Do you miss K-Rod yet?

Here is what I want to know today from all those Angels fans who said they were happy to get rid of Frankie Rodriguez:

How are you feeling now, just three days into a new season, with Rodriguez sitting there with two saves for his new team, the New York Mets, and Brian Fuentes, his left-handed successor, already having blown his first save for the Angels?

Yes, it is still much too early to come to any serious conclusions. But it had to hurt to watch Fuentes, who is supposed to anchor Mike Scioscia's new bullpen, cough up a 4-3 lead, allowing three runs in the ninth inning that led to Oakland's 6-4,come-from-behind victory Wednesday night. It was a tough loss, especially after 22-year-old rookie Nick Adenhart had pitched six scoreless innings and left with a 3-0 lead.

All winter long, Angels fans were telling me how relieved they were that K-Rod was gone. He was so agonizing to watch, they said. You needed a full bottle of antacid pills just to get through the ninth inning, they groaned. They couldn't stand it any longer. They were tired of the nightly adventures, of watching him put two or three men on base before somehow squeezing out of the jam.

I sympathized with them, because Rodriguez was tough to watch. Here is the funny thing, though, I reminded them: He was also tough to beat.

One way or another, he saved a record 62 of the Angels' 100 victories in 2008. And that just didn't happen by accident. Rodriguez's control was off, sure. But his confidence never seemed to waver. If everyone became nervous watching him, he never seemed to let his own nerves interfere with the job at hand.

His fastball might not have been what it used to be, but he added a change-up to go with that killer breaking pitch of his, and when you combined all that with his typically steely attitude, well, he was the guy you wanted out there in the ninth inning.

Now he is gone, and Fuentes is here. The new closer looked good on opening night but was shaky in game three, although a little nub of a ball that should have been an out in front of the plate was the key to his first loss as an Angel.

He will have many more chances. Let's not judge him too soon. But while we're at it, let's realize something else.

The Angels had a very good thing going when Frankie Rodriguez was closing their games.

-- Steve Bisheff

Pitcher Brian Fuentes #40 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim reacts after allowing three runs in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on April 8, 2009 in Anaheim, California. The Athletics defeated the Angels 6-4. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Comments

[marshall klein]

Finally...Steve Bisheff with the L.A. Times. It only took 50 years, but it was worth the wait. Hopefully, we won't have to wait as long for B. Fuentes to post his next 'W.' Is it too late to cancel my MLB cable package?
Go Angels...Go Steve!!!

P.N. Guin
Tucson, Az.

[DisabledinOC]

As a long time Angel fan, I can remember K-Rod blowing saves many times. One blown save from Fuentes is no reason to miss K-Rod.

[Aaron]

You're absolutely right that while Frankie caused some gray hairs, he closed the door on more than half of our wins last year!

Of course, Arte recognized that paying for a violent-motioned closer isn't a wise long-term investment, especially with Arredondo's talent. Hopefully we can see K-Rod bucks going to Lackey, Saunders, or a slugger down the road though.

[Ed]

the game didnt count but Fuentes blew the save Saturday night in the exhibition against the Padres

he wound up getting the win after the rally but it may be time to start getting ready to worry

[ccr]

I just read a report that Nick Adenhart was killed in a hit-and-run.

A horrible tragedy--he was 22.

[johnnie b. baker]

any angels fan who bad mouths k-rod is incredibly ungrateful! now the angels have an average closer, we'll see how they like that!

adenhart r.i.p.

[George Kaplan]

The comparison really isn't valid in the slightest.

There was no denying Frankie has talent. There is also no denying his metrics were slipping with the passing of the years, even as he came with expectations of a 4- or 5-year deal. As it turns out, the market wasn't as impressed with him as he might have liked, and he signed a deal for three years plus an option (and that option will most likely vest on its own unless he gets injured in the next two years). That option year alone is for $17.5M.

It is impossible for me to justify investing that much payroll into a player whose value is limited to such precise circumstances--gotta be in the lead or tied, can't be too far ahead. Even a starting pitcher, who is on the mound only every 5th game (as opposed to a position player, who is seen daily), can justify a hefty paycheck. But a closer? $17.5M? No.

Fuentes and Frankie will earn identical $8.5M this season. Fuentes will make $9M next season, and if his 2011 vests it will likewise be $9M. Frankie, though, climbs to a guaranteed $11.5M for 2010 AND 2011, with that sure-to-vest option for 2012 at $17.5M.

The Angels opted to go for a shorter duration situation, give Arrendondo time to learn the craft and gain additional experience (and maybe another pitch), and likewise give Jepsen time to see if he's good for the role as well. This is a much healthier situation for the team's long-term picture.

The Angels had options, the Mets had none. It is for that reason Frankie really had no leverage with the Angels. I don't miss Frankie in the slightest, in the sense that I wish he was back, given the current parameters of his deal. I wish him the best and certainly enjoyed watching him (sometimes), but I think the Angels made exactly the right move for the future of the team.

And I think Fuentes will come around as the season progresses.

[Tom S]

It would help us all dforget K-Rod if Fuentes could feel his position. On second thought, he should set up and let Arredondo close.

[Brian C.]

yeah, one game out of 162......I guess K-Rod will never, ever blow a save in his career again....how could the Angels ever let the all mighty K-Rod go? These are the same people who would complain if the Angels kept K-Rod and paid him $15 million a year and after he blew a save would be saying how in the world are they paying him so much money to blow saves?

[Pete Morgan]

As I was quoted saying in the LA Times last October -- 'good riddance'

The arrogant self-centered punk from Venezuela wanted more than he was worth and was a cancer to the 'team' concept.

The drama in the late innings is more to savor than the idiot's self-agrandizing 'point to the sky' celebrations after a 'somewhat meaningless' save.

NYC deserves him.

[Brian Cantrell]

Steve, its not that Frankie was underapreciated or hard to watch the latter is true. However you can't argue with the results he achieved. I got tired of the bravdo arms to sky b.s.. Not to mention the way he handled his contract negotiation. He acted like the Angels needed to give him more love and offer him a out of this world deal. No reliever is above the team and no reliever is worth that obscene amount of money. He owed the Angels and probly Troy Percieval a big thank you for that contract he got and the Angels only mistake was not letting Aradondo or Shields have the closer spot.