ball and they end up being routine fly balls,aa he said.

aI tell them all, just hit the ball hard, it will go out. Hit line drives, hit them hard and try to create some backspin and hopefully they leave the park.aa

It hasn’t happened in a while.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Cliff Lee beat the Yankees again Monday. The Yankees just arenat good enough.

That was the word from Lee, who is 3-0 against the Yankees in the last two postseasons. The no-nonsense lefty painted a clear picture why he chose the Phillies over the Yankees when the Phillies officially introduced their new Four Aces rotation at their spring training complex, featuring Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

Asked by the Post why he was sitting here and not at the big tent in Tampa, where the Yankees hold all their spring training press conferences, Lee said, aI felt like this was the best chance to win World Championships, thatas what it is all about.aa

Yes, he likes the City of Brotherly Love, he likes the buzz generated by Citizens Bank Park, his family feels comfortable in Philadelphia, but the bottom line is this: In his mind, the Yankees, who were offering more money, were not in the same World Championship ballpark as the Phillies.

Itas really that simple.

The Yankees have the history, those 27 World Championships, but as far as Lee is concerned, the Phillies are in a better position to deliver titles over the next five years, the length of Leeas $120 million contract.

The worm has turned in a big way.

aObviously, I played here in the past and enjoyed myself here and thought we had a really good team at that time,aa Lee said of his decision and not go to The Bronx or stay in Texas with the Rangers. aSince then theyave made a couple of additions that I think have made the team that much better. I felt like if I ever got an opportunity to come back and be part of whatas going on here, I would take advantage of it, and thatas why.aa

There you have it.

Later in the press conference, Lee reinforced his point saying, aI just honestly stepped back and looked at each team and evaluated. I felt like this is the team thatas going to give me the best chance to win a ring, and hopefully multiple rings. But thatas what the decision was based on.aa

The Yankees are second city to the Phillies now in Leeas mind.

PLAY OF THE DAY: While the Yankees get ready to write a monster check for Cliff Lee, the Mets will go with Sandy Alderson as their boss. I advocated in July that the Mets hire a veteran baseball man to run the sinking ship. Special Red Sox assistant and former Padres assistant, Jeremy Kapstein, was my candidate.

The Mets hired a different former Padres president. Weall see how this works out. Alderson needs to re-energize the Mets and hiring Wally Backman would be the best way to get started. The Mets are in the same situation as the NY Giants were in when the NFL made them hire George Young. Young saved the franchise. Alderson has the same type of task in front of him, the SF Giants are living proof that things can change quickly in the National League, if you get pitching.

PLACE OF THE DAY: If you want the best Irish coffee in the world, the place to go is the Buena Vista, on Hyde Street here in San Francisco.

Stopped in for a couple and they were perfect. It all starts with the glass. Who knew? You have to have a solid-stem glass if you want to make the right Irish coffee. aOtherwise,aa noted Clark the Bartender, aall the sugar gets stuck in the hollow stem.aa

Clark should know, heas been making Irish coffee at the Buena Vista since 1989. Kenny and Joe were working with him and to watch them make the coffee is a treat. First they pour hot water in rows of glasses to pre-heat and then empty, and add two sugar cubes. Hot coffee follows, three quarters full, stir. Add jigger of Irish whiskey, top with a collar of lightly whipped whipping cream that is poured over a spoon and you have some San Francisco magic.

1. Yankees GM Brian Cashman has tended to become a fan of an NFL team based on the city in which he has lived. Growing up in Kentucky, he was a fan of the nearby Cincinnati Bengals. When he went to college in Washington, he became a Redskins fan. In his early days working for the Yankees in Tampa, Cashman actually used to wear a Buccaneers jersey to every home game. When he moved up to New York as part of his Yankees employment, he became a Giants fan. His backing of the Giants only strengthened when Tom Coughlin became coach because Coughlinas son, Tim, and Cashman had been roommates and friends in New York.

But when it comes to college basketball, Cashmanas blue blood runs deep. He has always been a Kentucky Wildcats fan and has become friendly over the years with their coach, John Calipari. Also, Cashman is quite aware of a bit of quirky history: Kentucky has won the NCAA tournament six times (1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996 and 1998) and the Yankees have gone on to win the World Series in each of those years. So before this tournament began, Cashman sent a text to Calipari, who is a Yankees fan. Cashman reiterated the history to Calipari in pointing out why his rooting interest will be so strong. Calipari texted back, athen I better win.a

Kentucky plays Kansas tonight for the championship.

2. In yesterdayas Post, I wrote this column about the art of the steal looking as if it is coming back in the majors.

I hope you will read it to see why so many folks in the game think we are returning to a time of rising stolen base totals. But if it is then the Metsa loss of Jose Reyes to free agency and Angel Pagan in a trade to the Giants could be problematic.

