Francisco Rodriguez News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 4

Boston Globe

"After the Angels dropped Game 1 of this best-of-five American League Division Series, Torii Hunter addressed the media and expressed his desire "to bring the dog out" of his teammates in an attempt to snap a 10-game playoff losing streak against the Red Sox. And so, when the Angels rallied from a 4-0 first-inning deficit to tie it at 5 in the bottom of the eighth, there was no one better qualified to keep the status quo than Francisco Rodriguez, the top dog of the Angels' bullpen who had recorded a Major League-leading 62 saves during the regular season. So when K-Rod faced J.D. Drew with one on and one out in the top of the ninth, the Angels liked their chances. "I mean, you got to like ..."

Could be goodbye for Angels closer Rodriguez

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September 30

L.A. Daily News

"Pitching in the postseason for the Angels in 2002 is where Francisco Rodriguez made a name for himself. Pitching in this postseason is potentially the place that Rodriguez ultimately says goodbye to Angels fans. In a scenario that usually torments the small-income clubs, the Angels might find it necessary to bid farewell to a player who grew beyond their means. Rodriguez set a major-league record with 62 saves, but he also has a contract that expires and is poised to land the fattest deal ever for a reliever. In any other season it might not be a problem, but this offseason the Angels will be challenged with a number of personnel decisions that stem from expiring contracts. Garret ..."

To solve Mets' bullpen problem, bid for K-Rod

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September 29

Newsday

columnist Ken Davidoff

"In a Mets clubhouse that emitted a mix of shock and deja vu, Scott Schoeneweis redefined "morose." Yesterday's losing pitcher wore the most pained of expressions as he staggered from his locker to Jerry Manuel's office, planted himself on a couch and stared into space. A few minutes passed before Omar Minaya entered, accepted Schoeneweis' hug and apology, and explained that Manuel already had left the ballpark. As the Mets head home early once again, coming up short in a 4-2 heartbreaker to Florida while CC Sabathia led the Brewers to a 3-1 victory over the Cubs to get the National League wild card, they somehow must find a way to avoid a third straight - yes, some of you might contend ..."

MVP awards are no easy pickings

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September 28

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"When the big baseball awards are announced after the season, there are going to be some predictable winners. And then there are going to be the MVPs. It's not too hard to figure out that Chicago's Geovany Soto will probably win the National League Rookie of the Year award. Cliff Lee is the likely American League Cy Young Award winner. As for the most valuable players? It's anyone's guess. I can't remember a recent year in which going into the last weekend there were so many viable candidates and so few clear-cut choices. Take the AL. Josh Hamilton was the favorite at the midway point of the season, but his numbers tailed off after the All-Star break. That was about the time Chicago's ..."

Rodriguez should finish second in AL Cy Young race

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September 21

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist John Shea

"Meanwhile, in the other Cy Young Award race ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia, during his visit to Oakland last week, was pushing Francisco Rodriguez for the AL award, saying, "Historically, closers have to have an incredible year to win, and I believe this is an incredible year." Yes it is. Just not as incredible as Cliff Lee's. Rodriguez has a record 60 saves, but don't expect Cy Young love. It's expected to go to Lee, who at 22-2 has the highest single-season winning percentage (.917) for any pitcher throwing 175 or more innings. The last AL closer to win a Cy Young was Dennis Eckersley (1992), who said recently Lee is more deserving than Rodriguez. Eck said K-Rod is more of an MVP ..."

A's bask in glow of a KO of K-Rod

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September 18

Contra Costa Times

"The unpredictable happened Wednesday night when A's closer Brad Ziegler coughed up a one-run lead in the top of the ninth. The unbelievable happened when the A's scored two runs on Francisco Rodriguez's throwing error in the bottom of the ninth for a crazy 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels that extended Oakland's winning streak to four games. Just another chapter in an A's-Angels rivalry that usually is tightly contested and often bizarre. "We came in with confidence against them," A's first baseman Daric Barton said. "There's no place that's better to win than against K-Rod in the bottom of the ninth." Ziegler blew his first save opportunity in 10 chances when he allowed Mark ..."

