Manuel comes close to defending K-Rod's actions

HOUSTON - Mets manager Jerry Manuel last night came close to defending Francisco Rodriguez for his actions during the incident that led to the Mets closer's arrest on Wednesday night.

Manuel said "you can see why" K-Rod was so angry when he allegedly assaulted his fiancee's father-in-law after a game.

"You don't condone it, but you can see why," Manuel said. "I think that's what has to be taken into account with your frustrations and things."

Manuel said he could not elaborate on what he has learned privately about the incident.

Asked if there is something he knows that has made him less upset with Rodriguez, Manuel said: "Well, I think as men, once you have all that information as men I think we all would have reacted in some form. Maybe not in that form, but in some form. And I think I have to kind of leave it at that."

Manuel is the Mets' ranking baseball official on this part of their road trip. General manager Omar Minaya and the rest of the front office were back in New York last night working on signing the team's first-round draft pick, pitcher Matt Harvey, before the midnight deadline.

Minaya had previously spoken out about Rodriguez's arrest, calling his actions on that night "not acceptable." Rodriguez has not publicly said what sparked the incident.