TheFightinPhils
02-09-2005, 02:49 PM
The shock waves have dissipated throughout the Angels bullpen as the beginning of Spring Training has loomed larger and larger.
After 10 years as the Angels' closer and most vocal leader, Troy Percival signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent last November, effectively handing over the closer reins to 22-year-old Francisco Rodriguez.
"As much as I would love to finish my career with the Angels, I realize that a club is best suited with only one closer," Percival said at the time.
"I have the utmost respect for Francisco Rodriguez and what he has accomplished in such a short period of time. I look forward to watching the progress of his career in the years ahead."
So do the Angels, who let Percival and his $7.5 million contract go without much hesitation.
They know that Rodriguez will have to shine if the Angels are to continue to boast the best bullpen in the American League, which they've had for the last three seasons. They seem to think it won't be a problem.
"Frankie is a special talent who's going to win a lot of things before his career is over," general manager Bill Stoneman said. "Frankie is ready for the challenge. You can't hold a guy back when he's ready, and we feel he's going to be our closer for a long time."
In 2004, Rodriguez went 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA, struck out 123 batters in 81 innings, and limited opposing hitters to a .172 average once again. He also notched 12 saves when filling in for Percival, who missed a month because of injury.
"The incredible talent is there with Frankie," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're all excited about what the future holds for him."
What the future holds for the Angels' bullpen will also depend on the seasons of Brendan Donnelly and Scot Shields, who now figure to be the Rodriguez's setup tandem.
Donnelly, MLB.com's 2003 Setup Man of the Year, figures to have a much easier year after experiencing nightmare after nightmare in 2004.
Things were looking good for Donnelly after minor knee and elbow surgery to "clean some things up" heading into 2004. He started his winter throwing program on time and said he felt as good as ever.
But then came the minor fender-bender in Spring Training that hyperextended his knee.
Then came the ball off Chone Figgins' bat that Donnelly saw a little too late while shagging flies in the outfield at the Angels' Tempe, Ariz., training facility on March 9. The ball shattered Donnelly's nose in 20 places and set off two months of complications that led to four surgical procedures.
Once Donnelly was ready to pitch in early May, he set out for a rehab assignment and walked off the mound only a few pitches later, complaining of pain in his right elbow that turned out to be tendinitis.
By the time Donnelly appeared in a game with the Angels, it was mid-June and he lacked the trademark command, velocity and rhythm that had made him one of the game's best.
"It took me a while to get back into things, and even once I thought I had it all back, it still wasn't the same," Donnelly said.
Though his numbers weren't quite up to the high standard he set the year before, Donnelly's 2004 totals were still pretty impressive.
He finished with a 5-2 record and a 3.00 ERA, striking out 56 batters in 42 innings. The opposition hit only .224 against him, and his inherited runner numbers and performance against the first batter faced remained excellent.
"He's right there in the mix for the setup job, just like he has the last two seasons," Stoneman said. "We're going to be counting on Brendan and Shieldsy to get big outs for us."
Shields got plenty of big outs for the Angels in 2003 and 2004, and he seems to be ready for a slight promotion from the long role to full-time setup status.
Shields, 29, has developed into one of the best relievers in baseball. The righty posted an 8-2 record with four saves and a 3.33 ERA in 60 games with the Angels in 2004. Among AL relievers, Shields ranked first in innings pitched (105 1/3) and third in strikeouts (109).
Shields has experience in the role of starter, long relief man, setup man and closer; owns a career 18-11 record with five saves and a 2.81 ERA; and is known for his uncanny ability to log multiple innings on consecutive nights.
"I guess I am unique in that respect," Shields said. "To tell you the truth, I just want the ball and want to help the team compete. I would be out there every day if I could be."
He won't have to be this year if everything goes right for the Angels, who added yet another setup option when they signed hard-throwing Esteban Yan to a two-year deal.
Yan, 29, has a fastball that touches 97 mph and a wicked split-fingered fastball. The right-hander went 3-6 with seven saves and a career-low 3.83 ERA for the Detroit Tigers last year while setting up and closing. He'll most likely fit into a middle- to late-innings setup role.
"He's done pretty much everything in the bullpen," Stoneman said. "He comes in with a really strong arm. He has an assortment of pitches and he's got some experience. His numbers are good from last year and he was throwing the ball really well."
In addition to Rodriguez, Donnelly, Shields and Yan, the Angels have three more righties in the mix for bullpen jobs: Kevin Gregg, Matt Hensley and Scott Dunn. Gregg shined for most of the year in a long-relief role, Hensley impressed the team with his stuff and his guts, and Dunn has a power arm the Angels like.
The main concern for the Angels' 'pen, aside from Rodriguez's new responsibility, is the fact that for the second straight year they're without a lefty.
But hitters had more problems (.255 average in 42 1/3 innings) against Yan last year from the left side than they did from the right side (.292 in 44 2/3 innings). When you combine those stats with the 2004 batting-average-against stats of Shields (.235 in 52 1/3 innings against lefties, .242 in 53 innings against righties) and Donnelly (.211 in 21 2/3 innings against lefties, .237 in 22 1/3 innings against righties), it all stacks up pretty well.
Interestingly, Rodriguez is the only one in this group who performed worse against lefties than righties, but he still limited left-handed batters to a .213 average and struck out 55 of them in 42 2/3 innings.
"We don't really specifically look for left-handers or right-handers when we're putting together a pitching staff," Stoneman said.
