and he will be humbled.

put that 15 million to good use somewhere else (read: Mark Teixeira or a SP)

I like what Arte had to say. He basically said, without saying, that they are not going to bring K-Rod back (thank god). He also didn’t think that they were going to bring it up and then they asked him if they were going after Manny Ramirez and he pretty much gave a “no comment” which clearly doesn’t mean no.

Here’s the late link in tonight’s Times, which basically has the same quote. I really do think he’s done with the Angels; Arte’s not a little fed up with his hijinks, especially the big postseason implosions that happen with the game on the line. There are guys who can get it done, and there are guys who can’t, and K-Rod has failed in every postseason he’s been in — including 2002, though his failure there was mitigated by the bats.

In the same year that Frankie breaks the single season saves record, he alienated many of his fans, and it seems possibly his own teammates and owner. Frankie, hope you become the first person in history to truly become happy from your money.

And a big part of me would love it if for once we could keep a home-grown Hall of Fame talent on the club past his 30th birthday … but all in all, I really hope we re-sign Teixeira.

When you get a save against the Angels next year or at any point in the remainder of your career, I will not begrudge you throwing up a chest-thumping shout to the sky.

You believe that I am the toad of the month!

… that we have the best owner in professional sports.

Financial aspects of committing 15 million to a closer aside, I appreciate having an owner who won’t lower himself into the muck. If you want to play for this team, you’ll play by our rules.

I wish you all the best Frank. Thanks for the memories.

…that in the fairly shitty market for closers this year, Frankie accepts arbitration and tries to go large at the end of the ’09 season, in the hope that he gets a better pay day?

I never once had the feeling of “Oh yes, game over” when Frankie came out of the pen. The guy has amazing talent but let’s face it, the closer role is a little overblown and overrated. And consistency is key.

He wants how much, $75 million??? Time to move on. Shields would fill in fine, IMO. Spend the money on Tex.

He won’t be worth it. And I don’t think he’ll get more than $12 million a year, maybe less. Although that arbitration comment does scare me a little. Talk about a complete distraction and a waste of money.

I vote for Arredondo to get the job. Despite what some people think, Shields has been barely worse than K-Rod over the last 4 years, and has done it in more innings (although his innings have decreased eac hyear), so I’m fine with Shields being the 7th-8th guy and letting Arredondo take the 9th.

Smart man. Frankie’s above-average, but not by much, according to BP.

As a bonus, i’ll be able to stop dosing up on Tums at the start of the 9th inning of every close win.

The 9th inning just wouldn’t hold the same drama, you would be able to leave early, turn off the game before the 9th even started and get to your honey do list earlier.

Now is that what you really want?

i’m getting nervous

1. To rub it in the Red Sox face, and
2. Because he was looking to score another big contract.

I don’t trust this clown for a second. Who knows when he’s going to decide that Manny is more important than the team and the organization?

but the Halos will be just fine without him……..I cant say Frankie would be the same without the Halos though…….just my .02

With Francisco’s apparent departure, the Angels need to find a relief pitcher with a high K/9 rate to replace him. It would be best if the Angels can make a shrewd trade for such a pitcher. But given their propensity to turn to the free agent market, I’m hoping they can sign Diamondback free agent relief pitcher Juan Cruz at a reasonable price.

2007: 61 IP………12.8 K/9 3.10 ERA 3.70 FIP……….Avg.Fastball: 94.5 mph
2008: 51.2 IP…….12.4 K/9 2.61 ERA 3.62 FIP……….Avg.Fastball: 94.3 mph

The K rates the past two years are sensational and fastball velocity is very strong. His career K rate is 9.35 Ks per 9 IP.

