RAGING BULL: Sandy Alderson retooled the Mets’ bullpen over the offseason, and the results this spring have been encouraging. (Anthony J. Causi)
RAGING BULL: Sandy Alderson (left) retooled the Mets’ bullpen over the offseason, and the results this spring have been encouraging. (
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PORT ST. LUCIE — Sandy Alderson can only cross his fingers and hope.
The Mets general manager has gone from the offseason rallying cry: “It can’t be any worse than last year,” regarding the team’s bullpen, to a guarded sense of optimism about that unit as the new season approaches.
Solid performances this spring by veterans Brandon Lyon, LaTroy Hawkins, Scott Atchison and Pedro Feliciano, among others, have the Mets hopeful there won’t be a repeat of last season, when the bullpen had a 4.65 ERA, which ranked 29th in the majors.
“I think we have a little more confidence in the bullpen than we had toward the end of spring training last year,” Alderson said. “It’s all about performance in the regular season, but it seems that we have a better assortment of veteran arms and we’ve got several pitchers from both the right and left side coming up through the system to give us a lot more depth and are competing for a spot in the bullpen, so that’s a very different situation than we had last year.”
Alderson splurged after the 2011 season, signing Frank Francisco to a two-year deal worth $12 million and Jon Rauch to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million. Francisco struggled with consistency and injuries and likely will begin the season on the disabled list after undergoing December surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Rauch battled various health issues last year and wasn’t re-signed.
This time around, Alderson signed Hawkins, Atchison, Feliciano and Greg Burke, among others, to minor league contracts and gave the 33-year-old Lyon a one-year deal for less than $1 million guaranteed. Bobby Parnell has been elevated to closer in Francisco’s absence and may keep the job even when the veteran righty returns.
Besides Feliciano, the Mets have lefty options in Josh Edgin, Robert Carson and Scott Rice. Another lefty, Aaron Laffey, has begun lengthening his appearances for a potential spot in the starting rotation.
Though the Mets are pleased with Jeurys Familia in his transition from starter to reliever, Alderson hinted the 23-year-old righty may start the season at Triple-A, allowing the Mets to keep as many veterans as possible early in the year.
“If you think someone is ready coming out of the system now, then it makes sense to start the season with them,” Alderson said. “But if you believe they can benefit from some additional development at the minor league level because of a change in position from going to the rotation to the pen, it’s nice to have that veteran who can give you some options.”
After the 36-year-old Atchison pitched a shutout inning against the Cardinals on Monday, manager Terry Collins praised the veteran for his approach. Atchison, who pitched for the Red Sox last season, has a 2.35 ERA in seven appearances this spring.
“I like him because he pounds the strike zone, and he’s got a great breaking ball,” Collins said. “Another thing that we’ve heard about him is he’s got a strikeout breaking ball, and I like him because he’s ahead in the count all the time.”
The 40-year-old Hawkins has not allowed an earned run in four appearances this spring. Lyon has a 1.59 ERA in six appearances and Feliciano has a 2.70 ERA in five appearances, after being diagnosed with a genetic heart ailment that must be monitored.
“Sandy worked real hard this winter to try and bolster the bullpen,” Collins said. “And he brought in some good, quality veteran arms to see if we can get better.”
mpuma@nypost.com