MLB history: The amazing 2002 postseason of Francisco Rodriguez

Browsing back through MLB history, the 2002 Angels had a bullpen that was pieced together with a group of guys who were either released by other teams (Brendan Donnelly), made the bigs after their 30th birthday (Ben Weber), or even drafted as a catcher (Troy Percival). They even had to put a failed starter out there to get some left-handed relief (Scott Schoeneweis). The bullpen was really good, but they needed one more to get them over the top … and in comes Francisco Rodriguez.

MLB history: A look back at the dominating postseason in 2022 of the Angels’ Francisco Rodriguez

Rodriguez was himself a starter in the minor, but injuries put him in the bullpen. He was having a good season between Double-A and Triple-A with five wins (remember that number), 15 saves and a 2.27 ERA in 83.1 innings. The Angels called him up on September 15 and he was very effective.

Now a player called up in September at the time was ineligible for the postseason, but the Angels illuminated a rule that says it isn’t the 25-man roster, but the 40-man roster. Rodriguez was placed as an injury replacement for Steve Green, who was on the 60-day injured list all season. When I first heard of him, I was confused myself. It did bring a light to the rule and allowed MLB to clarify it to say:

“A player who doesn’t meet said criteria for postseason eligibility can still be added to a team’s roster in the postseason via petition to the Commissioner’s Office if the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing someone who is on the injured list and has served the minimum amount of time required for activation. (For example, a player on the 10-day injured list who has been on it for at least 10 days, or a player who has been on the 60-day injured list for at least 60 days.) Players who are acquired in September or after are ineligible.”

Rodriguez ended up having an amazing postseason for the Angels. In 11 appearances, he had five wins (told you to remember that number!), striking out 28 of the 70 batter he faced. He was unstoppable and earned the nickname “K-Rod.” In fact, he was the youngest player in history to get a win in the postseason. The win in Game 2 of the ALDS was his first career win, since he didn’t get one in his September call-up.

I was watching some of the highlights and his 12-6 curveball to compliment an electric fastball totally dominated over the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and San Francisco Giants, who never got a chance to see him before the postseason began. He was so instrumental in securing the World Series title … all at the tender age of 20.

A great start to an impressive career.