Arbitrators see more than "TOTAL SAVE STAT"--K-rod must live with $10m

• (AP): "By his high standards, Rodriguez is coming off a so-so season. He had a 3.45 ERA in the second half to finish with a 2.81 ERA, his highest since 2003. His 40 saves came in 46 opportunities.

He also gave up a walk-off homer to Manny Ramirez in the second game of the AL division series, when the Angels were swept by Boston.

• ...The Los Angeles Angels defeated Francisco Rodriguez in salary arbitration Friday, and the closer will receive $10 million rather than his request for $12.5 million....

...Tony Reagins, who replaced the retiring Bill Stoneman as the Angels' general manager in October, said the arbitration hearing was "interesting."

"Obviously, we knew what our case was going in, and it was interesting to see the other side, their perceptions," Reagins said Friday morning before the outcome was announced....

• Rodriguez recently expressed dissatisfaction that the Angels have not signed him to a long-term contract, and indicated he might leave as a free agent after this season. Although the club has offered him a longer deal several times in the past, he has opted to sign for one year each time.

Its top offer was believed to be around $34 million for three years.

• Rodriguez was an October hero for the Angels in 2002. A 20-year-old with just five major league appearances, he went 5-1 in the postseason to help the club win its first World Series title."

From AP report, "K-rod Loses Arbitration but will make $10 million," published on SportingNews.com, 2/22/08

• P.S. The 2007 all star game nearly became another high stakes nightmare for the reliever.

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