John Franco wouldn’t mind trying to pick up another save for the Mets.
The franchise’s all-time saves leader yesterday said he would love an opportunity to tutor Bobby Parnell for the remainder of this season and beyond, if the Mets ask Franco to help. The right-handed Parnell has struggled in his audition for the 2012 closer’s job.
“He’s a young kid and he’s still figuring things out,” Franco told The Post before the Mets beat the Cubs 5-4 last night at Citi Field. “It’s like on-the-job training for him. If you go into a season with the mindset ‘This is my job,’ and you have the right tutoring — someone like myself can come along and maybe help him out and talk to him day in and day out.”
Franco said he hasn’t been approached by the Mets about mentoring Parnell, but would welcome an invite — ideally before spring training.
“Even if it’s a homestand or something like that,” Franco said.
When told of Franco’s comments, manager Terry Collins seemed intrigued by the possibility of having Franco help out.
“I’ll try to set that up,” Collins said.
Parnell got the final out of the eighth inning last night without allowing a run and is 3-5 with a 4.29 ERA in 51 appearances for the Mets this season. He has four blown saves in nine chances.
“I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him and a chance to be a top-line closer once he figures it out,” Franco said. “Once he comes up with some type of off-speed pitch, because right now everything is hard . . . the sky is the limit.
“It’s work on location and concentration level. He has the tools to throw 100 mph — I just think his location and his pitch selection could be better.”
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Johan Santana allowed an unearned run on two hits over three innings last night for Single-A Savannah in his second minor league start since encountering a setback last month in his rehab. Wednesday will mark the one-year anniversary of Santana’s surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder.
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The Mets will offer complimentary tickets to New York City first responders and their families for tomorrow’s 9/11 Remembrance ceremony and the ensuing game against the Cubs. Tickets can be picked up, with proper identification, at the Citi Field advance ticket window next to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.