Q: Don’t you think it’s time for baseball to have instant replay?
— Carmine Frosina, Arizona

A: I do, Carmine, but there have to be safeguards in place to protect from it being over-used, as I feel it is in football. Games are long enough now, let alone adding 10-15 minutes — not to mention eroding umpire credibility — for another look at every close play, manager challenges, etc, etc.

To me, one way to usher it in would be on home-run calls — fair or foul, over the fence or not. First of all, these are calls that directly relate to runs being scored. And second of all, I feel more mistakes are made there than on any other set of calls, mainly because umpires sometimes can’t get out far enough in time to make the proper call.

Game-deciding plays at the plate could be another category of calls that could be reexamined, with Matt Holliday’s slide into home plate in the play-in game as an example. But you just can’t have every call on the basepaths scrutinized.

And there is absolutely no way I’d allow replays on ball-and-strike calls. You would foster a mentality of questioning every call made, and that’s not the way the game is supposed to be played.

Q: Every one seems to be picking the Mets to win the NL East because of Johan Santana, but don’t you think the Phillies are still the team to beat because of their improved starting pitching, bullpen and bench?
— John Reilly, Newtown, Pa.

A: Well, I have to say I picked the Mets, John. But I also said in my team previews elsewhere on this site that it’s not right to simply be handing them the division just because they signed Santana — and that I think the Phillies will be right there in both the division and wild-card races.

Matching up the two teams head-to-head, you have to give the Phillies the better every-day eight on the field. There also is a chance they can get improved production from last year, with Carlos Ruiz improving, Pedro Feliz an upgrade at third base and a bit more from Ryan Howard (199 strikeouts in 2007) and Chase Utley (30 missed games).

But I have to give rotation and bullpen edges to the Mets, and that’s why I’m leaning their way in the division race. Santana should have better numbers with the move to the NL and a pitchers’ park in Shea Stadium, and Pedro Martinez is healthy at least for now. Also, John Maine, 27, and Oliver Perez, 26, are coming off 15-win/breakout seasons, and just entering their peak years. (Although, the fifth spot has proven to be problematic all spring).

Neither pen overwhelms me, but I like the Mets’ back three of Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano more than the Phillies’ especially with Brad Lidge starting on the disabled list. But again, if both the Mets and Phils are in the playoffs in October, I won’t be at all surprised.

Q: Every year in Arlington, the summer heat in the open-air ballpark wilts the Rangers’ pitching staff, and they need a slugging offense to barely compete. Is that the worst of the ballparks that put their teams behind the 8-ball — or are there others just as bad?
— Larry Faria, San Diego

A: Actually, Rangers Ballpark grades out a little more fairly in terms of offense and defense than you might think, Larry. It’s more of a hitters’ park than pitchers’ park — no doubt — but more so in specific areas. Namely, three-year averages compiled in the Bill James Handbook show it’s a huge triples park, a huge home-run park for left-handed hitters, and very high in infield errors.

But it’s merely above-average in terms of overall runs scored — fourth in the AL behind Fenway Park, US Cellular Field and Royals Stadium. And compared to NL parks, it ranks behind Coors Field, Great American Ballpark, Chase Field, Citizens Bank Park and Wrigley Field in terms of runs scored.

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But having covered the Rangers for seven years in the 1980s-1990s, I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s a tough place to play, and endure that summer heat and high winds. In fact, the hottest part of the day there falls right during the Rangers’ batting practice time, and there is no denying the tough conditions wear down players, and especially pitchers.

For me, Fenway and its unique dimensions affect play more than any other park. Coors Field’s affects have been minimized by use of the humidor, but still is a heavily offensive park in terms of runs and hits, but not so much home runs any more. And Petco Park and McAfee Coliseum work the other way, dramatically holding down offense more than any other parks.

Q: If pitching wins pennants, which teams have the best starting rotations going into the 2008 season?
— Stephen Shoemaker, Tulsa, Okla.

A: Injuries are making that a tough assessment, Stephen. I would have put the Angels up there, but now they will have to do without No. 1-2 starters John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, the latter with a potentially career-ending injury. The Red Sox also are without Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling, although the former will be back soon enough. The Diamondbacks need 150 good innings from Randy Johnson, the Brewers need Yovani Gallardo back in April — on and on I could go.

I like the Tigers’ five of Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson. The Indians go four-deep in quality with C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd, and possibly five if Cliff Lee bounces back. Ditto the Dodgers with Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda, with Esteban Loaiza and possibly a contribution later from Jason Schmidt. Seattle’s rotation will be improved with Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva, and as mentioned above, I like the Mets’ foursome providing Pedro Martinez stays healthy.

As for a couple of potential surprises, how about Oakland with Rich Harden apparently healthy, and the Pirates’ young group.

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