Manuel, K-Rod still getting accustomed to each other

Jerry Manuel is still figuring out how to use 20-year-old rookie reliever Jenrry Mejia. In a way, he's only now figured out how to use his closer.

Manuel said before last night's game against the Braves that Mejia, who pitched to only one batter in the previous five days, needed to get some important work - perhaps the eighth inning in a tight game - to continue learning as a big-leaguer.

More interesting was what Manuel said about Francisco Rodriguez, who reported for work last night ready, willing and able to pitch a fourth consecutive day.

"I've never had a guy who saved 62 [games] before. When he says he's ready, I've got to believe he knows what he's doing," Manuel said. "I have to give him every opportunity because he's done this before. He knows what he's doing more than anyone."

You'd perhaps think that Manuel was talking about Rodriguez as if this were last season, when K-Rod was a brand new Met after signing a three-year, $37-million deal following that 62-save season with the Angels.

But even Rodriguez admitted last night that he and his manager needed a year to get used to one another, and that things have been much better this season between closer and boss.

"We are pretty much on the same page now," Rodriguez told Newsday before last night's game. "Remember, I never played for a different manager besides [Mike] Scioscia before. It was a little bit different at the beginning here to make that adjustment. Now, this is my second year, [Manuel] knows me, knows my body a little better, knows when I want to throw and when I need a couple days off."

That knowledge might not have seemed in evidence eight days earlier in St. Louis. The Mets' 20-inning, 2-1 win over the Cardinals has been cited as a bit of a turning point for the team, which was 5-2 since then heading into last night's game, which was the Mets' first opportunity for a series sweep this season.

Perhaps it was a bit of a turning point in the Manuel-Rodriguez relationship, too. Rodriguez warmed up numerous times and was not very pleased about it. The total was at least nine, depending on who you ask; Rodriguez said he threw a dozen times that night, including his one-inning stint in the 19th, when he gave up the tying run.

"It was something that just got out of hand," Rodriguez said. "I just had a dead arm after that - up and down, up and down so much. It was basically the first time in my career I gave up and said, 'I can't go [more than one inning].' Hopefully, it's the last time."

In the previous three games heading into last night, Rodriguez warmed up and went in to save the game. That included a five-out save against the Cubs on Thursday, when Manuel said he was hoping for another out but may have deferred to his closer to keep him happy.

As for Mejia, Manuel doesn't think his rookie needs to go back down to Triple-A to hone his secondary pitches and work on being the starter the team projects. "Maybe the role isn't as prominent, but the experience of being here is invaluable for him," Manuel said. "Even if he does go down [to Buffalo] at some point, or he does start in winter ball, I think there's value to him being here now.

"And for him to evolve into what we need him to be, you've got to get him pieces of that [eighth-inning role]."