Fernando Rodney Is Blowing Up In The Late Innings

Last season Fernando Rodney blew two saves in 50 chances. His 0.60 ERA set a major league record. But in 2013 Rodney has already blown 5 save chances in 14 attempts and his ERA is a staggering 6.05.

Saturday night against the Yankees Rodney blew a 2-run lead in the 9th inning. The Yankees went on to win the game, 4-3, in 11 innings.

The biggest issue that Rodney faces is his command. He's already walked 18 batters this season. He walked 15 all of last season. He walked Lyle Overbay with 2-outs in the 9th on Saturday that kept the Yankees alive for them to tie the score.

We all knew that Rodney was going to be able to repeat
the historic season he had in 2012. He led us to believe that he could with his dominating performance in the World Baseball Classic. Appearing in 8 games, he tossed 7 1/3 innings, while striking out 7 and walking 3.

It seems like he may have left his dominating stuff in his Dominican uniform. There's no doubt that his performance in the WBC was good but why hasn't it translated over to the 2013 major league season?

Joe Maddon told reporters last Friday that he doesn't think that Rodney needs to change anything with the way he pitches, instead he needs to focus on the mental side of things.

"For my money, from watching it, it's more what he's thinking right now," Maddon said. "There's little things we've addressed, different items with his setup, delivery and stuff that have gotten him pretty much where he had been last year already.

"I think the correction lies more in the mind more than it does physically. I'd rather we continue to support him and him work through his issues that way as opposed to try and give him all these mechanical panaceas to deal with. I don't think that's what he needs right now."

But like I said before, his biggest issue this season may be the fact that he isn't throwing strikes. Rodney has walked at least one batter in 7 of his last 10 appearances. May 16th against the Red Sox, Rodney blew a save while walking 4 Sox hitters.

"Everything is the same," Rodney said. "The only thing I saw that I can tell you guys, I think the fastball location is not exactly what I want, what I'm looking for. But it's going to be better."

Rodney threw 18 fastballs against the Red Sox that night and only 6 of them crossed the plate for strikes. He fell behind 5 of the 7 hitters he faced. You can't have success as a pitcher if you fall behind every hitter.

"Sometimes, I think, I feel I try to do too much and try to put the ball in the strike zone," Rodney said. "Maybe that's the point."

Whatever the issue is the Rays need to fix it quick. Tampa is six games back of the Yankees in the AL East and will try to defend being swept on Sunday. If the Rays are winning by one run in the 9th, can they trust Fernando Rodney to shut it down?

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