Mets hope K-Rod will spell relief

No money for Manny Ramirez, but they’re selling locker stalls from old Shea Stadium for $500, napkin holders for $59.

Ryan Howard leads majors with 153 HRs over the last three years; A-Rod has 124, Albert Pujols 118.

After 14 consecutive division titles, Braves’ record over the last three years: 235-251.

N.Y. Mets (89-73)

Philadelphia (92-70)

Atlanta (72-90)

Florida (84-77)

No coincidence: lowest payroll in the majors, worst attendance. Don’t miss Lawyer Appreciation Night! (Seriously.)

Washington (59-102)

Adam Dunn’s yearly home run totals since 2005: 40, 40, 40, 40.

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KEY PLAYER

Mets hope K-Rod will spell relief

Francisco Rodriguez, p, Mets

The Mets didn’t dare move into Citi Field without a bullpen bailout. They coughed up September leads in each of the last two years -- seven games in 2007, 3 1/2 games in ’08 -- and blew 16 saves after the All-Star break last year, most in the majors. So they spent $37 million on Rodriguez, who set the major league record last season with 62 saves for the Angels, then acquired his setup man by trading for the Mariners’ All-Star closer, J.J. Putz. Rodriguez already has called the Mets “the team to beat” -- the World Series champion Phillies rolled their eyes at that -- but a few blown saves and the headlines will read “K-Fraud.”

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HOT TOPIC

Braves have new look to their rotation

The heyday of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine is long over in Atlanta, and so is the Braves’ NL East dynasty. The Braves cleared out their rotation last winter, after their starters pitched fewer innings last season than any team’s in the NL except the Nationals’. Of the five pitchers to start at least 15 games last year, four are out, including Tim Hudson because of surgery. Jair Jurrjens is back, joined by Derek Lowe ($60 million), Glavine (age 43), Japanese import Kenshin Kawakami and Javier Vazquez, who has won in double digits and pitched at least 198 innings nine years running. The Braves also have mega-prospect Tommy Hanson in waiting.