PHILADELPHIA — The last time Francisco Rodriguez pitched at Citi Field, it came just three days after he was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend’s father and the closer was booed loudly.
Rodriguez claims to be unconcerned to see what the reaction to him when he’s introduced at today’s home opener against the Nationals.
“I don’t look at it as something I have to worry about,” Rodriguez said following yesterday’s 11-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. “I’ve been waiting to get back to Citi Field for a long time. I just want to get back on that mound and that’s all I’m looking to do. All the other stuff is out of my hands.”
And he knows that regardless of how he’s treated by the fans, it won’t really matter once he’s called on to close out a game.
“I obviously have no control over what 40,000 people are gonna do,” Rodriguez said. “The only thing I can do is pitch. If I do that and I do it well, I think everything will be fine.”
In his final appearance a year ago, Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning before it was learned later on that he tore ligaments in his thumb and the ensuing surgery knocked him out for the rest of the season.
Now Rodriguez is back after a solid spring in which he and the Mets said the closer was throwing as well as he has in years.
Rodriguez is still looking for his first save of the season, having blown his first chance on Saturday in Florida. He managed to finish his first game against the Phillies on Wednesday- an important note considering he has a clause in his contract that kicks in a $17.5 million option for 2012 if he finishes 55 games this season. But he’s putting that, as well as whatever vitriol Mets’ fans might have in store for him, out of his mind.
“I can’t go to the park or on the mound worrying about any of that stuff,” Rodriguez said. “I just want to be out there with the game on the line so I can close out a win. That’s what I’m thinking about most.”