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Francisco José Rodríguez (born January 7, 1982 in Caracas, Venezuela), nicknamed "K-Rod", is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim since 2002.
The fastball headlines Rodríguez's repetoire. It runs a moving and consistent 94-97 MPH which sometimes is mistaken for a hard slider. His breaking ball is more of a slurve (sharper than a curve but less sharp than a slider). Righthanders stand little chance when he’s on.
Rodríguez was signed as a non-drafted amateur free agent in 1998. Originally a starting pitcher, Rodriguez was moved to relief pitching in 2002 after elbow and shoulder injuries shortened parts of his 2001 minor league season. Critics have also claimed his slight build and lack of stamina made him ineffective as a starter. He made his debut in 2002. With the multiple injuries to the Angels bullpen, the club was happy to pick up him at the mid of September. He emerged as a postseason relief hero on international television, winning five postseason games, never having won a major league game before.
During the playoffs the hitters had no idea about Rodríguez. In the ALDS he silenced the Yankees bats, and got two victories with 13
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In his sophomore year, Rodríguez grew as a feared set-up man. He gave up an earned run in nine of his first 15 games, and nine of his other 44 appearances. Then, he fit in well in the 2004 season. Selected for the All-Star Game he finished 4-1, saved 12, strike out 123 batters in 84 innings, and had a low 1.82 ERA. Beside this, on August 24 he became the fifth pitcher in the Angels' 44-year history to strike out at least 100 batters in a season without starting a game. The others were Mark Clear (105 in 1980), DeWayne Buice (109, 1987), Bryan Harvey (101, 1991) and Troy Percival (100, 1996).
In 133 games, Rodríguez has compiled a 12-4 record with 14 saves, a 2.36 ERA, and 231 strikeouts in 175.2 innings.
With free agent closer Troy Percival's departure to sign with Detroit, Rodríguez will enter the 2005 season as the Angels' full-time closer for the first time.
See also
External links
- Francisco Rodríguez at:
- Baseball America (report) (http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/angelstop03.html)
- Baseball Reference (career stats) (http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rodrifr03.shtml)
- ESPN (profile and daily update) (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7029)ja:フランシスコ・ロドリゲス