Detroit Tigers: Francisco Rodriguez unhappy in mop-up role

Exiled from the closer’s role, Detroit Tigers reliever Francisco Rodriguez is in unfamiliar territory – and he’s not happy about it.

Francisco Rodriguez isn’t really enjoying life in the Detroit Tigers bullpen at the moment. Once the top dog of the team’s relief unit, the 35-year-old right-hander was removed from the closer role in early May. It was essentially a no-brainer: K-Rod blew four of his first 11 save opportunities to go along with an ugly 8.49 ERA and 2.06 WHIP in his first 13 outings.

Since then, he’s taken up something up a mop-up role, and he’s been noticeably more effective. (It would be difficult to be any worse.) Over his most recent 11 appearances, Rodriguez has managed a 3.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, though he did blow another save.

However, K-Rod is not happy with his new spot in the bullpen pecking order, and he aired his grievances to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News.

“That’s a question that really irritates me,” he said before the game on Tuesday. “Am I being judged on 10 outings? What about the other 400-plus saves? What about the almost 1,000 appearances? I made my living in tough, pressure situations. I have not made my living being a mop-up guy.”

It’s easy to see where K-Rod is coming from. The man is used to being one of baseball’s elite closers. His 437 career saves make him the active leader and fourth all-time. He’s played for 16 seasons, earned six All-Star Game appearances and won a World Series ring with the Angels as a rookie in 2002. Does a comparably small rough patch really override his track record of excellence?

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Unfortunately for Rodriguez, the answer is yes. Baseball, and professional sports in general, is largely a “what have you done for me lately?” business. And despite his pedigree, the fact of the matter was that K-Rod was costing the Tigers games. In a season where Detroit was hoping to squeeze one last run out of its aging core (of which Rodriguez is a part), they couldn’t afford to keep handing the ball to him in the ninth inning.

With K-Rod only under contract through the remainder of this season, the Tigers don’t really need to feel obligated to keep him in a prominent role. He’s gone at the end of the year anyway. In fact, with the team waffling around the .500 mark, at this point they’re probably hoping he can rebuild his value enough to be worth something at the trade deadline.

Rodriguez’s frustration is understandable. He’s built a reputation as one of the game’s most fiery, demonstrative competitors. He wants that ninth inning stage. But he brought his current situation on himself through his poor performance. Baseball is a volatile game, especially for relief pitchers who can be in favor one day and in the doghouse the next. As related in The Detroit News, manager Brad Ausmus said that he would like to use K-Rod in more high-leverage situations as he earns them.

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His recent improved results are slowly putting Rodriguez back in his manager’s good graces, but a return to the closer’s chair may not be in the cards. Justin Wilson has done an admirable job since taking over as closer, converting five of six save chances with a 2.77 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Unless he falters, it doesn’t make much sense to change things.

For now, all K-Rod can do is take the ball when he’s called upon and try to work his way back up the ladder.

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