Not much love, but a whole lot of respect

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September 16

San Francisco Chronicle

"Francisco Rodriguez isn't all that popular in the A's clubhouse. The Angels' closer has irked the team on occasion with his posturing after wins. The A's have nothing but admiration for Rodriguez's recent accomplishment, though. He comes to the Coliseum tonight with the all-time single-season record for saves with 58. "He's respected," Oakland reliever Huston Street said. "Give him credit for getting it done and for staying healthy for the whole season. That's a lot of opportunities, and that means he's used a lot of pitches. "Not everyone agrees with his whole post-party celebration, but I'm pretty sure he has the respect of the league, and this is something for him to be congratulated ..."

K-Rod has record night with 5-2 win over M's

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September 14

Seattle Times

"The Mariners' big buzz of the night occurred well before game time, when manager Jim Riggleman posted the lineup card. There it was, in black and white: Jose Lopez, 1B. The unveiling of a new position for the Mariners' longtime second baseman added intrigue on a night in which the Angels rolled over Seattle for the third straight night, 5-2, at Angel Stadium. Francisco Rodriguez nailed down the victory - Seattle's 90th defeat - by striking out Raul Ibanez with two aboard for his 58th save, establishing a major-league record. Lopez seemed to enjoy his stint at first, but he doused any thought of making a career switch. "I don't want to play first base," he said. "I have no problem helping ..."

Rodriguez gets saves record against Mariners

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September 14

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Baseball is and always has been a game that can be explained at some basic level by numbers. Two substantial numbers were front and center Saturday night in Anaheim. The Mariners became the American League's first 90-loss team this season in bowing to the Angels 5-2. And the Angels' closer, Francisco Rodriguez, became the first pitcher in history with 58 saves in a single season. He broke the record set in 1990 by Bobby Thigpen of the White Sox. Undoubtedly both numbers will go higher in the season's final two weeks. For the Mariners, they are struggling to avoid 100 losses and are on a pace right now for 99. For the Angels, they've already seen their closer get the record saves total, so ..."

Can Mets afford K-Rod?

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September 9

Bergen Record

"The Mets learned today that Billy Wagner not only will be gone for the remainder of the season, but will be lost for the 2009 season, too, after tests revealed a torn medial collateral ligament and a torn flexor pronator, a condition that will require Tommy John surgery this week. Though the Mets already have accustomed themselves to life without Wagner for this season, confident that they can survive the absence of their closer, the reality now turns to 2009. And Francisco Rodriguez. General manager Omar Minaya said on a conference call that the Mets would revisit their off-season plans and would consider internal and external options. The most attractive option available after this ..."

Big season could land big deal for Angels star closer Rodriguez

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September 2

Riverside Press Enterprise

"Revel in it. Soak it in. Enjoy it. Remember it. The saves record. Sewing up win after win. The celebrations that follow. It may be the last time you'll see Francisco Rodriguez in an Angels' uniform. "I've done my job," he said, "now my agent has to do his." On a path to free agency, the Angels' closer is putting together one of baseball's best seasons by a reliever, the saves record within his grasp, a record payday sure to follow. Statistically it isn't his best season, but closers aren't measured in WHIP or ERA or any other pitching acronym. Closers are judged by how many games they close out successfully. Rodriguez has done that better than anyone. He's converted the most saves in ..."

