SAN FRANCISCO — Better than the ideal weather will be the 6-foot-2, 250-pound package awaiting the Mets in San Diego.
After spending the last five weeks on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, closer Frank Francisco will rejoin the Mets today, giving the team some much needed depth in the bullpen.
The right-hander is 1-3 with a 4.97 ERA and 18 saves, but had rebounded from a disastrous May before hitting the disabled list on June 24.
Manager Terry Collins will be glad to have Bobby Parnell in a setup role again with Francisco returning, but said Parnell could still see ninth-inning duty.
“I’m not sure Frankie is ready to be out there three or four days in a row like before he got hurt,” Collins said before the Mets beat the Giants 9-1 at AT&T Park. “Bobby is going to be used [to close] again. I think there are going to be other opportunities and I think the way he threw [Wednesday] night is certainly an indication that if needed he can do the job.”
Elvin Ramirez will likely be the roster casualty with Francisco returning.
* Jason Bay was tested in left field yesterday, battling a difficult sun all afternoon, but escaped unscathed — with seven putouts.
“It’s always been like that,” Bay said. “It’s windy, there are no clouds, there’s the sun. You kind of hope you get a big lead so you don’t get one in the sun late and blow it. It’s been there forever, but that doesn’t make it easier.”
Adding to the challenge was the fact Chris Young is a fly ball pitcher.
“He might be the absolute worst guy to have pitch on a day like that,” Bay said.
* Johan Santana was scheduled to throw a bullpen session yesterday and will likely repeat the process tomorrow. Collins is still trying to decide where the lefty should be slotted in the rotation upon his scheduled return next week.