Reyes, the Metsa all-time steal leader, had 39 steals last year and Pagan 32 and that represented more than half of the 130 the team generated. The next-highest total was the 13 of David Wright. Perhaps if Wright can stay healthy he could become a twentysomething steal man again. Andres Torres, who was obtained for Pagan, stole 19 last year and 26 the season before. The stolen base is not a significant part of the game of Reyes replacement, Ruben Tejada.

As for the Yankees, they have Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson as part of their regular lineup. They already are looking for ways to inject Eduardo Nunezas live body into the lineup to either rest Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez or a at times even a play some outfield. His fearlessness in stealing bases could be another reason to try to play him, especially if thievery is indeed a trend to watch in 2012.

3. What would be a bigger recent joke job: The Jets missing the playoffs or if the Knicks fail to even qualify?

The Jets, of course, were talking Super Bowl and the Knicks, for some reason, were being discussed as in contention for the NBA championship at least during three distinct points this season, beginning with the addition of Tyson Chandler, the emergence of Jeremy Lin and the boost experienced when Mike Woodson replaced Mike DaAntoni.

Now, of course, the Knicks are in an extreme struggle to simply make the playoffs and the reason we are told is because they may not be able to overcome injuries, notably to Jeremy Lin and Amar’e Stoudemire. I donat know if there is any crying in basketball or baseball. I do know there should be no alibis.

For the record, the Bulls are 14-6 without Derrick Rose, the reigning MVP and far and away Chicagoas most important component in the team sport that depends on the best players more than any other. Credit coach Tim Thibodeau for creating a culture of defense all the time and excuses never.

I bring this up because baseball season is about to begin and already we see how injuries are going to rip into rosters. But it should be noted that winning teams figure out how to successfully navigate the season. The Cardinals suffered arguably the most devastating injury of any team in 2011 when they lost their ace, Adam Wainwright, for the season in spring training. Yet they went on to win the World Series.

The Yankees in the past few days had to shut down Michael Pineda with a shoulder injury. Maybe he will pitch soon, maybe he wonat. Perhaps he will be effective, perhaps he wonat. The Yankees were hoping he would grow into a No. 2 starter. But if that is going to happen it is going to happen with the season already in progress.

The Yankees were really good last year at dealing with problems. It began when Cliff Lee spurned them in free agency and Andy Pettitte went on what we now know was a sabbatical, not a retirement. Then A.J. Burnett continued to pitch like A.J. Burnett and a more problematic a Phil Hughes pitched like A.J. Burnett. But they were a tough-minded team with a good winning culture and they worked their way through the difficulties. Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia were much better than anticipated, and Ivan Nova emerged as a trustworthy rotation piece. It helped them win 97 games and the toughest division in the majors.

Injuries are going to strike all 30 teams this year. No one gets out of the season without being touched by the DL. You are going to read plenty about adevastating injuriesa and maybe there will be. But is there anything more devastating than losing the reigning MVP for nearly a third of an abbreviated season or losing your ace for a whole campaign?

Over the next six months, elite teams will emerge. Part of that will be about who stays the healthiest. But part of it will be about which teams do not fracture a in spirit, confidence and cohesion a when bodies begin to break down.

1. I wrote this column in todayas Post about how Andy Pettitte is symbolic of a Yankee roster in which many older players are trying to prove they still have plenty of quality ability left.

Whenever I write about Yankees age a which I do think is a significant issue for the team and, by the way, does the front office a there tends to be an angry reaction from a segment of fans. I think it is mainly about wanting to see players such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera as forever young, impenetrable even to age.

I am not paid to wear pinstriped-covered glasses. I am offering columns on what I think is important, dramatic, interesting, newsworthy, etc. But what should not be lost when I raise the age-old issue is that I am actually amazed at how well Yankees players have defied logic and sport-wide trends to, in general, offer sturdy work or better in their graying years. Just look at a few stories in the news the past few days and compare and contrast.

Chase Utley had to leave Phillies camp to see a specialist because his chronically problematic knees are keeping him from playing. Philadelphia already was without Ryan Howard, who tore his Achillies at the end of last yearas Division Series and also suffered a setback in camp. Utley is 33, Howard is 32. Jeter is 37, Alex Rodriguez is 36. What if we would have told you three years ago that Philadelphiaas high-priced, accomplished right side of the infield was going to fall apart before the Yankeesa high-priced, accomplished, but older left side of the infield? But that is what has happened.

Rodriguez has managed his many ailments, including to his knee, better than Utley. Look, one hope the Mets have had in recent times is that all the substantial long-term money that the Phillies have invested in older players such as Utley, Howard, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee would turn bad at one time and create an opening a at least against Philadelphia a for the Mets at a time when they hope to be rising. Interestingly, the Red Sox used to say the same about the Yankees, that they believed one day the Yankees would have a critical mass of veteran, expensive players crash. And then Boston officials just kept repeating this, but as an inside joke, because the Yankees players refused to succumb to age.

