"If the Mets want to move Francisco Rodriguez, he can't afford too many bad performances like the two blown saves he had before yesterday.

"I don't think about that," Rodriguez said after he rebounded to pick up his 20th save in a 4-1 win over the A's yesterday.

But if the Mets want to move Rodriguez, Jason Isringhausen said he could see him taking on a set-up role.

"It would only be a couple of months," Isringhausen said. "You put all that other nonsense to the side when you have a chance to win another ring. And then you go sign another contract next year if you have to."

If Rodriguez becomes a set-up man, he is unlikely to finish the 55 games he needs to have his $17.5 million option for next season kick in. Rodriguez has finished 28 games.

Terry Collins and Rodriguez agreed the closer needs more consistent work to be effective while he's still with the Mets.

"Like he told me, the more he pitches, the better he is," Collins said. "He and I will do a better job monitoring his work.""