A Closer look at Frankie Rodriguez 2008 stats, such as poor ERA, highest walks of his career, 7 blown saves

(Tyler's Take, FoxSports.com, 11/4/08): "While Rodriguez had a historic season, a lot of his current market value is derived from context....Saves aside, his 2008 campaign was actually one of the worst single-season performances of his career.

• His strikeout-per-nine innings ratio, which has steadily decreased every year since 2004, reached its full-season career low, 10.1....

Rodriguez also struggled with his control at times,

• walking 34 in 68.1 innings pitched. His 4.5 walks per nine innings, in fact, tied for the highest total of his career, as he also posted

• his worst K/W ratio (2.27, 77-to-34) since reaching the majors back in 2002.

Perhaps even more telling is this: among major league relievers who registered more than 40.0 innings pitched, Rodriguez

• did not finish in the top 15 in ERA (19th) or

• K/9 (19th), top 40 in opponents’ OPS (42),

• top 60 in WHIP (69) or

• top 100 in K/W ratio.

The flame throwing right-hander...led the league

• in only two statistics,
• saves and
• save opportunities. ...

Essentially, several other dominant closers—from Brad Lidge to Mariano Rivera—had much stronger overall finishes, but

• did not receive the press due to the severe gap in saves between the leader and every other reliever.

Rodriguez, it is worth pointing out, blew seven saves to finish behind several of his contemporaries in save conversion rate. If he posted a similar mark with fewer chances to shut the door with a lead in the ninth inning,

• Lidge, for his perfection, and

• Rivera, for his continued dominance, would have drawn more national publicity."...

(figures reference regular season only) sm

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