I don’t like pat myself on the back, but — oh, wait, I love patting myself on the back. It feels so nice. Soothing back-pats.

The Internet’s blowing up today with this John Harper column about Tony Bernazard and how he’s to blame — because no one’s ever found anything wrong with the Mets that can’t somehow be blamed on Tony Bernazard — for the Mets’ misguided opposite-field heavy approach to hitting in 2009.

Rob Neyer weighed in on the column, agreeing that all the opposite-field hitting was a bad idea.

But you know what has two thumbs and was on top of this in July? This guy. Check it out:

In 2008, the Mets pulled 26 percent of the balls they hit onto the field of play or over the fence, according to the best Web site ever. They hit 59 percent to the middle and 15 percent to the opposite field.In 2009, they’ve pulled 25 percent, hit 56 percent to the middle and 19 percent to the opposite field.

In 2008, David Wright pulled 29 percent, hit 55 percent up the middle and hit 16 percent to the opposite field.

This season, Wright has pulled 26 percent, hit 48 percent up the middle and hit 26 percent the opposite way….

What I do know is this: The Mets, most notably Wright, are hitting the ball the opposite way more frequently this year. And if that’s intentional, they should probably stop. I’m no hitting coach and I’ll never purport to be, but the Mets have not hit a single home run to the opposite field in 2009 according to baseball-reference (Fernando Tatis‘ blast to right-center in Pittsburgh must count as center field, I guess).

Obviously, there are times and places for going the opposite way and good hitters do it naturally, but forcing it more frequently than it is necessary does not seem like a good idea. Power — power that the Mets have so often lacked this year — comes most easily from pulling the ball.

So in conclusion, I hereby announce my candidacy for Tony Bernazard’s job.