K-Rod v. 2.0

The original Francisco Rodriguez left Los Angeles with a bang. After providing a half decade or so of quality late inning relief, K-Rod departed from the Halos upon setting a new single season MLB record for saves converted. K-Rod would later sign a 3-year/$37 million contract and the Angels would sign Brian Fuentes.

Alas, from the ashes of one Francisco Rodriguez, like a phoenix, arises another. New Francisco Rodriguez, who I have dubbed K-Rod v.2.0, has quietly been one of the Angels best relievers this season since coming aboard in late May. In 10.1 IP this season, K-Rod 2.0 has allowed only 1 ER, induced groundballs at a 72.2% GB%, struck out 15 and only walked 1 batter...all while consistently reaching the mid-90's (94.3) with his fastball. The samples are minute, but have the Angels found themselves a new K-Rod to fill in for closer of the future (with Kevin Jepsen as the future Scot Shields)?

Per Minor League Splits K-Rod 2.0 has a neutralized 4.89 FIP over 430.2 IP (this figure accounts for minor league park factors). This is an equivalent MLB FIP of 5.90, far from roster worthy. However, there are a few signs that K-Rod 2.0 might be a useful reliever in the future, albeit not nearly as useful as he's been thus far.

1) Groundball rates
From his numbers, K-Rod 2.0 is undoubtedly a groundball pitcher. His minor league GB% is 47.6% and in the limited major league play he's seen this year, K-Rod 2.0 is inducing groundballs at almost a 75% clip. Before his promotion this season, K-Rod 2.0 had a minor league groundball rate above 53%.

2) Increasing strikeouts
Usually, as a pitcher goes up levels in the minors, his strikeout rates tend to fall. Even K-gods such as Lincecum saw their K/9 rates fall from 2 bazillion to only 1 bazillion when they got bumped up to triple-A. Not so much K-Rod 2.0. In fact, since his A+ level debut in 2006 with a 5.45 K/9 rate, K-Rod has induced more swings and misses and strikeouts per nine as he's gained experience as jumped levels. He had a 7.0 K/9 in AAA this season and is currently spotting a superior 19.7% swinging strike rate. Keep in mind, we are only working with 10 innings of sample size here, so obviously a lot of numbers are inflated by outcomes in just a few situations, but there is reason to believe that K-Rod 2.0 might be able to induce his fair share of swings and misses in the majors. His equivalent MLB K/9, based on minor league strikeout rates at each level, is 5.10 overall, but 7.66 in his last 28 days in the minors.

Of course, of concern is the walk rate. K-Rod 2.0, like K-Rod 1.0, tends to walk too many batters, though this is oft the case with hard throwing pitchers. K-Rod has issued 4.18 walks per nine in the minors, which is the MLB-equivalent of 5.81.

Free passes will have to be lessened if K-Rod 2.0 is to stick in the majors, but I eagerly anticipate the interleague game where the two K-Rods face off.