Also, we saw that Detroitas Miguel Cabrera took a smashed grounder that hit under his right eye causing a small fracture and needing eight stitches to close. Now word was that any third basemen would have been endangered by the speed of the ball hit by Hunter Pence. But there is the reality that Cabrera is trying to transition to third base, a position of reflex and danger. And one worry that Detroit has to have as it makes room at first for Prince Fielder is wearing Cabrera out or hurting him at third and diminishing one of his most important assets: Games played. He will miss a few weeks now.

That is why A-Rod was a marvel. He not only moved over and handled third base well beginning in 2004. But he remained an iron man. In his first three seasons at third, Rodriguez played 471 games, which was 12th most in the majors. Only now in his mid-30s has he begun to have his games played severely diminished.

Also we learned yesterday that Joakim Soria might be facing a second Tommy John surgery. He is just 27, just five years into his career. There have been times during those five years in which the Yankees have tried to acquire Soria with the idea he would be Riveraas set-up man now and his replacement when Rivera retires. Think about this, in his five seasons with Kansas City, which equate to his age-23-to-27 seasons, Soria has appeared in 298 games, covering 315 1-3 innings with a 2.40 ERA. In the same period, which coincides with his age-37-to-41 seasons, Rivera has appeared in more games (322), covering more innings (329 2-3) and with a lower ERA (2.02) a and this does not even count the playoffs.

Now Soria may miss a whole season while Rivera is still providing seasons that look like his prime and is considering retirement not because he canat perform, but because he wants to go out on his own terms.

2. It was revealed this morning that the Rangers have given Derek Holland a five-year contract worth $28.5 million that also contains two option years. Why do we bring this up?

Well, you now know one of the perpetual stories around the Yankees is their vow to get under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold for the 2014 season as a way to financially benefit via the inducements that are part of the new collective bargaining agreement.

If you read me (thank you), then you are aware I have pointed out in previous columns and posts that the Yankees will either have to get pro-active to stay under that level or get used to living without their familiar quantity of stars and depth. I covered much of the issue, including ways to work with contracts, in this column.

But I wanted to highlight Holland, just because he shares a lot in common with Phil Hughes and so, if the Yankees are really as enamored with Hughes as they say they are, it might be worthwhile to consider a long-term contract similar to this since what counts toward the luxury tax is the average annual value of a long-term contract, which for Holland is $5.7 million or at minimum what Hughes would receive for just next year if he has a good 2012.

Hughes is four months older than Holland, but is due to be a free agent after the 2014 season, whereas Holland was not until after the 2015 campaign. That means Hughes would probably cost more long term, but again this is just to show where the Yankees could be proactive. Hughes has a career 4.46 ERA, Holland is at 4.73. They have similarity (Hughesa numbers are listed first) in hits per nine innings (8.54/9.51), strikeouts per nine innings (7.51/7.38), walks per nine innings (3.18/3.15) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.36/2.34).

If not Hughes, then Holland potentially could provide the framework for what the Yankees can do with Ivan Nova. Nova is just three months younger than Holland and is due to be a free agent after the 2016 season.

3. There is no doubt that yesterday was a victory for Mets ownership. They reached a favorable settlement with the trustee trying to recover money from the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme, and they also announced finalization of sales to 12 limited partners, which has allowed them to pay off many of their short-term debt obligations.

But, of course, what is good for Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz is not necessarily good for Mets fans. It is not like the Wilponas financial plight was completely solved yesterday. It is possible that the Mets are still looking at years and years of limited payrolls and avoidance of star player salaries.

Look the Wilpons might not have much credibility with their fans and it is possible they never will. But we should remember that when George Steinbrenner was suspended by then Commissioner Fay Vincent in 1990, a home crowd at Yankee Stadium stood and cheered the news. That was mostly forgotten in the hagiographies offered upon Steinbrenneras death. He was remembered instead as a great owner for fans because the team had gone on an extended binge of winning, championships and superstar collection.

So there is hope for the Wilpons still to, at the very least, spruce their reputations. But it has to start now with them explaining to the fans why this is good for the loyalists and not just good for ownership. This means providing a roadmap of what ownership believes is possible in terms of spending over the next few years. And this canat just be some more of the blather that has been p.r.-spun by Mets ownership in recent years. The ownership should make clear promises and say it should be held to those promises, and then every three months a Wilpon should hold some kind of press conference to discuss where ownership is in fulfilling those promises.

When it comes to trust in their word and their abilities, Mets ownership is as far down as you could be.

But if I would have told you in August 1990 that George Steinbrenner would die a hero to Yankee fans, you would not have believed that. So here goes Mets ownershipas last best chance to make a go at changing their reputations.

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