Making case for Angels' K-Rod as MVP

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August 26

Orange County Register

columnist Mark Whicker

"Jerome Holtzman was a burly fellow with elegantly thatched eyebrows. He always wore suits and suspenders and almost always mouthed a cigar. He wrote about baseball for Chicago newspapers from 1943 through 1999 and splendidly played the part of the ink-stained curmudgeon. His most famous book was "No Cheering In The Press Box," and when he heard such an activity going on, he glared and growled like an aggrieved bear. Holtzman was a true intellectual and our leading curator of baseball literature. All other sports, in his mind, were equivalent to curling. Former colleague Bob Verdi was once startled to see Holtzman in a hockey press box and began to explain the subtleties. "Now, Jerome, ..."

K-Rod gets 50th save, closes on Thigpen's record

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August 25

Orange County Register

columnist Randy Youngman

"Every time Francisco Rodriguez pulls on his Angels jersey these days, he is reminded of the single-season, major-league saves record he is chasing. That's because he wears No. 57 - and Bobby Thigpen established the record of 57 saves for the 1990 Chicago White Sox. And after joining the exclusive 50 saves club Sunday by pitching a scoreless ninth in the Angels' 5-3 comeback victory over the Minnesota Twins, K-Rod knows he is closing in on history. "I want (No.) 58 now," Rodriguez said, laughing after I asked him about the coincidence of his jersey numeral becoming his goal. "I want one more (than 57), so I need to look around and see who has the number." He pretended to crane his neck and ..."

K-Rod saves 50th after Angels rally over Twins

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August 25

MLB.com

"Mark Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero were at it again on Sunday against the Twins, combining for five hits and two RBIs, but the biggest hit of the game came from an unexpected source. Gary Matthews Jr., who didn't even start the game and replaced Garret Anderson in the second inning because of a left knee injury, was called upon despite the fact he hadn't batted against right-handed pitching since Aug. 3 against the Yankees in New York. But Matthews didn't disappoint, as the switch-hitter drove in what proved to be the winning run on a triple in the eighth inning to help lead the Angels to a come-from-behind 5-3 win over the Twins. Matthews entered having just three at-bats in the Angels' ..."

Save stats are down, but K-Rod still on record pace

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August 17

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Francisco Rodriguez still figures to break Bobby Thigpen's single-season record of 57 saves, as he tied the Angels' team record of 47 with a 4-3 victory over the Indians on Saturday. But that's still just four saves in Los Angeles' past 18 games. He blew a save chance Wednesday, but the biggest reason for the slowdown is that his teammates have been winning easily, taking the save out of play. Manager Mike Scioscia bristles at suggestions he uses K-Rod at every save opportunity to pad his stats. "That's absolutely ludicrous," Scioscia said. Rodriguez came in with two outs and two on in the ninth Tuesday, needing only one out to earn his 46th save in a 7-3 victory over Seattle. He had been ..."

Better for Angels if Rodriguez doesn't break record

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August 6

Orange County Register

columnist Randy Youngman

"Would it be best for the Angels - and best for closer Francisco Rodriguez - if he doesn't break the single-season saves record this season? History suggests so. With K-Rod closing in on 50 saves - well ahead of Bobby Thigpen's record pace for the 1990 Chicago White Sox - you have to wonder if there will be a residual effect from his run at the record. Thigpen was 27 when he set the record with 57 saves, and he began having back problems late that year. He never had more than 30 saves thereafter and was out of baseball four years later. Rodriguez is 26 and, after blowing his fourth save opportunity Monday against Baltimore, was still on a monstrous 65-save pace. All we know is that since ..."

Saves aren't coming as easily for Rodriguez

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July 27

Orange County Register

"Francisco Rodriguez feels your pain. And he%u2019d love to do something about it. But it%u2019s just not that easy to make things look easy, the Angels closer said. %u201CHey, I%u2019m working on it,%u201D Rodriguez said of fan reaction to the angst-inducing nature of many of his saves. %u201CI wish I could strike everybody out on three pitches. But it%u2019s not like that. %u201CThis is the big leagues. This is not a Nintendo game.%u201D Rodriguez has been racking up saves at a video game pace and is a good bet at this point to surpass Bobby Thigpen%u2019s record for a single season (57). But Rodriguez said his save total (43) is not the only number that gets his attention. %u201CAverage ..."

