Knobler: K-Rod's performance up, production down
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Here's the weird thing about the Los Angeles Angels in the aftermath of Francisco Rodriguez's major league record 62 saves last season:
On the surface, losing Rodriguez to the New York Mets via free agency over the winter didn't even seem to leave a dent. Their new closer, Brian Fuentes, not only is an All-Star, but he leads the majors with 24 saves. Frankie Who?
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| New closer Brian Fuentes (24 saves) has been one of the bright spots for the Angels so far this season. (Getty Images) |
The Angels' bullpen ranks 13th in the American League and 28th in the majors with a 5.01 ERA entering Wednesday. Only Cleveland (5.13) and Washington (5.58) have been worse.
Opponents are blistering Angels relievers for a .278 batting average, tied with Baltimore for the worst in the AL. Only the bullpens in Washington (.279) and Colorado (.283) have been more hittable.
"We're really searching for some continuity in our pitching staff," manager Mike Scioscia says. "We've had a lot of guys in and out of the rotation, and we've had a lot of guys try to sift through roles in the bullpen.
"That's going to be critical for us. This is one of the few years we're struggling on the pitching side. But we're still keeping our heads above water."
It is an unusual feeling around these parts, to be sure. Last year, Angels relievers ranked fourth in the AL with a 3.69 ERA.
So, here's the weird thing: Essentially, the Angels bullpen has been far worse than in recent years even though Anaheim adequately replaced Rodriguez.
"It's really had nothing to do with Frankie or Fuentes," pitching coach Mike Butcher says.
It's been a combination of things. Workhorse set-up man Scot Shields, whose 425 innings pitched over the past five seasons are the most of any reliever in the game, had season-ending left knee surgery in June. Jose Arredondo, 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA in 52 games last season during which he emerged as a key set-up man and future closer, regressed so far this year that he's currently at Triple-A Salt Lake (where he's battled elbow inflammation). Veteran Darren Oliver and youngster Kevin Jepsen each landed on the disabled list in April.
The result was that some relievers pitched out of their roles and some younger arms were pushed, by necessity, into situations they shouldn't have been in in the first place.
"I don't think it's a leadership thing," Butcher says. "Frankie did a great job while he was here. We appreciated him a ton. I've known him since he was 17. He did a great job for the organization. The respect factor, it was his bullpen."
The buzz among some scouts as the Angels wobbled on the mound in the late innings earlier this year was that, without K-Rod, their bullpen simply didn't have the swagger it once had. And consequently, the different feel contributed to a lack of confidence and an uncertainty in situations where they once were dead certain that Rodriguez would finish things off.
Ace John Lackey agrees there definitely was a different feel early on.
"I'm sure there was an adjustment factor for us as a team and for Tito [Fuentes] both," Lackey says. "He was adjusting to a new league, and we were adjusting to a new closer. It's worked out great, but early on, there was an adjustment period."
Compounding the problem was that the Angels rotation was hammered with injuries and, as such, the starters weren't pitching as deep into games as usual. That meant more innings and more exposure for the relievers. Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar all started the season on the disabled list, Nick Adenhart died in the terrible automobile accident and then Dustin Moseley went onto the DL.
So, back to Scioscia's earlier point about searching for continuity in the staff ... the Angels have used 12 different starters this season (most in the majors) and have used 10 rookie pitchers (tied for most in the majors).
Fuentes struggled early, evidenced by his 7.88 ERA on May 1. But 21 of his past 23 outings entering Wednesday have been scoreless, he's lowered his ERA to 3.38 and he's converted 24 of 27 save opportunities.
"Brian's done a great job of taking over the leadership role his own way," Butcher says. "He's fit in nicely. It wouldn't be fair to compare last year and this year because they're two different closers. We've had injuries and more youth this year than we have in the past."
Slowly, right-handers Jepsen (24) and Jason Bulger (30) are finding their way. Jepsen, in particular, has shown signs recently that he could be an important fixture in the second half. He's learned a cut fastball that's really taken off over the past three weeks and, though his ERA remains sky-high (9.39, thanks to some early outings that pushed it up beyond 14.00), he's been more and more effective.
"He has tremendous stuff," Butcher says. "The cutter is filthy. He has a chance to be a tremendous asset in our bullpen."
Oliver is healthy again, and veteran Justin Speier is holding right-handers to a .164 batting average. The overall picture still isn't pretty, but since June 12, Angels relievers have gone 6-1 with 10 saves and a 2.82 ERA.
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel," Butcher says. "I think our guys are feeling it, too. You can see the confidence coming back. They're feeling good, feeling fresh.
"The way our guys are going now, I feel like they're going to go in and slam the door. And that's a good feeling to have."
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