	Player	TEAM	W	L	ERA	Save Pct	Win Pct	KO pIP
1	J Nathan	PHI 	2	0	1.95	100.00%	100.00%	1.33
2	M Rivera	COL 	1	5	2.73	88.24%	16.67%	1.32
3	J Soria	        LAD 	4	4	2.49	81.82%	50.00%	1.28
4	B Lidge	        LAD 	3	5	3.13	63.64%	37.50%	1.28
5	F Rodriguez	CHC 	5	4	3.26	85.00%	55.56%	1.27
6	B Wagner	SEA 	6	5	3.88	65.22%	54.55%	1.21
7	J Papelbon	HOU 	6	3	3.38	86.27%	66.67%	1.15
8	T Saito	        LAA 	2	3	2.24	89.86%	40.00%	1.13
9	B Jenks	        BOS 	5	4	2.34	89.13%	55.56%	1.11
10	B Fuentes	CIN 	5	4	3.33	85.00%	55.56%	1.11
11	B Ryan	        NYM 	0	1	2.3	79.41%	0.00%	1.11
12	M Capps 	MIN 	1	2	1.33	86.67%	33.33%	1.10
13	Broxton	        NYY 	6	5	1.4	97.50%	54.55%	1.10
14	K Wood	        BAL 	3	5	4.73	83.78%	37.50%	1.09
15	F Cordero	SF 	3	2	4.62	87.23%	60.00%	1.08
16	J Valverde	SD 	3	6	3.77	88.24%	33.33%	1.02
17	K Gregg	        TOR 	2	4	2.95	88.89%	33.33%	1.00
18	S Torres	OAK 	7	5	3.73	72.00%	58.33%	0.99
19	R Franklin	KC 	2	3	1.6	93.33%	40.00%	0.98
20	H Street        ARI 	4	8	4.14	75.00%	33.33%	0.93
21	T Hoffman	TEX 	2	2	6.02	85.71%	50.00%	0.89
22	Putz	        FLA 	7	8	3.41	76.32%	46.67%	0.85
23	J Rauch	        TB 	2	1	4.53	87.50%	66.67%	0.84
24	T Percival	ARI 	3	5	4.7	83.87%	37.50%	0.74
25	B Wilson	PIT 	2	3	3.02	80.77%	40.00%	0.73
26	B Lyon	        STL 	6	6	3.55	68.00%	50.00%	0.65
27	G Sherrill	MIL 	7	5	3.49	80.00%	58.33%	0.64
28	T Jones	        CWS 	3	1	2.63	88.24%	75.00%	0.62
29	C Wilson	DET 	4	1	4.97	85.71%	80.00%	0.34

	 Player   	 ERA   	 SV   	 SVO   	 IP   	 BB   	 SO   	Save Pct
1	B Lidge	    1.95	41	41	69.1	35	92	100.00%
2	M Rivera	    1.4	39	40	70.2	6	77	97.50%
3	J Soria	      1.6	42	45	67.1	19	66	93.33%
4	F Rodriguez	2.24	62	69	68.1	34	77	89.86%
5	J Papelbon	2.34	41	46	69.1	8	77	89.13%
6	B Ryan	    2.95	32	36	58	28	58	88.89%
7	B Jenks	    2.63	30	34	61.2	17	38	88.24%
8	B Fuentes	2.73	30	34	62.2	22	82	88.24%
9	T Hoffman	3.77	30	34	45.1	9	46	88.24%
10	T Percival	4.53	28	32	45.2	27	38	87.50%
11	B Wilson	4.62	41	47	62.1	28	67	87.23%
12	J Nathan	1.33	39	45	67.2	18	74	86.67%
13	J Valverde	3.38	44	51	72	23	83	86.27%
14	T Jones	    4.97	18	21	41.2	18	14	85.71%
15	C Wilson	6.02	24	28	46.1	27	41	85.71%
16	K Wood	    3.26	34	40	66.1	18	84	85.00%
17	F Cordero	3.33	34	40	70.1	38	78	85.00%
18	B Lyon	      4.7	26	31	59.1	13	44	83.87%
19	G Sherrill	4.73	31	37	53.1	33	58	83.78%
20	T Saito	      2.49	18	22	47	16	60	81.82%
21	M Capps  	3.02	21	26	53.2	5	39	80.77%
22	S Torres	  3.49	28	35	80	33	51	80.00%
23	B Wagner	2.3	27	34	47	10	52	79.41%
24	K Gregg	      3.41	29	38	68.2	37	58	76.32%
25	J Rauch	      4.14	18	24	71.2	16	66	75.00%
26	H Street	 3.73	18	25	70	27	69	72.00%
27	R Franklin	3.55	17	25	78.2	30	51	68.00%
28	Broxton	    3.13	14	22	69	27	88	63.64%
29	Putz	    3.88	15	23	46.1	28	56	65.22%

He doesn’t get hurt much. It may not be pretty but there isn’t much available. If you think K-Rod is easily replaced, then why can’t the rest of the MLB find pitchers as effective as he is?

Lidge has 3 years ~11.5M per year with a 4th year option
Rivera has 2 years ~15M per year
Soria has 3 years ~3M per year with 4th and 5th year option
Papelbon not eligible for free agency.

It’s called supply and demand.

It may be possible that the next 4th best closer is already playing for the Angels but it kinda seems odd that it would just happen to be the case.