Angels taking steps to save Rodriguez

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July 22

Orange County Register

"The Angels played their 99th game Monday night, and Rodriguez appeared in 47 of the first 98. In those 47 games, Rodriguez pitched 44 innings. Through 98 games last season, Rodriguez had appeared in 40 games, worked 42 2/3 innings and had 25 saves. In 2006, he worked 40 2/3 innings and had 25 saves through the Angels' first 98 games. Manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Mike Butcher have taken precautions to ensure that Rodriguez doesn't burn himself out — or worse, suffer an injury from overuse."

Angels' Francisco Rodriguez says he will file for free agency

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July 15

Los Angeles Times

"Francisco Rodriguez said Monday that he plans to file for free agency after the season, setting the stage for one of three prominent decisions facing the Angels this winter.Rodriguez, on pace to set the major league record for saves in a season, said he would not rule out re-signing with the Angels but would no longer consider an extension before soliciting offers from other teams."

Angels' Rodríguez, Phillies' Utley baseball's MVPs so far

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July 14

Sacramento Bee

columnist Paul Gutierrez

"With the All-Star Game a week later than usual, it's a misnomer to label the first 95-some games of a 162-game season as the first half. As such, some of this season's first-half numbers are a bit bloated. But that doesn't keep us from handing out some "first-half" hardware. Here are my picks for each league's four major awards heading into the All-Star break."

Angels need to close deal with Francisco Rodriguez

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July 14

Los Angeles Times

"Were you watching last week during the ninth inning, the Angels leading the Rangers, the best reliever in baseball hurling his curveball right down the pipe? Did you hear it? The gasps of astonishment when a Rangers hitter smoked that Francisco Rodriguez pitch for a two-run homer?The game was over and the Angels had lost -- a result that in the context of this season was nearly unbelievable."

K-Rod may hit the jackpot at season's end

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July 13

Buffalo News

columnist Mike Harrington

"Rodriguez, who burst on the scene during the Angels' run to the 2002 World Series, is making $10 million this year and he might push $15-16 million in a free-agent deal. Just imagine what another big postseason would do for his leverage at the negotiating table. "Like everyone else, I'm looking out for my family," Rodriguez said. "I want my kids to have things I never had [growing up in Venezuela]. I have three kids; I want to take care of them. That's why after this season, no matter whether I go or stay, I have to decide what's best for us as a family. Today I'm here, tomorrow maybe somewhere else.""

Angels providing Rodriguez with numerous save situations

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June 8

Orange County Register

"Francisco Rodriguez doesn't dismiss hitters any more effectively than he dismisses talk of a 60-save season. "No, it's too much," Rodriguez said before Saturday's game. "I don't think if I go play in Little League or even if we play 250 games, I don't think I could get 60." Despite giving up a home run to Jack Cust leading off the ninth inning Saturday, Rodriguez recorded his 26th save of the season in the Angels' 63rd game, putting him on pace to save 65 games this season. But he knows save opportunities do not follow a regular schedule."

Sox disapprove of K-Rod's dramatics

May 25

Chicago Tribune

columnist Mike Downey

"Francisco Rodriguez, a.k.a. "Frankie," a.k.a. "K-Rod," came into Friday night's game in the ninth inning with his Angels ahead of the White Sox 3-0. He gave up a walk and a line-shot single by Jermaine Dye, making it 3-1 with the tying runs on base. But he struck out Jim Thome and Joe Crede to snap the Sox's win streak at eight. Rodriguez raised both arms, looked to the sky and let out a yell. Well, if the Sox had to lose one, at least they lost to a very good pitcher. "No, it was devastating," center fielder Brian Anderson said in the Sox's clubhouse later. Having to watch K-Rod's mound act, he meant. "Why do they let him get away with that stuff? Somebody should have a ..."