Report From The Fort: Fernando Rodney Relishes Your Pain

dgwills · March 9, 2018

This was a bad player to sign. Just getting by most of his career and getting old. Hopefully the leash is not to long.

yarnivek1972 · March 9, 2018

I remember Phillies manager Jim Fregosi saying about erratic closer Mitch Williams: “He doesn’t have ulcers, but he is a carrier.”

Tommygun921 · March 9, 2018

I remember Nathan taking a lot of deep breaths out there on the mound on many occasions. But he (almost) always got the job done.

Doctor Wu · March 9, 2018

Well, having Rodney on the mound certainly promises to be ... entertaining. Maybe seeing him try to close the games may also be gut-wrenching and infuriating, but at this point I plan to just buckle up and try to enjoy the ride!

mikelink45 · March 9, 2018

It seems as if Rodney lives on the edge and the question that comes to mind is his age and what impact that will have on the edge. A small change can be a catastrophe. I hope they are watching closely.

gil4 · March 9, 2018

Most of us are also Vikings fans, so how bad can the pain be, really?

Makes me question whether or not you're a Vikings fan.

gil4 · March 9, 2018

This was a bad player to sign. Just getting by most of his career and getting old. Hopefully the leash is not to long.

I agree with everything except one word - "getting." The guy is just old, no getting about it. I am not looking forward to the experience - I haven't even strapped in yet and I'm already ready to get off the roller coaster.

TFRazor · March 9, 2018

This was a bad player to sign. Just getting by most of his career and getting old. Hopefully the leash is not to long.

If saving over 300 games in a career is "just getting by", then I know a boatload of mediocre pitchers that would love to sign up for that.

adorduan · March 9, 2018

Hopefully they have a short leash on him, and if he sucks they move Reed into the closer role.

ahart10 · March 9, 2018

If Kintzler can close effectively and keep us in the hunt, Rodney should do just fine. Twins have an upgraded bullpen backing him. Let’s see those arrows fly!

Blake · March 9, 2018

Should be entertaining, at the very least.

tarheeltwinsfan · March 9, 2018

Hopefully they have a short leash on him, and if he sucks they move Reed into the closer role.

Which Reed?

Twins33 · March 9, 2018

If Kintzler can close effectively and keep us in the hunt, Rodney should do just fine. Twins have an upgraded bullpen backing him. Let’s see those arrows fly!

Mostly agree, but my biggest worry with Rodney is and always has been the amount of walks he gives up. Kintzler didn't do that.

I loved watching Rodney blow it or nearly blow it in a lot of outings. He walks that line in the majority of his outings. Now I have to worry he'll do it on our team.

John Kelsey · March 9, 2018

Reed will be the closer by June or July.

ashbury · March 9, 2018

There are pitchers who have more pitches per plate appearance, and seem to do just fine. Corey Knebel of the Brewers threw 4.40, whereas Rodney threw 4.22 and the league average there was 3.80 - but his ERA was 1.78 and his WHIP and BABIP and so forth were decent looking despite a lot of walks.

I don't especially care for the kind of pitcher who just kind of slops it up there and hopes to get batters to swing because of a funky motion (my impression of Rodney over the years, though I don't know anything about Knebel), but maybe I will grow to like Rodney.

Circus Boy · March 10, 2018

Which Reed?

Rick.

h2oface · March 10, 2018

His time has passed, and the luck run out, is my bet. Not a fan. Never a fan. Will not be a fan of Rodney. It amazes me the the pitching metrics guys in the FO went for him.

No top closer, no ace starter. Hmmmmmm. Here comes 2018.....

DocBauer · March 10, 2018

Wait. Hold on for a second here. We don't know how this is going to turn out, but can we cool the jets for a second?!

Kintzler was a "meh" signing to about 90+% of us and then proved to be solid in his role. Belisle's signing was met with more apathy than mere "meh" attitude, especially after a couple of early rough outings that spiked his numbers. You can argue the true role of a closer, changing of dynamics of MLB, coaching, or simple luck of the draw but Kintzler actually turned out to be a very solid closer. He even drew comparisons to former Twin great, and current bullpen coach, Eddie Guardado, as a less than stellar arm but quality closer. And when Kintzler was traded, there was much consternation. But Belisle, next arm up, even in SSS, proved worthy of assuming the role of closer.

So now the Twins bring in a veteran closer with over 300 saves in his career, who still wings a mid 90's FB, with multiple All Star appearances, ( for what that's worth), and a K/9 over 9 for his career, 10+ for 4 straight years, and 5 out of 6, a career AVG against of .231, on a 1 year deal and some think this is a bad signing?

Results, not Tums. The all time closer is Mariano Rivera who converted 89% of save opportunities.

Let us look at all time Twins saves statistics and conversion %:

Nathan, 260SV 89%

Aguilera, 254SV 81%

Perkins, 120SV 85%

Guardado, 116SV 81%

Recently, as Twins:

Kintzler, 45SV 87% but 74% career

Belisle, 9SV 69% but 30% career

So on the edge of seats at times or not, Rodney brings it, has an 82% save ratio for his career and an 87% conversion ratio for the past 4 season's with his impressive K rate and is a poor signing on a 1 year deal for what reason?

h2oface · March 10, 2018

For numerous reasons, I have never liked Rodney. Just because I now have to see him way more than I want to now, doesn't mean I have to start liking him.

Edited March 10, 2018 by h2oface

ashbury · March 10, 2018

For numerous reasons, I have never liked Rodney. Just because I now have to see him way more than I want to now, doesn't mean I have to start liking him.

I could look, but I doubt I'll find any post that demands you like him.

Still, I'll offer a point that I don't think was brought up recently, that his recent manager had rave reviews about Rodney's work ethic - tremendous was the word he used, I think. That, plus my understanding better about the silly hat thing, has me approaching the season with an open mind. I'm still not sure I'll be able to sit through many of his innings, though.

snepp · March 10, 2018

That, plus my understanding better about the silly hat thing, has me approaching the season with an open mind.

Saw Rodney at Twinsfest doing pictures in the clubhouse, crooked hat and all, seemed to be enjoying himself.

glunn · March 10, 2018

Saw Rodney at Twinsfest doing pictures in the clubhouse, crooked hat and all, seemed to be enjoying himself.

That makes me like him, and I will like him more if he saves lots of games.

RaoulDuke · March 10, 2018

Closer is over rated as a role, fireman has proven to be much more valuable. Rodney has the track record and makeup to hold the closer spot down for a year. I am much more excited to have Reed + Hildy/ Duke on board to handle getting to Rodney.

He is obviously a stop gap for a year, who is the next closer? I had thought it would be Chargois or maybe Burdi but those ships have sailed. Reed? FA? Jay?

Doomtints · March 10, 2018

The Twins have a backup plan, so I'm not worried about how Rodney performs. I'm leaning to the side that he will be a plus to the team overall. but perhaps not with his arm. We'll find out.

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Report From The Fort: Fernando Rodney Relishes Your Pain

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