FoxSports is reporting that the Phillies are showing some preliminary interest in Tigers’ pitcher Fernando Rodney.
Rodney, 32, saved 37 of 38 games for the Tigers last year with a 4.40 ERA.
He gives up less than a hit an inning, but has walked WAY too many people in the last 2 seasons (71 walks in 116 IP). In fact, I can’t find a single pitcher with a higher walk rate during that span (there might be one, but there aren’t many).
He was significantly better during his 38 save situations, with a 2.09 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 38.2 IP. Those kind of numbers would obviously make him a great back-up to Brad Lidge.
He has electric stuff and would immediately be the hardest thrower on our team. FanGraphs has his average fastball at 95.8 mph, the 7th highest in all of baseball. He throws that 60% of the time, and an 84 mph change-up the rest of the time.
Not a huge bullpen move like a Jose Valverde would be, but an intriguing high-powered arm that could definitely help our club.
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Man, bullpen walks are just a killer. I suspect this is a guy gong to try for as much money as he can get. 32, made 2.7 mil last year, going for the big payday reasonably late in his career while he can. That’s just a first reaction.
I’ll give you another possibility. There’s a relief pitcher out of Japan who has filed for free agency. Throws mid 90s and general concensus among scouts (for what that’s worth) is solid set up man. I can’t find his name, and the only Japanses names I have ever remembered beyond initial sight were Sadaharu Oh, and Masanori Murakami.
I wonder if some discussion about JJ Putz by the Phils might not be taking place. As I mentiond about Valverde the other night, there is a front that is kind of less appealing about the Phils among closer free agents. If you are a team like the Cubs, which has a closer’s role open, that’s appealing. Do the Phils have an open closer’s role? And the real problem is you can’t even talk about the set up job with Madson in place. Putz, we at least know based on signing last year to set up KRod is mentally okay with non closing. Maybe he fits middle relief, although he won’t come cheaply. Getting a good experienced closer who has choices figures to be tough.
I don’t know if a couple interstin topics will warrat separate posts, so I’ll write about them here.
Common knowledge is that the newspaper business is in trouble, leastwise in its traditional form. I don’t know if Jim Salisbury and Bill Conlin are making efforts to sell papers into a death watch, but they both did their parts today in the Inky and DN respectively.
Salisbury, a day ago, reincarnated Halladay talk, and now plants the seeds of a Cole Hamels trade, which Amaro naturally negates. Looks to me like Hamels can go free agent after 2012. That’s a long time from now. I wouldn’t market him, but I wouldn’t hang up if his name entered a discussion. I guess the reason is because I can see him blowing out of here after 2012 . Not that ineffectiveness should avert criticism, but this guy gets his share of it. That of course, is guesswork from an outisder.
Bill Conlin, who wrote his first sports piece before Guttenberg invented the printing press writes its time to start the DH in the National league.
This contradicts my upbringing, which included the arithmetic lesson that 2 wrongs don’t make a right. It is un American and inhumane to think the DH is an asset to baseball. But the fact of the matter is that the AL is a superior product, and clearly those idiots are not dropping it So maybe 2 wrongs make for survival.
I’ll look forward to reading reaction if there is any to either, but particularly the appeal of an NL DH rule.
JC Romero was another guy who was touted as ‘walks too many’ but he thrived here….in addition to walking a lot too….well give Rodney a chance.
Rodney reeks of Jorge Julio (not a good thing)
Ken, I know you are fairly new to this blog, but previous Phillies posts have offered many commenter opinions about the DH in the NL, at length. Not sure if people will re-hash their thoughts again.
previous Phillies posts have offered many commenter opinions about the DH in the NL, at length.>>
fair enough, thanks for the warning. I’d feel the same, I’m sure.
He gives up less than a hit an inning, but has walked WAY too many people in the last 2 seasons (71 walks in 116 IP). In fact, I can’t find a single pitcher with a higher walk rate during that span (there might be one, but there aren’t many)………….
Decided to do the research on that, Pete. I calculate Rodney’s W/9 over the last 2 years to be 5.51. From baseball-reference.com’s Play Index, here is what I found for pitchers who have thrown at least 116 innings over the last 2 years and have posted a W/9 of at least 5.51:
Robinson Tejeda—119IP (7 starts), 5.60 W/9
Oliver Perez—260IP (all as a starter, 48 starts), 5.64 W/9
Miguel Batista—186 1/3 IP (20 starts), 5.70 W/9
The rest all strictly relievers……..
Carlos Marmol—161 1/3 IP, 5.91 W/9
Renyel Pinto—126 IP, 6.00 W/9
Not many others is right.
Thanks Bski-
I am confidant that a guy like Rodney would help us in the regular season. But a guy who walks that many isn’t someone I want up there against that Yankees line-up in the World Series.
However – I don’t think there is a guy like that out there. I think that is going to have to come from within. Either a break out by Bastardo or Mathieson, or a revival of Madson and Romero.
KB-
I don’t have a strong opinion about the DH in the NL. I’m against it because it is how the game has always been played and there isn’t a undeniable reason to change it.
I’d be for it because it would even the playing field in the World Series and make the games more exciting.
Speaking of Romero, he had a W/9 of 6.07 over 2008 and 2009, but he only threw 75 2/3 innings.
Since 2009 was pretty much a washout for J.C., I decided to look at the 2007 and 2008 seasons instead. Surprisingly, Romero had a W/9 of 6.09 (78 BB in 115 1/3 IP) during that span.
Funny, isn’t it? I mean, I’d say that most of us, myself included, see Romero (whose W/9 is considerably worse than Rodney’s) as a guy who has been a very valuable bullpen piece for us, that we sorely missed this past season, and that we believe we need in order to be successful in 2010, while at the same time Rodney’s W/9 would give many of us pause about aquiring him.
bski-
good call on Romero comparison.
Does anyone has interest in Mike Lowell? He’s being mentioned a lot (though I don’t think there is anything to it). His OPS the last 4 years (.811, .799, .877, .814) are better than the FA options out there, but he is going to be 36 and has been out roughly 50 games each of the last 2 years.
Any takers?
Pete,
I don’t think Lowell can be an everyday 3B anymore. His health has really limited his ability over there. I might have interest as a DH in the AL but he’s got the same fielding percentage as Feliz (.966) and played in 50 fewer games. His bat would be an upgrade (hit .290 last year) but I don’t think he’d play enough to help out defensively.
Lowell is under contract with Boston for $12 million in 2010, right? That’s a lot of money. Also, what would we have to give up to get him for one year?
I’m sure he’d help offensively, but I wonder how much he’d hurt us defensively.
I’m ok playing him less to keep him healthy all season, as this opens up regular playing time for Dobbs which I feel is important, however I’d hate to spend $12 mil for 100 or so games at 3rd. We can’t give him some days off from playing the field and use him as a DH either, so he’s got to be out there to help us.
Too risky and too expensive for me.
I’m not much on Lowell either. Health nd wealth if you want reasons.
But I wonder if we could partner up with San Diego, and take a look at Kevin Kouzmanoff to play 3rd. He has more pop than Feliz (Bill James, fwiw, projects him at 20 homers next year at Petco), played a sterling defensive 3rd base this year, 28 years old, arbitration eligible off a cheap salary, bats right.
I wonder if the Padres might take 2 good prospects for him.
According to Jon Heyman of SI.com the Phillies are looking to make a move toward Chone Figgins.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jon_heyman/11/11/chone.figgins/index.html?eref=sihp
good find Rick!
I’ll have a post up in a sec. Actual Job be damned.
oooo, The Figgins Sweeps begin?