The Futon Report

Because they never, ever close. (Puns! Love ‘em.)

When Todd Jones closed out games, Tigers fans would get ulcers, cramps, and chest pains. When Fernando Rodney closes out games, the other team experiences said chest pains. On Sunday, after Kyle Farnsworth, savior to the bullpen, gave up two home runs to extend the game, “closer” Fernando Rodney eventually came on in the 10th inning to save a 5-4 game.

Fernando Rodney injured two consecutive Rays batters. Jason Bartlett jammed his finger on an attempted bunt, then pinch hitter Shawn Riggans got hit in the chest with a baseball. In the chest. The chest. Hit in the chest. How does a pitcher hit someone square in the chest?

The inning eventually wound up ending in a bases loaded walk of the walk off variety. Quite displeasing.

Rodney’s numbers since he was the de facto closer:

July 27, coming into the 8th, not a save situation:
1 2/3 innings, 1 run, 1 hit, 2 walks — 42 pitches, 24 for strikes

July 29, coming into the 9th with a 4-run lead:
1 inning, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 wild pitch — 18 pitches, 8 for strikes

July 30, coming into the 9th with a 1-run lead:
1 inning, 1 run, 2 hits, 2 walks — 33 pitches, 16 for strikes

August 3, in which all the children of the world would cry:
2/3 inning, 2 runs, 1 hit, 3 walks, 1 HBP — 34 pitches, 18 for strikes

Total: 4 1/3 inning, 5 runs, 4 hits, 8 walks, 1 HBP — 127 pitches, 66 for strikes

So, hey, Todd Jones wasn’t so bad, was he?

Tags: detroit tigers, fernando rodney, tampa bay rays, todd jones