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Monday, August 04, 2008

TSN: McNeal: Can the Angels afford to keep K-Rod?

Rodriguez is no more concerned with his rise in walks than he is with the records. “They’re not chasing the pitches in strikeout situations,” Rodriguez says, referring to a curve that often bounces before crossing the plate.

If Rodriguez continues on this path—he leads the majors in saves since his first season as a fulltime closer, 2005—he someday will be looking at the career record, too. He is nine saves shy of 200 and is only 26. At that age, all-time leader Trevor Hoffman had five saves, No. 2 Lee Smith had 47 and No. 3 Mariano Rivera had yet to record his first.

“Francisco has established himself as one of the best closers who’s ever been in the game,” Scioscia says. “When it’s all said and done, he’s going to be knocking on the Hall of Fame if he stays healthy.”

Thanks to The Jack Hiatt Urgency.

Repoz Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:28 PM | 31 comment(s)
Related News: General, LA Angels

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1. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: August 04, 2008 at 05:47 PM (#2889843)

I'm not an Angels fan, but I think we all know not to overpay for a closer.

Prediction: Francisco Rodriguez (I refuse to call him K-Rod) will sign for 6yrs/$120M, the MSM will say that whatever team signs him will 'sow up the pennant'. He'll get hurt in June and miss the rest of the season, but that team will win their division anyway.

2. cardsfanboy

Posted: August 04, 2008 at 05:47 PM (#2889845)

Thigpen recorded 200 saves in his 28th season, ended up with 201. and I'm sure you can find a host of other guys that had 5 good seasons as a reliever (which is about 200 saves) the greatness of Mariano is the level of quality and the longevity, almost everyone assumes nowadays you will get up to 7 years out of a closer then he is done, few rarely exceed that, and most fall far short of that level.

3. cardsfanboy

Posted: August 04, 2008 at 05:48 PM (#2889847)

if a closer gets 6 years or 20 per year, then it would be definitive evidence that gms aren't getting smarter.

4. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: August 04, 2008 at 05:50 PM (#2889849)

evidence that gms aren't getting smarter

Brian Sabean and Ned Coletti say 'hi'

5. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: August 04, 2008 at 05:51 PM (#2889853)

Prediction: Francisco Rodriguez (I refuse to call him K-Rod) will sign for 6yrs/$120M, the MSM will say that whatever team signs him will 'sow up the pennant'.

You're unwilling to call him K-Rod, but you're willing to call him a pig?

6. Jimmy P Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:02 PM (#2889864)

Prediction: Francisco Rodriguez (I refuse to call him K-Rod) will sign for 6yrs/$120M, the MSM will say that whatever team signs him will 'sow up the pennant'. He'll get hurt in June and miss the rest of the season, but that team will win their division anyway

$20 million a year? Not a chance. Miguel Cabrera didn't even get $20 million a year.

Going rate for an overpaid closer seems to be about $7-9 million a year.

7. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:10 PM (#2889873)

$20 million a year? Not a chance. Miguel Cabrera didn't even get $20 million a year.

Going rate for an overpaid closer seems to be about $7-9 million a year.

Ok, gentlemen's bet: $14.50000001 M/yr and above I win, otherwise you win.

8. cardsfanboy

Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:14 PM (#2889878)

I could almost see a 3 year 14 per deal, but anything longer term has to take into account the high probability of career ending early in the contract. Closers don't last. And outside of maybe Wagner and Rivera definately don't last at an elite level.

9. Swedish Chef Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:14 PM (#2889879)

Going rate for an overpaid closer seems to be about $7-9 million a year.

Rivera got $15M, and he is much older.

10. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:20 PM (#2889888)

Frankie makes 10 per already. In his last arb, he asked for 12.5. Now, I'm sure his agent is thinking more like 15 per.

I could tolerate Arte offering 4/52, the lack of available good arms this offseason warranting the overpay. However, if Frankie wants more than that, he can go be a Cub or a Met.

11. The Most Interesting Man In The World Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:24 PM (#2889893)

You're unwilling to call him K-Rod, but you're willing to call him a pig?

I'm saying that someone in the MSM can't differentiate between sew/sow. Good one, though.

12. Jimmy P Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:24 PM (#2889894)

Ok, gentlemen's bet: $14.50000001 M/yr and above I win, otherwise you win.

I'll take that.

Rivera got $15M, and he is much older.

And Rodriguez isn't Rivera.

13. Kyle S at work Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:28 PM (#2889898)

I'd set the over/under lower than 14.5 per - that's a lot! On the other hand, I could see him getting it - didn't Coco Cordero get 12.5 per? Sheesh. I'm glad the Braves take the Wal-Mart approach to closer acquisition lately, even if it is bad on the digestion.

14. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:32 PM (#2889902)

Put the over/under at 13.9.

It seems likely that only the Angels can do better than the 5/70 the Cubs, Mets, or Dodgers will have to pay.

It's crazy, but I would probably bet the over.

15. Big Red Basketball (NJ) Posted: August 04, 2008 at 06:37 PM (#2889907)

And Rodriguez isn't Rivera.

But he will have the saves record.

