Frankie Rodriguez: Don't Let the Door Hit You on Your Way Out of Anaheim

The gods have spoken.

Frankie "K-Rod" Rodriguez, by entering arbitration, has violated gods rule and will now suffer the consequences.

No one dare attack Arte the god's pride and live again as an Angel. K-Rod - he gone.

Rationalization is the human way of questioning god. Let's look at Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley as the model of a closer. We will not consider Eckersley's many years as a starting pitcher as his durability factor, when compared to Mariano Rivera's durability factor, can be extrapolated and rationalized as to  why Frankie is a "no deal" past the 2008 season.

Eckersley's best years 1988-1992, where he was either an MVP or MVP candidate, a Cy Young winner or  candidate, or an all-star, ended abruptly with a steady downward spiral in all pitching categories. His WHIP began rising after the third year and the fourth year after which he never made the all-star team, or was not considered for either Cy Young or MVP during his sunset years of 1993 - 1998.

Mariano Rivera, on the other hand, has been the closer's closer. With 13 years of MLB service under his belt, 11 of which saw him on the honor role, he seems to have entered into his sunset phase. 2007 brought about his worst WHIP, rising all the way to a  1.12, where he has entered uncharted territory, as his whip has steadily risen since  2005.

Frankie, with his characteristic wild motion, has been an all-star and CYA candidate in 3 of 4 years, before his WHIP went ballooning in 2007 to 1.24, a number Rivera has never experienced (1.12 in 2007) and Eckersley began his fall after exhibiting a 1.19 in 1993 and ballooned to a 1.38 in 1994.

So when is a closer at his peak? Based on the numbers, Frankie has already reached his. Certainly, the Angelic gods have figured this out and will try and dump him at the All-Star break. In proverbial extension terminology, Arte is asked the four year 55 to 60 million dollar question - Arte Moreno - "Deal or No Deal"? The answer is - Frankie don't let the door hit you on the way out. 

So expect some wheeling and dealing at the trade deadline as both Texeira and Dunn will more than likely be in Frankie's boat.