"We're looking for pitchers who get guys out."
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ana/news/ana_news.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940886&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp
After 10 years as the Angels' closer and most vocal leader, Troy Percival signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent last November, effectively handing over the closer reins to 22-year-old Francisco Rodriguez.
"As much as I would love to finish my career with the Angels, I realize that a club is best suited with only one closer," Percival said at the time.
"I have the utmost respect for Francisco Rodriguez and what he has accomplished in such a short period of time. I look forward to watching the progress of his career in the years ahead."
So do the Angels, who let Percival and his $7.5 million contract go without much hesitation.
They know that Rodriguez will have to shine if the Angels are to continue to boast the best bullpen in the American League, which they've had for the last three seasons. They seem to think it won't be a problem.
"Frankie is a special talent who's going to win a lot of things before his career is over," general manager Bill Stoneman said. "Frankie is ready for the challenge. You can't hold a guy back when he's ready, and we feel he's going to be our closer for a long time."
In 2004, Rodriguez went 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA, struck out 123 batters in 81 innings, and limited opposing hitters to a .172 average once again. He also notched 12 saves when filling in for Percival, who missed a month because of injury.
"The incredible talent is there with Frankie," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're all excited about what the future holds for him."
What the future holds for the Angels' bullpen will also depend on the seasons of Brendan Donnelly and Scot Shields, who now figure to be the Rodriguez's setup tandem.
Donnelly, MLB.com's 2003 Setup Man of the Year, figures to have a much easier year after experiencing nightmare after nightmare in 2004.
Things were looking good for Donnelly after minor knee and elbow surgery to "clean some things up" heading into 2004. He started his winter throwing program on time and said he felt as good as ever.
But then came the minor fender-bender in Spring Training that hyperextended his knee.
Then came the ball off Chone Figgins' bat that Donnelly saw a little too late while shagging flies in the outfield at the Angels' Tempe, Ariz., training facility on March 9. The ball shattered Donnelly's nose in 20 places and set off two months of complications that led to four surgical procedures.
Once Donnelly was ready to pitch in early May, he set out for a rehab assignment and walked off the mound only a few pitches later, complaining of pain in his right elbow that turned out to be tendinitis.
By the time Donnelly appeared in a game with the Angels, it was mid-June and he lacked the trademark command, velocity and rhythm that had made him one of the game's best.
"It took me a while to get back into things, and even once I thought I had it all back, it still wasn't the same," Donnelly said.
Though his numbers weren't quite up to the high standard he set the year before, Donnelly's 2004 totals were still pretty impressive.
He finished with a 5-2 record and a 3.00 ERA, striking out 56 batters in 42 innings. The opposition hit only .224 against him, and his inherited runner numbers and performance against the first batter faced remained excellent.
"He's right there in the mix for the setup job, just like he has the last two seasons," Stoneman said. "We're going to be counting on Brendan and Shieldsy to get big outs for us."
Shields got plenty of big outs for the Angels in 2003 and 2004, and he seems to be ready for a slight promotion from the long role to full-time setup status.
Shields, 29, has developed into one of the best relievers in baseball. The righty posted an 8-2 record with four saves and a 3.33 ERA in 60 games with the Angels in 2004. Among AL relievers, Shields ranked first in innings pitched (105 1/3) and third in strikeouts (109).
Shields has experience in the role of starter, long relief man, setup man and closer; owns a career 18-11 record with five saves and a 2.81 ERA; and is known for his uncanny ability to log multiple innings on consecutive nights.
"I guess I am unique in that respect," Shields said. "To tell you the truth, I just want the ball and want to help the team compete. I would be out there every day if I could be."
He won't have to be this year if everything goes right for the Angels, who added yet another setup option when they signed hard-throwing Esteban Yan to a two-year deal.
Yan, 29, has a fastball that touches 97 mph and a wicked split-fingered fastball. The right-hander went 3-6 with seven saves and a career-low 3.83 ERA for the Detroit Tigers last year while setting up and closing. He'll most likely fit into a middle- to late-innings setup role.
"He's done pretty much everything in the bullpen," Stoneman said. "He comes in with a really strong arm. He has an assortment of pitches and he's got some experience. His numbers are good from last year and he was throwing the ball really well."
In addition to Rodriguez, Donnelly, Shields and Yan, the Angels have three more righties in the mix for bullpen jobs: Kevin Gregg, Matt Hensley and Scott Dunn. Gregg shined for most of the year in a long-relief role, Hensley impressed the team with his stuff and his guts, and Dunn has a power arm the Angels like.
The main concern for the Angels' 'pen, aside from Rodriguez's new responsibility, is the fact that for the second straight year they're without a lefty.
But hitters had more problems (.255 average in 42 1/3 innings) against Yan last year from the left side than they did from the right side (.292 in 44 2/3 innings). When you combine those stats with the 2004 batting-average-against stats of Shields (.235 in 52 1/3 innings against lefties, .242 in 53 innings against righties) and Donnelly (.211 in 21 2/3 innings against lefties, .237 in 22 1/3 innings against righties), it all stacks up pretty well.
Interestingly, Rodriguez is the only one in this group who performed worse against lefties than righties, but he still limited left-handed batters to a .213 average and struck out 55 of them in 42 2/3 innings.
"We don't really specifically look for left-handers or right-handers when we're putting together a pitching staff," Stoneman said.
"We're looking for pitchers who get guys out."
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ana/news/ana_news.jsp?ymd=20050208&content_id=940886&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp