Sandy: Pen problems not on Terry

SANDY Alderson admitted he is not happy with the Mets bullpen performance, but said recent reports saying his front office is upset with Terry Collins’ use of the relievers are not fair. “All I can say is nobody has talked to me about that,” Alderson said. “I am happy with the job that Terry has done under the circumstances. Nobody is happy with the win-loss record we have. I think there are reasons for the record that we have that have nothing to do with Terry.

“So I would hope in the future when people write about my views of Terry that they will actually ask me about my views. End of quote.”

With a bullpen that entered Monday’s game with a 4.90 ERA and charged with 12 losses, there are plenty of issues. The pen has lost Jeurys Familia, who had surgery to remove an arterial blood clot in his shoulder earlier this month. Mets starters have been unable to get deep into games and there has been some heavy usage with 17 one-run games already this season.

“We’re very aware of the ineffectiveness of the pen over the last period of time as well as its extensive use,” Alderson said. “It’s a function of our starting pitching. It’s a function of closeness of many of our games. It’s why we carried an extra pitcher when we have had an opportunity to do that. Those are all concerns of ours. I think those are critical issues for us to consider to continue to think about.”

ARMS COMING

Steven Matz and Seth Lugo will each make one more minor-league rehab appearance before being activated off the disabled list. “We want to get them up closer to 90 or 90-plus (pitches) and so that will happen sometime next week,” Alderson said. “Assuming that they pitch well and come out healthy, then I think we would strongly consider bringing them up and adding to the pitching staff.”

Matz (left elbow discomfort) pitched five perfect innings with eight strikeouts on Sunday, throwing 73 pitches followed by 10 in the bullpen for Triple-A Las Vegas. Lugo allowed three runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts in six innings for Double-A Binghamton. If the two stay on regular rest, the Mets could see one start as soon as June 7 in Texas. Tonight, Tyler Pill will start for the Mets. They have one other game, June 4, when they might need a spot starter.

WRIST WATCH

Rene Rivera said his right wrist was swollen and sore after he was hit by a pitch, but that x-rays after the game showed no broken bones. The catcher was hit in the sixth inning and remained in the game after taking a ball off the arm.

“It hit me a little lower, down on the muscle, not the bone, so I got lucky,” Rivera said. “I have ice on it and tape on it. That will get the swelling out.”

FAMILIA HOPEFUL FOR THIS SEASON

Jeurys Familia, who had surgery to remove an arterial blood clot from his right shoulder, said Monday that he was scheduled to return to St. Louis in two weeks to be examined by the doctor. He hopes he will be cleared then to begin a throwing program.

“Maybe August or maybe September,” Familia said about returning this year. “I am feeling good, everything is going good. So I hope.”