16. Howie Menckel Posted: August 04, 2008 at 07:36 PM (#2889997)

It's funny how much extra money he will make this winter for sitting in the bullpen this year and watching his teammates rack up a monster number of save opps for him.

He has to thank the hitters for driving in runs - but not too many - and the pitchers for not allowing too many runs - but not too few, either.

17. ValueArb Posted: August 04, 2008 at 08:00 PM (#2890040)

I could tolerate Arte offering 4/52, the lack of available good arms this offseason warranting the overpay.

Why not 12/156? This kid is special!! He'll never get hurt, and that avoids nasty contract squabbles when he's 35 years old. I humbly urge the Angels to make it so. They can't afford to lose their face of the franchise.

18. karkface killah Posted: August 04, 2008 at 08:13 PM (#2890076)

It's crazy, but I would probably bet the over.

Not too crazy, though, as it's free agency. I wouldn't be surprised to see 5yr/$75 million. Maybe Detroit? Ed Wade in Houston?

19. Walt Davis Posted: August 04, 2008 at 08:21 PM (#2890101)

Can the Angels afford to keep K-Rod? Obviously, they have to be making money hand over fist and I think Guerrero ($14 M) is their priciest player. Oh wait, it's Torii Hunter. But with Vlad, Anderson and some others about to come off the books, I really don't see this as a major issue.

Can they afford K-Rod and Teixeira? OK, now you might be pushing the boundaries.

Here's the list. K-Rod is way out in front; if Huston Street gets hot, he could give him a run for his money. But it's not a particularly illustrious list, though 3 HoFers and Lee Smith show up.

I will guess that K-Rod turns out better than Billy McCool ... but imagine the endorsements that guy could get today.

20. Silencio Posted: August 04, 2008 at 10:12 PM (#2890378)

Just because the Angels can afford him doesn't mean they should sign him. With his mechanics he continues to be a very possible injury risk and his peripherals have been declining for years now plus there is almost a given that he will be over payed grossly due to the number of saves hes gotten this year. That money most likely would be put to better use giving Shields the closer job and doing some combination of signing Tex, picking up a more underrated reliever, plug other holes or spend it during the draft or signing international kids.

21. dirk

Posted: August 04, 2008 at 11:21 PM (#2890452)

#16 made me giggle for some reason.

22. Ozzie's gay friend Posted: August 05, 2008 at 01:21 AM (#2890502)

Eh, he'll probably still be a closer-caliber reliever in 5-years, that's more than you can say for pretty much every other reliever in baseball.

23. OCF Posted: August 05, 2008 at 01:43 AM (#2890512)

He had a pretty ugly appearance tonight - a full vulture (blown save plus win). 4 batters faced: one reached on error, two hits (one a double) and one strikeout.

24. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: August 05, 2008 at 01:47 AM (#2890514)

Not only that, he let in four runs, none of which counted towards his ERA.

The march to greatness continues! (although that will take a toll on his record-breaking opponents' batting average.)

25. Shredder Posted: August 05, 2008 at 08:51 AM (#2890635)

He had a pretty ugly appearance tonight - a full vulture (blown save plus win). 4 batters faced: one reached on error, two hits (one a double) and one strikeout.

It would have been a fairly routine save if mister Gold Glover at first could have come up with a routine grounder.

26. tribefan Posted: August 05, 2008 at 09:00 AM (#2890643)

Why not 12/156? This kid is special!!

Hey, John Kruk said on BBTN last night that Frankie should get the Cy Young because "you gotta go with the guy chasing the record" or something like that. Can't argue with Kruky.

27. Jim (jimmuscomp) Posted: August 05, 2008 at 09:56 AM (#2890721)

Can't argue with Kruky.

Because your head will explode....

28. Los Angeles Waterloo of Black Hawk Posted: August 05, 2008 at 12:39 PM (#2890963)

Frankie's blown save last night was justice in action. He came in with two outs and the tying run on deck, just about the cheapest save opportunity you could get. He did not deserve to get a save there, and I fully expected the baseball gods to frown upon the attempt and foil it. When the inevitable happened, I was angry with Mike Scioscia for the temporary hubris, not at Frankie or Teixeira. Teixeira was an instrument of justice.

29. Barca Posted: August 05, 2008 at 10:22 PM (#2892312)

"the greatness of Mariano is the level of quality and the longevity"

And being on a team that will win a lot of games.

30. Monty Posted: August 05, 2008 at 11:27 PM (#2892381)

And being on a team that will win a lot of games.

Well, I don't know. Trevor Hoffman got a lot of saves playing for a team that wasn't historically great or anything. Is there a clear correlation between a team's record and the number of saves? Because it seems possible for a team to be too good for save opportunities, while a bad team could have more close-and-late games.

31. Los Angeles Softballer of Anaheim

Posted: August 06, 2008 at 12:06 AM (#2892398)

...it seems possible for a team to be too good for save opportunities, while a bad team could have more close-and-late games.

Sure. Bryan Harvey was awesome for the very first Marlins team, 1.70 ERA, 69 innings, 58 baserunners, 73 Ks and 45 saves for an otherwise horrible team that won just 64 games. Then his elbow exploded and that was that.

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