CINCINNATI — For a little-known throw-in to the J.J. Putz trade, Sean Green appears ready to take a prominent role in the Mets’ bullpen this season.
Green, a soon-to-be 30-year-old right-hander obtained from the Mariners as part of the Putz blockbuster last December, pitched 11/3 innings of perfect relief Monday in the Mets’ 2-1, Opening Day win over the Reds.
The seventh inning looks as if it will be primarily Green’s domain this year, especially if there are several righty hitters to face. He will be the bridge to the Mets’ powerful closing combination of Putz and Frankie Rodriguez. Green couldn’t be happier to fill that role, especially after laboring for the 101-loss Mariners last season.
“It’s incredible to be part of such a good team,” Green said after his impressive bit of work Monday in a one-run situation. “It’s a fresh start in a new town.”
Putz said Mets fans are in for a treat with Green, whose 4.67 ERA last season was considered a product of overuse by the Mariners. “You’re going to be blown away by what he can do,” Putz said.
*
Thanks to a concert by rap star Flo Rida, Mets fans watching on SNY won’t get to see the first hour of Saturday’s game in Miami against the Marlins. The Marlins pushed up the game to 6:10 p.m. to make room for the postgame Flo Rida show and fireworks. Unfortunately for Mets fans, the Fox network’s exclusive Saturday national TV window runs until 7:05 p.m. SNY plans to join the game in progress as soon as Fox’s window ends, a network spokesman said yesterday.
*
The Mets suffered the largest attendance drop by percentage in the entire Grapefruit League this spring, according to figures released by The Sports Business Daily. The Mets were hit with a 16.3-percent plunge at the turnstiles in Port St. Lucie, Fla., as total attendance for the 16-game schedule at Tradition Field came in at 82,017. That was an average of 5,126 tickets per game, compared to 2008’s average of 6,121.
The Yankees, by contrast, saw attendance fall just 1.6 percent to 168,905 tickets for their 16-game Grapefruit League docket.
