During the offseason, I watched the Derek Lowe sweepstakes with great interest.

After all, Lowe was being courted by the majority of NL East teams, and where he landed would have a material impact on one of baseball’s hottest divisions.

The Mets were clearly interested, but they wanted Lowe on their terms, not his, and in the end Lowe was able to get exactly what he wanted financially from the needy Atlanta Braves. With the Braves losing John Smoltz to the Boston Red Sox on Jan. 9, the Braves moves swiftly to give Lowe the 4 year, $60 million deal he wanted.

The Mets turned their attention to an incumbent member of their starting rotation, and inked the up and down Oliver Perez to a 3 year, $36 million deal.

Big win for the Braves. And a big win for the Phillies as well.

The Braves have enough issues with their team that the addition of Derek Lowe could not alone solve. The Mets, on the other hand, would have been emboldened by the addition of Lowe to serve as the 1a starter for their squad behind Johan Santana.

So, who can we thank for the good fortune of seeing Derek Lowe a good 900 miles away from Flushing, NY?

More than likely, disgraced investor Bernie Madoff. Thanks, Bernie. You’re the best.

The Mets owners, the Wilpons, insisted that their association with Bernie Madoff and the subsequent losses resulting from that relationship had no bearing on the Mets finances, but you have to wonder if Derek Lowe would be wearing the sad uniform of the New York Mets had the Madoff scandal not been a reality.

What other explanation is there for not spending 1 year and a total of $24 million for a proven regular season and playoff performer like Derek Lowe? Either the Wilpons and Omar Minaya are just stupid, or a little more cost conscious than they are willing to let on.

Thankfully, as Phillies fans, we get to enjoy watching the Mets waste $36 million on a pitcher who has never been consistent enough to deserve such a contract.

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Here are the Bennett Award point-getters for the last 2 series, including the running season tally. Notice the lack of almost any pitchers getting consideration. That has to turn around soon, right?

WAS 04/27-04/29

3 – Raul Ibanez (.600 BA, 2 HR incl. GS, 5 RBI, .692 OBP)
2 – Chase Utley (.500 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
1 – Ryan Howard (game-tying GS in 13-11 win on 4/27)

NYM 05/01-05/02

3 – Pedro Feliz – (.444 BA, got 10th inning going with single and had 2 clutch defensive plays in 6-5 win over Mets on 5/2)
2 – Raul Ibanez – (3 hits & 4 RBI in 2 game series)
1 – Shane Victorino (2-5 with game winning BB in 10th inning)

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I will be headed up to New York this week for business. Which means I’ll be at Wednesday’s Phillies game at Citi Field. I’ll have my camera with me to get some shots of their new ballpark, which I got a chance to see the outside of last year when I got up to Shea for my one and only visit to that shithole.