In 2006 Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya were a big part of the success of the Detroit Tigers and their eventual run at the post season. This year, due to injuries, the bullpen tandem has been out of the lineup since the beginning of the season.
In June, their long rehabilitation is over, as they have rejoined the Tigers seemingly at a crucial time where the Tigers are poised to make a run at being a .500 ball club just before the All Star break.
Fernando Rodney had his debut with the team during interleague play against the San Francisco Giants.
A pre-game interview with Tiger manager Jim Leyland revealed that Rodney was feeling great and ready to go, but was he? Leyland told the media that he was going to use him in non-pressure situations only, and that he would slowly bring him back.
A three-run homer and a loss later, it showed that Leyland was pushing the envelope a little too soon. I would think that after that poor display, Leyland may choose a different route of deception.
But was it all Leyland's fault? I believe it was a combination of three things that went wrong.
First, let's start by saying that Fernando Rodney has two pitches: a mid-90s fastball and a knee-buckling changeup. He struck out a hitter on five straight unhittable changeups. The most they could do with it was foul it off.
Every time Ivan Rodriguez called for a fastball, they ripped a base hit, because his fastballs were elevated and in the wheelhouse. If I am a hitter facing Rodney, I'm sitting on a fastball.
The three things are: One, Leyland should not have had him out there in the first place. Two, Pudge called the wrong pitch. And three, Rodney has to keep his fastball down. I haven't seen him do it in a while, even at Toledo.
Bottom line: work him in slowly. I know everyone wants this team back on track, but don't give away ball games just to give the kid some work.
The same for Joel Zumaya: work him in slowly and let him build his confidence.
The Tigers finished up their interleague road trip with four straight series victories and two of them were sweeps.
With Marcus Thames hitting cannon shots and Curtis Granderson beginning to come around, we could see the team most analysts were projecting to be World Series contenders. But first, let's get to .500.
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3 months ago
I think Joel Zumaya will keep throwing cheese when he returns. I am less optimistic about Rodney, he makes so many errors!
3 months ago
Rodney was pretty bad last year. I remember the media making a big fuss about Rodney and Zumaya returning, and they would be a big reason in a Tiger division win.
Like you said. Rodney has two pitches, and really unless you can spot those pitches where you are supposed to, you won't get far.
Zumaya could probably get by on his heat alone, provided he get that heat. I don't know what was wrong with him last year, but he too was less than stellar when he came back. I remember the Indians taking advantage of him at points.
3 months ago
I beleive Zumaya will go a lot further than Rodney in any case. We also seem to forget about Rodney's lack of defense ...can you say bunt?
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