PORT ST. LUCIE — Serenity now!
With several anger-management sessions complete, a rejuvenated Francisco Rodriguez entered the Mets’ spring training complex yesterday and vowed to become a new man in 2011. He’s hoping for plenty of punch outs, but only if that refers to strikeouts.
“It was an unfortunate situation I put myself in,” said Rodriguez, who pleaded guilty in December to attempted assault, after punching his girlfriend’s father in the face last summer at Citi Field. “I regret it 1,000 percent. I’ve got to move on and learn from this mistake.
“It made me grow up more as a human being, and I’m truly sorry for the way I put my teammates and the organization and, of course, the fans in that situation,” continued Rodriguez, who declined to discuss his current relationship with the mother of his children. “I’m just looking for Mets fans to give me one more opportunity to go out there and prove to them it’s a different Frankie Rodriguez.”
Rodriguez, who tore a thumb ligament in the scuffle, forfeited $3.1 million for the two months he was placed on the disqualified list. He said his thumb is fine and he expects to regain form as one of the game’s top closers.
Already, manager Terry Collins has discussed with Rodriguez the possibility of taking a more expanded role, including appearing in the eighth inning to record saves longer than three outs. Collins also assured Rodriguez that he won’t have him get up and down in the bullpen, as he did so many times last year under manager Jerry Manuel.
“One thing about closers: When you get them up, you get them in,” Collins said.
The Mets hold a $17.5 million option on Rodriguez for 2012 that triggers if he finishes 55 games this season. Rodriguez said neither Collins nor general manager Sandy Alderson has spoken to him about the option.
“We’re not talking about it,” Rodriguez said. “We’re talking about winning and getting this ballclub once again to the postseason. That’s the mentality we have here. All I want to do is go out there and get three quick outs and save as many games I can.”
Collins said his managerial strategy will not be affected by Rodriguez’s contract.
“In the past when I managed, I didn’t want to know anything about incentives and all the other stuff,” Collins said. “I tried to win a game, and I’m going to do that this year. And the more we win, [Rodriguez] is going to be a big part of those wins. If we keep winning, I’m sure he’ll keep going out there. I plan on using him how I’m supposed to use him.”
Rodriguez said his court-ordered anger-management sessions will continue during spring training and into the season. What has Rodriguez learned in anger management?
“One second, one decision can change your whole life,” he said. “And it really happened to me in a bad way, where you’ve had a lot of success, things going your way . . . you stop thinking about the opposite. And when [the arrest] happened to me, it made me open my eyes that I’m not doing things the right way.”
Just don’t expect a different Rodriguez on the mound. Though he’s often agitated opponents with his showboating, Rodriguez said he won’t change his style.
“On the mound it’s going to be the same — the same attitude, the same cockiness and arrogance,” he said. “It’s going to be the same. I don’t think it’s going to change at all.”
Does he still consider himself an elite closer?
“I know what I’m capable to do and if I’m healthy and given opportunities to close out games, the numbers are going to talk for themselves,” Rodriguez said.
“So I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to anybody. The only thing I have to prove is I have changed a lot and grown a lot, and it’s going to be a different Frankie Rodriguez out there.”
mpuma@nypost.com