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Written by John Delcos
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Wednesday, 17 December 2008 |
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY - Mets manager Jerry Manuel stood at the podium
and in a classic photo opportunity helped his closer, Francisco
Rodriguez, put on his new jersey.
"Seventy-five," Manuel said as he looked at the number. "That’s the number of saves he’s going to have."
Rodriguez understands the math.
"I’m aware of what is expected," said Rodriguez, who expects the same after his record 62 saves last season for the Angels earned him a three-year, $37 million contract with the Mets.
"Every year I come to spring training with the goal to have better numbers than I had the year before."
Why the Mets?
Besides the money, Rodriguez said his decision "was easy for me … they are one team that is hungry to win."
General manager Omar Minaya said the acquisitions of Rodriguez, and J.J. Putz from Seattle, who’ll be introduced Thursday at Citi Field, have solved the Mets’ bullpen problem, which was defined by 29 blown saves last season.
"One thing we lacked last year was being able to close out a game, but we went out and got the best closer in the game," Minaya said of Rodriguez.
The Mets aren’t finished, said Minaya, putting the odds at 50/50 for signing both left-handers Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf.
Minaya said it’s possible to sign both, but indicated he’s likely to keep the status quo in left field with the platoon of Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis.
The front end of the Mets’ rotation includes Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine, but until the Mets fill the back end, they are still behind the Phillies.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 17 December 2008 )
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