Sports

Francesa delivers screeching anti-paternity-leave rant

Mike Francesa isn’t a big fan of paternity leave.

The WFAN radio host blasted Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy for missing the team’s first two games to be with his wife, Victoria, in Florida for the birth of their son, Noah, who was born Monday.

MLB rules allow a player to take three days away from the team on paternity leave, but Francesa believes they should never take the time.

“You’re a major-league baseball player. You can hire a nurse,’’ he said on his Wednesday show. “Whaddya gonna do, sit there and look at your wife in the hospital bed for two days?”

Murphy will be back with the Mets for Thursday’s series finale against the Nationals at Citi Field, but Francesa was under the impression he was going to be gone for 10 days.

“First of all, the first two days, your wife is in the hospital anyway, you’re there with her,’’ he said. “And the baby’s in the hospital. So you’re not taking the baby home usually till the third day. You think the third day that Daniel Murphy’s going to be in charge of nursing that baby the third day? … That’s my point. He’s not there to take care of the other kids, he’s not there to nurse the baby.”

Mets GM Sandy Alderson made it clear that Murphy’s absence wasn’t an issue with the organization.

“The paternity leave policy was introduced not just for the players’ benefit but I think recognition by clubs in contemporary times that this is an appropriate time for parents to be together,” Alderson said prior to Wednesday night’s game. “I’ve got absolutely no problem whatsoever with Murph being away.’’

“The delivery was a little earlier than expected, but those things you don’t control. I’m happy he could be with his wife and be back [Thursday] and only miss two games is a positive for us.”

Also Wednesday, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins returned home to be with his wife for the birth of the couple’s second child. Last year, John Buck took paternity leave with the Mets and was replaced on the roster by Travis d’Arnaud, who kept the starting job for the final six weeks of the season.

Jason Bay also took paternity leave with the Mets, in 2011, for the birth of a child.

“[Paternity leave] is part of the rules and for years and years guys have gone – especially the birth of their first child,” manager Terry Collins said. “They pretty much have been there.”