Mets: Front-runners or choke artists? A December war of words

It didn't take long for the New York Mets' new $37 million closer, Francisco Rodriguez, to stir up the budding rivalry between the Mets and the world champs.

“Of course we’re going to try to win the division, of course we want to be the front-runners and of course we want to be the team to beat,” Rodríguez said Saturday on a conference call from Venezuela. “I’m a competitive guy. I like to win. If they ask me what ball club will win the NL East, it’s going to be the Mets, easy question.”

That got the ball rolling, and some enterprising interviewers sought out Phillies ace Cole Hamels, who had an appearance Saturday.

"For the past two years they’ve been choke artists," Hamels told WFAN in New York.

Their bullpen choke artists are mostly out the door, however. Lightning-rod Aaron Heilman was dealt to Seattle, and now the Mets have roughly $24 million in annual salaries dedicated to current or former closers after the trade for J.J. Putz. Billy Wagner will make $10.5 million this year while rehabbing his elbow.

Initially, it seemed Putz wouldn't be happy in a setup role -- "He's one of the top five or 10 closers in the game," his agent said on the day his client was traded. "No, he would not want to be a setup man." But Putz seems to be warming to the idea.

"It's not the ideal situation, but having the two of us at the back of the bullpen will be pretty strong," Putz said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The Mets organization is built to win right now, and that's new for me."

Cole Hamels might disagree, to a point. First pitch between the Phillies and Mets this season is Friday, May 1 in Philadelphia.