Francisco Rodriguez News

Through all the twists and turns the New York Mets have taken over the past four years, one factor has always remained constant.

J.J. Runsucker and the Sweet Smell of Failure. The J.J. Putz era in New York ended yesterday, as the Mets bought out the final year of Putza TMs contract.

The Mets do not plan to pick up reliever J.J. Putz's option for 2010. The Mets have told reliever J.J. Putz they are unlikely to pick up his $9.1 million option for 2010, his agent said Friday.

Mets have decided not to exercise their $9.1-million option on J.J. Putz , a person familiar with the situation confirmed Thursday, and will pay him a $1-million buyout instead.

The raging debate that will go on from now until Wednesday is really tearing me apart.A What's a Met fan to do? You've got our current arch nemesis, the Phillies, against the "jerk of a big brother" in the Yankees.

The past two winters, the Mets arrived on the Treasure Coast haunted by dispiriting, September collapses that had kept them out of the playoffs.

I continue to believe the Mets have the wrong offseason plan. They have discussed making a big splash, which translates to obtaining the kind of star that ownership thinks will motivate Mets fans to buy 2010 tickets.

Stop this trend before it gets out of hand. Think about it: You're watching a playoff baseball game, the ultimate conversation piece, and you'd rather play "Romper Room"? -- Can't help but recall Mariano Rivera's last outing, Game 3 of the division series, summoned in the eighth inning to face AL batting champion Joe Mauer.

Part of the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over the Mets' offseason involves J.J. Putz's elbow and contract status.

Want a clue as to how the Mets will finish next year? Look to the mound. Manager Jerry Manuel said yesterday the pitching staff took a step back this season, leaving many questions to be answered in 2010.

The Mets started a pattern following the break, that they didn't stray much from often - losing games early in series and salvaging games either pitched by their best pitcher or mailed in by their opponents.

The Sox and Angels have met four times in the postseason, and the Sox have emerged victorious each time.

ON THE EVE of the wild roller-coaster ride of another major league Baseball season, it seemed like a conservative pick: Phillies threepeat as National League East champions.

The diehards who waited out yesterday's Citi Field rain delay were rewarded. As play resumed at 5:19 p.m. -- following a delay of 2 hours, 20 minutes before the top of the sixth inning - the few thousand remaining fans were allowed to sit in the box seats behind both dugouts.

Carlos Beltran embraced a couple of teammates and said goodbye. David Wright shook hands and dashed off for a shower.

Fernando Tatis hit a key two-run single Saturday, leading the New York Mets to a rain-plagued 5-1 win over Houston.

The Washington Nationals are playing as if they were contenders the last week of the season, not the team that has the worst record in the majors.

Justin Maxwell's two-out, two-strike grand slam in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday led the Washington Nationals to a 7-4 win over the New York Mets.

Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez pitches against the Washington Nationals. WASHINGTON -- Here's another sign of how bad a season it's been for the New York Mets : Francisco Rodriguez became the first pitcher since Lee Smith in 1995 to allow two game-ending grand slams in the same season.

Justin Maxwell's grand slam off All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth inning gave the Nationals a 7-4 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday, Washington's first win all season when trailing after eight innings.