Closing costs price Angels out of this market
BILL PLASCHKE
Francisco Rodriguez has had a season for the ages with 58 saves, but that doesn't make him worth $75 million. Angels should save their money for other needs.
He has saved day games, night games, winning streaks, road trips, confidence, face, butts and souls.
In giving the Angels the shirt off his back this season, Francisco Rodriguez has saved all but one thing.
The shirt off his back.
Yes, his major league-record 58 saves is one of the coolest things to happen in Anaheim since Darin Erstad caught that final out.
Certainly, his skyward-pointing celebrations have turned him into a sort of statue almost as enduring as The Giant Caps.
For all this, the Angels should shake his hand and tell him two things.
Good job, and goodbye.
------
Francisco Rodriguez can become a free agent this winter, and he can't wait.
He's set the price, at five years, $15 million a year. He's set the tone, breaking a saves record that stood for 18 years.
He's so ready to place himself on the open market, sometimes it seems like he's already there, with post-save celebrations that highlight his individuality.
But more than any other statistic in the game, saves are a team stat. And even without their closer this season, here's guessing the Angels would be a first-place team.
If Rodriguez doesn't want their three-year, $34-million offer of last winter, they should politely wish him good luck in New York.
If he really believes he will be better served playing for a manager who doesn't understand pitchers as well as Mike Scioscia, well, they should politely offer to have his head examined.
Arte Moreno, the Angels' owner, told The Times' Mike DiGiovanna on Monday that no matter what happens in the postseason, he will not substantially increase his already impressive payroll.
In this regard, what will publicly be his toughest decision should privately be his easiest.
If Rodriguez wants to leave, they should politely escort him to the door.
He is a historically incredible closer, but he's not as important to the team as a potential Angels free-agent slugger named Mark Tiexeira, or a potential free-agent starter like the Milwaukee Brewers' CC Sabathia.
Closers get three outs. Closers do not hit three-run homers. Closers cannot pitch three-hit shutouts. Closers will never work three scoreless innings in relief.
Closers get three outs, and only after everyone else has first done their job.
Closers work at the behest of an offense that must get them the lead, a starter who must hold that lead until the sixth inning, and a bullpen that must make it last until the ninth.
