Last week’s poll question was: What should the Mets do about their lack of offensive power?

Here are the results:

Wait it out and hope the offense can get along until after the All-Star break.—47 percent
Trade for a heavy-hitting first baseman right now.—32 percent
Trade for a heavy-hitting utility player right now.—21 percent

Almost half of the votes were for waiting it out until the All-Star break. With the All-Star break a week away, it was never more apparent that the Mets need some offensive help than after watching them this weekend get swept by the Phillies, who were playing awfully at home before this series.

The Mets squeezed out a mere three runs in three games, getting shut out behind a good start by Johan Santana on Sunday. One of those runs came on Saturday and was an RBI from starting pitcher Fernando Nieve of all people. The Mets players had just 18 hits, an average of six a game in three games. That’s how bad this offense is right now.

David Wright is not helping matters by cooling off by 30 points on his batting average since June 25 when he led the National League. He’s an automatic out when he comes to the plate now, striking out or grounding into double plays. He is just 5-for-41 in his most recent at-bats.

There still is no timetable for a return by Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran or Carlos Delgado, so it’s apparent that the Mets are going to have to go out and get somebody, anybody who can provide some punch for this punchless team. Maybe the All-Star break is just the thing the Mets need to clear everybody’s mind, rest everyone’s bodies and treat the second half as a blank slate.

One person whose timetable we do know is Oliver Perez. He was seen with the team at yesterday’s game, sporting the beginnings of a salt-and-pepper faux hawk. He is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Cardinals at Citi Field. With his coming off the disabled list, it looks like Tim Redding will be assigned to the bullpen possibly as a long man, kicking out a reliever, most likely Elmer Dessens.

So, this week’s poll question focuses on Perez. Will he be the old Ollie that we all know or has he turned a new leaf? In his rehab starts, he wasn’t overpowering. In his last outing in Buffalo, he threw as many strikes as he did balls, but the Mets pitching staff thinks he’s good enough to come back.

This week’s poll question is: How will Oliver Perez perform now that he’s off the disabled list?