(The following post is offered as a placation for those of you impatient for EFL results. BP has not updated yet this morning, and until it does we cannot tell if we’ve got a glitch in the data. I will try again this afternoon after my class is over.)
I hesitate to write this — it seems so uncharitable…
OK, that’s enough hesitation. Fernando Rodney is the all-time MDP: Most Demoralizing Player.
It started for me (this season) on April 12, when Rodney came into the bottom of the ninth with a four run lead, with Felix in line to get the win. Seven batters later the A’s had tied the game. Cruz homered in the top of the 10th, so Rodney got the win instead of Felix. That rankled. But, hey, it wasn’t a blown save!
His next outing was April 14. Iwakuma and relievers got the M’s to the bottom of the 9th in LA up 5 – 4. Rodney retired one batter before he lost the game, 6 – 5.
May 26, against Tampa Bay, he faced 8 batters, walked one, gave up hits to three, allowed three runs and lost another game the M’s had in the bag.
On Tuesday night, the Mariners were in a tight, tense battle with the Yankees. McClendon got himself tossed for arguing about a check-swing call. So did Zunino. Yet the M’s reached the ninth inning ahead 2-1, and rookie Mike Montgomery was in line for the win. In comes Rodney. That familiar sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach. Headley walked, Beltran flied to right, Gregorius struck out. But those two outs meant nothing, and everyone knew it. McCann singled. Then Stephen Drew doubled — thanks a bunch, Kangaroos — and the game was tied. The M’s lost it in the eleventh.
The other day, Lloyd McClendon said (as I remember it) “People talk about his 6 ERA, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. This guy went all last season with only three blown saves. He just knows how to get the job done.”
I do not go up against Lloyd McClendon lightly. But what he said made no sense. Rodney’s ERA right now is 6.85. Rodney has appeared 23 times this season. According to Fangraphs, every appearance has been for precisely an inning except the one on April 14. In 22.3 innings, he has faced 107 batters, allowed 17 singles, seven doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 12 walks and two HBP. That’s a .301, .393, .495 opposition batting line. He almost turns the average major leaguer into Edgar Martinez. Almost. (Edgar: .312, .418, .515.) More like Yasiel Puig (.304, .386, .501). The only reason Rodney hasn’t blown six or seven saves already this year is he’s been exceptionally lucky.
All season I’ve not been able to take any joy in Mariner leads of less than 4 runs. The specter of Fernando Rodney always looms. Every game the dribbler approaches Bill Buckner at first, Steve Bartman leans over the rail. We’re doomed.
I hated Reggie Jackson after he stuck his hip out in the 1977 World Series, cheating to help the Yankees win, and I still bear a grudge. But at least he was on the other side. Rodney has done more damage to M’s pennant chances than any foe. And only the stubborn loyalty of Lloyd McClendon prevents M’s fans everywhere from being liberated from this scourge.