Francisco Rodriguez didn’t waste any time jumping into the middle of the Mets-Phillies rivalry.
The Mets’ new $37 million closer shrugged off the Mets’ September collapses the past two seasons and the Phillies’ freshly minted World Series crown by declaring the Mets “the team to beat” in the NL East in 2009.
Take that, Jimmy Rollins.
“Of course we’re going to try to win the division,” K-Rod said in conference call today. “Of course we’re going to be the front-runner. Of course we’re going to be the team to beat.
“I don’t want to be controversial or [have] the other ballclubs in that division take it personally or take it in a bad way. I’m a really competitive guy, and I like to win. Of course, if they ask what is the ballclub that’s going to win the National League East, it’s going to be the Mets. Easy question.”
Rodriguez, 26, was speaking publicly for the first time since the former Angels All-Star signed a three-year deal with the Mets on Tuesday at the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.
It turned out that Mets GM Omar Minaya was just getting started with the K-Rod signing, considering Minaya then acquired setup man J.J. Putz and middle reliever Sean Green from the Mariners while jettisoning three members of a bullpen that infamously imploded last season.
Dispatched late in the week were Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith and Scott Schoeneweis, three relievers who helped the Mets blow a franchise-record 29 saves in 2008.
Rodriguez, who set the major-league record with 62 saves last year, vowed the Mets’ bullpen will be a lot more reliable next season with he and Putz now on board.
“There’s not a question in my mind that this year is going to be different [for the bullpen],” Rodriguez said in the 20-minute interview from his offseason home in Venezuela. “If we can stay healthy, the rest of it we can take care of it easy.”
Some scouts have questioned the Mets’ investment, considering Rodriguez last year blew seven saves, never pitched more than one inning and flamed out in the postseason. The biggest concern, though, was a trademark 96-mph fastball that dipped into the 92-93 mph range.
Rodriguez explained that today by saying he was adding a third pitch – a change-up – that caused the velocity on his fastball to dip because he wanted both pitches to come from a similar arm motion.
“[The velocity] will pick back up, no question about it,” he said.
As well as joining fellow Venezuelan (and personal idol) Johan Santana, Rodriguez also left no doubt he is eager to face the notorious New York pressure cooker head-on. K-Rod claims to welcome the Mets no-quarter fans and the intense media scrutiny.
“There might even be a little more adrenaline because the New York atmosphere is totally different,” Rodriguez said. “In Anaheim, they’re more calm and relaxed watching a game. Mets fans make a lot of noise. I try to take the energy from the crowd. It’s going to focus me a lot more.”
Rodriguez also is known for his arm-flexing antics on the mound after a big strikeout or save, which is something he insisted would not change in New York.
If the Phillies or any other NL East team doesn’t like it, K-Rod could not seem to care less.
“I’m never going to change the way I do my job,” he said.
bhubbuch@nypost.com