* How can Mets GM Omar Minaya be considered for a contract extension? His only smart moves in the past year and a half have been signing Marlon Anderson and letting Tom Glavine go to the Braves. He traded Lastings Milledge for a bag of chips and continues to chase pitchers with enormous ERAs. He didn’t make an attempt to sign Andruw Jones for right field, and that will haunt him.
BRAD BERKOWITZ
Manhattan
* The Mets once again gave up on a young talent because he might have been a “problem.” How many times can the Mets make this mistake? Think of all the “problem” guys they gave up on and got nothing in return. Darryl Strawberry, unsigned, goes to the Dodgers; future MVP Kevin Mitchell is traded for good ol’ boy Kevin McReynolds; Lenny “Nails” Dykstra and Roger McDowell are dealt for strikeout king Juan Samuel; and of course no one can forget the Scott Kazmir disaster. If history of the Mets shows us anything, you can be sure to add Lastings Milledge to the list of “problems” turned future All-Stars.
CHRIS RIORDAN
Merrick, NY
Bronx blueprint
* I propose the Yankees go all out and sign Aaron Rowand to play center field. He’s a hard-nosed team player with power. That will free the Yankees to deal Melky Cabrera to the Twins – not for Johan Santana, but for Joe Nathan, to strengthen the bullpen. Let Santana go to the Red Sox or the Angels. The Yanks will have a great young and affordable pitching staff for years to come. Phil Hughes has the makeup to anchor a staff. Trading him would haunt the Yankees for the next decade, long after Santana breaks down.
BILL GUTCH
Wayne, NJ
* The Yankees need to concentrate on their farm system and build from within. I don’t like bringing in hot shots from other teams that destroy the Yankees tradition. These high-priced, overpaid players don’t appreciate being a Yankee. They need more Derek Jeters and fewer prima donnas.
PETE LILLO
Akron, Ohio
* Yankees Nation is growing steadily impatient. Top prospects are important, but a win-now attitude also must be implemented. I find it hard to believe that with the end of a legacy just around the corner in the destruction of the House that Ruth Built, and an artificial replica with modern elements being built to replace it, the Yankees are comfortable limping into the next few seasons with a team patched together with rookies and an aging starting lineup. You need to give to get.
DENNIS LATHAM
Saratoga Springs, NY
Playoff push
* Hopefully Paul Schwartz [“Tough decisions await Coughlin in season finale,” The Post and nypost.com, Dec. 5] is not premature in assuming the Giants will qualify for the playoffs before their season finale. While I hope the Giants get there, I am not as confident. This team has played inconsistently, has been breaking down physically and has not beaten a quality team to date. I certainly don’t count the Eagles (today), Redskins (next week) or even the Bills (Dec. 23) as sure victories. It won’t be a big surprise to see the Giants needing a victory against the Patriots during Week 17 to secure a playoff spot.
LANCE BARNETT
Austin, Texas
Goal is to win
* Can someone tell me why the Giants, with the ball on the 2-yard line, did not run out most of the 1:47 left on the clock last Sunday and then kick the field goal? They would have avoided the Bears’ comeback drive that almost resulted in a touchdown. Imagine if the Bears had scored and won the game. I would not have bet much on the career prospects of Tom Coughlin after that!
MARK COHEN
Paris, France
Bad idea No. 19
* I have a great idea that will revolutionize sports in this country. Put a crack committee in charge of every sport to decide what two teams will play in that sport’s championship game at the end of the season. For instance, after 162 games of baseball, the committee would pick one team from the American League, one team from the National League, and regardless of their records, they would play in the World Series. One team from the NFC, one team from the AFC; bingo: Super Bowl. “Let’s see,” says the NBA committee, “from the West: Phoenix, and from the East . . . oh, I don’t know, let’s go with Detroit.” Playoffs? Who needs them? Sound ridiculous? Oh, right, we already have the BCS!
DANNY GREGORY
Saratoga Springs, NY
