Source: O's working on Fernando Rodney...

[Saintbird]

What about Joel Hanrahan? I haven't heard too much about him but he's seemed to, at the very least, be more consistent than Rodney in the past.

[MrOrange82]

You have to have the guy to put in the role. So the O's need to fine one. Inside or outside of the organization.

That's where I adamantly disagree. If Buck insists on using a single player a closer, then he deserves to be criticized for his inflexibility. There's simply no good reason to put one player in that role. If they don't have a single player who can shut down lefties and righties, then they can play match-ups.

Spending a sizable chunk of their purportedly "small/mid-market" budget on a guy like Rodney is inexcusable, IMO.

[Ruzious]

He's only 37; soon to be reaching his peak years.

Oh, I didn't mean his peak years for baseball. That's behind him. The O's will be paying for past performance that he most likely won't come close to. But he's bound to be in his peak years for something besides baseball.

Probably at building a retirement fund.

[MrOrange82]

For me, it's not about proven closer. I want to improve the team. Rodney is a better pitcher than our current 7th best pitcher in the bullpen (Stinson? Steve Johnson?). That is why I would like to sign him.

Better pitcher than someone we currently have = better team.

Getting better pitchers on the team is obviously a good thing, but, as CoC mentioned above, they'd be paying Rodney with the understanding that he'd be "the closer." In other words, his salary will be somewhat inflated because of the role he's expected to occupy.

If the O's were just hunting for good relief pitchers, I'd be hard pressed to argue. But that's not what they're doing.

[scOtt]

You don't actually believe that do you?

If he signs it will be with the understanding that he is the closer and you know Buck gives his closer any and all save chances.

He will have to pitch his way out of the closer's role and that will take most of the season.

Yes, he will most likely be handed the job. I was saying my hope was another decent pen arm which we got. Didn't have to be a closer to me, just happens that it is a closer.

[wildcard]

That's where I adamantly disagree. If Buck insists on using a single player a closer, then he deserves to be criticized for his inflexibility. There's simply no good reason to put one player in that role. If they don't have a single player who can shut down lefties and righties, then they can play match-ups.

Spending a sizable chunk of their purportedly "small/mid-market" budget on a guy like Rodney is inexcusable, IMO.

If the O's tried to use two matchup guys every night in the 9th it would eat their pen alive. Three save opportunities in a row would just crush the pen. The O's need guys that can get lefties and righties out. Especially in the 9th.

[TradeAngelos]

@AndrewRickli 3m

One agent said it well with regards to Fernando Rodney, "He has nowhere else to go. He fell into Baltimore's lap." #orioles

[mi_oriolesfan]

@AndrewRickli 3m

One agent said it well with regards to Fernando Rodney, "He has nowhere else to go. He fell into Baltimore's lap." #orioles

Somewhere, Peter Angelos is grinning ear to ear.

[MrOrange82]

If the O's tried to use two matchup guys every night in the 9th it would eat their pen alive. Three save opportunities in a row would just crush the pen. The O's need guys that can get lefties and righties out. Especially in the 9th.

How is the ninth inning different from every other inning? Instead of having that one reliever who almost never helps out before the 8th inning, at the earliest, you have every reliever available in all situations. You're not talking about making O'Day or Hunter pitch two innings every night. And you're not talking about always taking out the righty when a lefty is coming to the plate. You're talking about bullpen management in general. There's no reason whatsoever to think that'd overtax the bullpen, if Buck uses the bullpen intelligently.

[isestrex]

No.

No no no.

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no .

No.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h367/isestrex/Gifs/tracey-morgan-nope.gif" border="0" alt=" photo tracey-morgan-nope.gif"/></a>

[VeveJones007]

@AndrewRickli 3m

One agent said it well with regards to Fernando Rodney, "He has nowhere else to go. He fell into Baltimore's lap." #orioles

Some people have been saying this for a while. There were more closers on the market than teams with the need. In this case, it's probably not bad that the O's waited.

[Sanfran327]

How is the ninth inning different from every other inning? Instead of having that one reliever who almost never helps out before the 8th inning, at the earliest, you have every reliever available in all situations. You're not talking about making O'Day or Hunter pitch two innings every night. And you're not talking about always taking out the righty when a lefty is coming to the plate. You're talking about bullpen management in general. There's no reason whatsoever to think that'd overtax the bullpen, if Buck uses the bullpen intelligently.

The difference is that most teams with effective pitching have starters that can pitch into or through the sixth inning and a closer that pitches the 9th in save situations, leaving several arms for six or seven outs.

And I'm getting pretty sick of the notion that there is no difference between the seventh and ninth innings in a baseball game.

[atomic]

Some people have been saying this for a while. There were more closers on the market than teams with the need. In this case, it's probably not bad that the O's waited.

That is like saying: I am glad I waited until the last day to ask girls to the prom because now there was only one girl and one guy left. She is the ugliest girl left and has a grating personality but she had no choice but to go out with me.

[jamalshw]

Some people have been saying this for a while. There were more closers on the market than teams with the need. In this case, it's probably not bad that the O's waited.

This is what everyone who criticized the Johnson trade did not realize and failed to understand. It's hard to get much back for an asset that is overpriced. Any team could go on the market and get a closer with as good (or better) of a resume (not the number of saves, but the percentage and other stats) for less money and no prospects/players.

[Can_of_corn]

The difference is that most teams with effective pitching have starters that can pitch into or through the sixth inning and a closer that pitches the 9th in save situations, leaving several arms for six or seven outs.

And I'm getting pretty sick of the notion that there is no difference between the seventh and ninth innings in a baseball game.

Of course there is. I read somewhere that the eight inning is most likely to have the team's most effective hitters at bat.