AP
ANAHEIM, Calif. – A day after Francisco Rodriguez’s agent, Paul Kinzer, told SI.com’s Jon Heyman that his client wants “at least” a five-year, $75 million deal, K-Rod showed why the Angels would never come close to offering him that much and why the deep-pocketed Mets, his next likely destination, may be doomed for further heartbreak.
There are no questioning Rodriguez’s credentials as a closer. He saved a record-setting 62 games this season and became the youngest pitcher to reach 200 saves. Then again, there’s no stat in baseball as deceptive and in many ways as meaningless as the save.
Take Game 2 of the ALDS between the Red Sox and Angels for example. Jonathan Papelbon entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with no outs and a man on third, retired the side, allowing just a one out on a sacrifice fly to medium centerfield. Despite extending his postseason scoreless streak to 17 2/3 innings, Papelbon recorded a blown save after the Red Sox’s 7-5 win.
While Papelbon was put in an almost impossible save position, Rodriguez was continuously put in almost impossible not to save positions this season for the Angels, a solid defensive team that plays in more close games than any team in baseball. Sure, Rodriguez converted 62 of his 69 save opportunities, but I’d bet there are at least a half dozen closers who would have been able to hit 60 saves this season if put in Rodriguez’s cleats.
Don’t think the Angels don’t know that. There’s a reason they offered him a 3-year, $33 million deal in training camp and won’t go anywhere near the “Mariano money” he’s looking for. They see him everyday. They know his fastball isn’t what it used to be, his velocity is dipping and his quirky pitching motion will soon takes it toll on his body, eliminating any chance that they’d sign him to a lucrative contract longer than three years.
The legacy of a great closer is built on what he does during the postseason not how many saves he can pile up in August, and the fact is Rodriguez hasn’t stepped up when it’s mattered most. After giving up a three-run homer to Manny Ramirez in Game 2 of last year’s ALDS, Rodriguez once again crumbled under the pressure this year, giving up a two-run home run to JD Drew virtually a year to the day later in a series headed for another sweep.
As dominant as Rodriguez may have been during the regular season, there are probably a handful of closers I would take over K-Rod right now in the playoffs and Papelbon is at the top of that short list. What Papelbon has done in the postseason is more worthy of comparison to Mariano Rivera than whatever contract figure Rodriguez will be angling for this offseason. In addition to having a streak of nearly 18 scoreless innings, Papelbon’s been a major reason why the Angels haven’t been able to beat the Red Sox in the postseason, with the Angels mustering just two hits in 50 at-bats against him over his postseason career, with 19 strikeouts.
While a flustered Rodriguez brushed off reporters after Friday's game, Papelbon stood in front of his locker with the same confidence he had on the mound. "For me, being in the postseason, in these types of ballgames, I've always told myself 'The coolest cucumber wins'," he said. "What it boils down to is we wanted it more and it showed."
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Comments (56) Add A Comment
Is K-Rod worth 75 mil? Not after last night.
tnerb57
Twin Falls , ID
Total Comments (84)
No, but the Mets have a new ballpark to fill.
sacked92
New York , NY
Total Comments (1435)
Nobody should be making that kind af jack to play baseball.
49er SF Giants
Elk Grove , CA
Total Comments (340)
$75 million? Only if it's a 15-year contract.
The Pitt Panther is…
Telford, PA
Total Comments (11752)
K-Rod is
rated
The Pitt Panther is…
Telford, PA
Total Comments (11752)
NO one is worth that much...They gave A-rod too much money he chokes at clutch time...a Team can not win with just one man . Manny Ramirez helped L.A. Dodger get over the hump but never a one man show they had a Team. Minaya of the will go after K-Rod but they need Relieve help Not starters and Mets gave the other guy Sanatana too much also he had a fair season and Get rid of Mr. Disable please Pedro
darron710@MSN.COM
Newark , NJ
Total Comments (834)
Money not well spent.
Riggs (McDUDD)
Total Comments (2189)
of the Mets
darron710@MSN.COM
Newark , NJ
Total Comments (834)
no closer is worth that much money...except maybe to the mets...but even then...k-rod isn't the closer the mets is looking for
dodger_john
Santa Maria , CA
Total Comments (12)
He is worth whatever someone will pay him. The best relievers are the ones who come in with runners on base and do not allow them to score. Coming in to pitch in the 9th inning and giving up no runs, is not that big a deal. See Dick Radatz of the old Red Sox for an iluustration of great relief pitcher.
Richard Hopes
Dallas, TX
Total Comments (1)
No doubt about it.. he will be overpaid this winter. I was just coming online to either blog or TD about this very topic. The dude didnt a thing to impress me all year. Like it was said up top... a dozen closers could have done the same thign for the Angels this year.
fvkasm2x
Vancouver, BC
Total Comments (393)
Wow, this is a MLB GM decision that I am qualified to answer--NO
Good-Man:Flyin…
Palm Beach, FL
Total Comments (1142)
The monster, Dick Radatz was the reliever I will think of as being the reliever. I remember him with Jim Piersall at first base making him coo coo. But in essence he is the reliever I would want on my mound over them all.
Wheel
Newport , RI
Total Comments (28)
K-Rod isn't worth his weight in aluminum. Has anyone ever really watched him pitch? He throws so much into each pitch that he turns his body around 180 degrees, which, if the ball were hit back to him, he'd be worthless. Oh yeah and he choked harder than a fat kid sucking down a christmas ham without chewing.
SnapTheJap101
Seal Beach, CA
Total Comments (23450)
I have to say, I'm somewhat amused...
Where are all the "K-Rod for MVP" posters that usually frequent FanNation? Defend him. Tell us why he is worth a 5 year contract at that price. His peripheral stats have gotten progressively worse over the past three years.
The Angels should let him go and sign Brian Fuentes at a fraction of the price. Then instead of throwing money away, they can make a run at some other free agents and improve their team...
LostInTheBoom
Craftsbury , VT
Total Comments (8)
keep Teixeira - sign another first rate starter, and let Rodriguez go to the National League. Angels need greater stability in their starting rotation....(see post-season against Boston)
mldlalex
Total Comments (4)
Is he worth more than the entire Rays squad's annual payroll? Um, no. LOL
pdisme
Tampa , FL
Total Comments (1)
I voiced on this topic yesterday when it first hit the site and ill talk again. 75 milion for k rod? remember when zito's k's and hits to innings started to go up over three years and then the giants gave him 120 million. same hing will happen with k rod. maybe they get a decent year, but then again maybe he has yet another downtrend. i hope the yankees sign him and sabathia and they both help them NOT make the playoffs again.
bmoregmr
Baltimore , MD
Total Comments (140)
Only the Mets will be stupid enough to give him that kind of money. What is really stupid is that they will only be bidding against themselves. But Omar can get another hispanic player for his all south of the border, all over paid, team.
mishagothe
New London , CT
Total Comments (84)
Arredondo should be closing the games not Rodriguez!
Flipper23
Irvine, CA
Total Comments (8)
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