ShareThisThe New York Mets spent a lot of money in the offseason to make sure their bullpen was improved.
With closer Billy Wagner (reconstructive elbow surgery) likely out the entire season, the Mets signed free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz to serve as a setup relief pitcher.
The acquisitions could turn the bullpen into a team strength from the liability it was last September.
New York held a three-game National League East lead heading into September but still missed the playoffs. In the final two weeks of the season, the bullpen squandered several leads, recorded a 5.83 ERA and the team went 5-8 to finish one game behind Milwaukee in the NL wild card race.
Losing Wagner for the final two months of the season forced other relievers into longer roles, often forcing pitching matchups to be set hitter by hitter, said Guy Conti, who was the bullpen coach but now serves as the team's rehab coordinator.
"We didn't lose just a closer, we lost an All-Star closer. Then we tried to fill those roles, so when we lost Billy, it took everybody out of their comfort zone," Conti said. "Now you've got Putz and Rodriguez who are very comfortable closing games in the eighth and ninth inning, and that makes a big difference."
Although the overall bullpen order is still being determined, Conti believes the additions of Rodriguez and Putz -- plus a strong starting rotation -- will allow the long relievers to better do their job. In the mix of long relievers are former Seattle pitcher Sean Green and holdovers Duaner Sanchez and Pedro Feliciano.
Some of the culprits in the bullpen's 2008 collapse -- Aaron Heilman, Luis Ayala, Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith -- are no longer on the team.
"You build a bullpen from the back to the front," Conti said. "The back is really strong right now, so there is more wiggle room to give up a run or so in the sixth or seventh inning because you know you still have those big guys at the end."
Both Rodriguez, who set an MLB record with 62 saves last year for the Los Angeles Angels, and Putz, who has 91 saves over the last three seasons in Seattle, are aware of the expectations placed on them.
"I feel like we are a lot deeper in the bullpen," Rodriguez said. "The offense has never been the question -- they are going to score a lot of runs. Now the pitching staff has to protect the lead."
Putz said he senses a chance for redemption among his bullpen teammates.
"Anybody that has failure wants to have that chance to make up for it," Putz said. "There are going to be times when we don't get the job done either this year, but believe me, you just can't wait for that next opportunity to get out there and get the job done."
(Laurel Pfahler is a sportswriter for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal. E-mail laurelpfahler(at)scripps.com.)
