Rhodes to the A's

[Craig S.]

The A's have reportedly signed Arthur Rhodes to a 3-year deal for just over $9 million:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1689677

Sounds like he'll be given the closer's job left vacant by the defection of Keith Foulke. A big step down, or will he do okay in the role?

[JamesI]

Not a bad signing. 3 million a year is good for Rhodes. Hope they don't waste him by just using him in the ninth.

[gyb13]

funny how they've already annointed him the closer, even though they acquired a better lefty (Hammond) today. RSAA ERA RSAA ERA
Gone Arriving

Foulke 21 2.08 Hammond 10 2.86
Neu 3 3.64 Rhodes 1 4.17
Halama 0 4.22

[rk_michael]

It's tough to see Arthur go, he was a huge part of the M's bullpen. I hope he does well. I think Arthur would do well in the closer role, but he never had much opportunity to prove it with the Mariners. He is a very versatile reliever, and I would be surprised if the A's didn't use his versatility to their advantage.

[gyb13]

Rhodes' best season was 2001, and 2001-02 was his best two-year span. However, for a 34-yr old pitcher (esp one getting a three-yr contract), this trend doesn't look so good: IP ERA RSAA H/9 BR/9 SO/9 BB/9
2001 68.0 1.72 18 6.1 7.8 11.0 1.6
2002 69.2 2.33 14 5.8 7.5 10.5 1.7
2003 54.0 4.17 1 8.8 12.0 8.0 3.0more hits, less strikeouts, more walks, leading to more runs in less innings...

[sweaver]

The A's appear to be collecting bullpen lefties, having re-signed Ricardo Rincon. When Beane corners the market like this, he usually has a devious plan.

[Gosfgiants]

Nice to see that Beane is dealing so well with the loss of Foulke. Rhodes is a good addition to the pen for the A's. I wonder if Beane and Macha won't try to some sort of commitee since they now have Hammonds, Rhodes, Rincon, and Bradford to pitch in the late innings.

[KCBOOMER]

I just don't see Rhodes as the main "go-to" closer. To me he is much better used in a more varied role.

[Wolf Hopper]

Rhodes has converted just 17 of 44 save opportunities in his career. With the Mariners, Rhodes blew 19 of 27 save chances, including three of six last season.

No way will he be a great closer for the A's, IMHO.

[SmedIndy]

Wolfie - that's distorting the stats. You should know better. Middle men always have horrid save percentages vs. blown saves because if they do their job, the closer gets the saves. That's why they have holds.

Last year, Rhodes had 18 holds. Combined with 3 saves and 3 blown saves that's 21 of 24 leads he held.

In 2002, it was 29 of 34.

In 2001, it was 35 of 39.

How is that not quality?

[satchel]

I know in my head that Rhodes is a good reliever and I should be glad that the A's got him. In my heart, though, I've always thought of him as a scrub and a choker because the Yankees have always seemed to smack him around - as a Yankees fan I've never felt much fear when he takes the mound. A memorable example from the 2001 ALCS leaps to mind. At any rate, I'm sure he'll be great for the A's, provided he has the "makeup" to make the switch from set-up to closing. (Provided further that one even needs a particular "makeup" to make that switch.)

[gyb13]

that's assuming they use him as the closer....we'll see how long that lasts

[Wolf Hopper]

Wolfie - that's distorting the stats. You should know better. Middle men always have horrid save percentages vs. blown saves because if they do their job, the closer gets the saves. That's why they have holds.

IIRC, in the mid to late 90's, the O's asked Rhodes to close and he said the pressure of the job was too much for him - that we preferred the safety and low profile of set-up.

[gyb13]

from baseball library:Although he struggled in 1999, Rhodes blamed his difficulties on manager Ray Miller, whom he accused of warming him up too often without bringing him into games. "I've had enough of this," he told reporters after one game. "Up-down. Up-down. No one knows what the hell's going on." Replied Miller: "Arthur's always taken forever to warm up, to the point where you'd have to get him up with one out in the sixth to pitch the seventh."

[Rajah]

I would theorize that Beane knows Hammond is better than Rhodes, which is why Rhodes becomes the designated 9th inning pitcher and Hammond is kept on hand to put out fires (including 9th inning ones?). Rhodes gets to rack up the 3 run saves and improve his value on the trade market.

[SmedIndy]

IIRC, in the mid to late 90's, the O's asked Rhodes to close and he said the pressure of the job was too much for him - that we preferred the safety and low profile of set-up.


What does that have to do with your stats?

[Crash Course]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/8352987.htm

Closer Arthur Rhodes left the field confident, but A's fans had to be feeling a touch ill after watching him give up four earned runs and six hits in the ninth inning at Network Associates Coliseum on Saturday.

Rhodes inherited a 4-3 lead against the Giants going into the ninth, but he was hammered. San Francisco's Dustan Mohr crushed a solo homer, Pedro Feliz stroked an RBI single and A.J. Pierzynski gave the Giants a 7-4 lead with a two-run double.

Although the A's eventually rallied for an 11-10 victory in 10 innings, the team's ability to close games appears shaky.

In his final five spring training appearances, Rhodes allowed nine runs in five innings.

"I'm not concerned," Rhodes said. "When Monday gets here, I will be a whole different pitcher."

A's manager Ken Macha was asked if he agrees with his reliever. "He says, 'I'm fine, I'm ready for the season,'" Macha said. "I'm trusting the player.

"But there's no getting around it, they hit him pretty good."


Worth watching starting tonight!

[gyb13]

Rhodes' best season was 2001, and 2001-02 was his best two-year span. However, for a 34-yr old pitcher (esp one getting a three-yr contract), this trend doesn't look so good: IP ERA RSAA H/9 BR/9 SO/9 BB/9
2001 68.0 1.72 18 6.1 7.8 11.0 1.6
2002 69.2 2.33 14 5.8 7.5 10.5 1.7
2003 54.0 4.17 1 8.8 12.0 8.0 3.0more hits, less strikeouts, more walks, leading to more runs in less innings...as i posted earlier on this thread, you always need to watch an aging pitcher with a poor statistical trend developing.

[Crash Course]

How is Rhodes doing so far this year?

[WiredTiger]

So far so good I believe. He's been good enough. 6 saves with 1 blown save.

[satchel]

Make that two blown saves, after last night.

[KCBOOMER]

That was absolutely ugly last night. After the ARod bomb he acted like he was afraid to throw a strike. If Chavez hadn't flagged down Sheffield's rocket the Yankees might still be batting.

[SmedIndy]

He's been decent. Bradford and Mecir have been dreadful.

[gyb13]

he had been doing fine, but has really struggled his last 3 times out, of which 2 came against the Yankees: G IP W-L S/SO ERA BB SO HR
Until Apr 25 9 9 0-0 6/7 2.00 2 8 0
After Apr 25 3 3 0-1 0/1 15.00 6 4 4small sample size caveat applies

[Crash Course]

Tonight, we saw the Rhodes I expect to see a lot this season.

[Crash Course]

How's is old Arthur doing lately?

[Hotwheelz]

Im looking at his current stats from the Oakland website, and he has an ERA of 5.00 in 27 innings pitched. He has given up 34 hits, walked 15 and struck out 26. He has also given up 6 HR's.

[Crash Course]

Think Billy regrets signing him?

[Hotwheelz]

I would hope so. But, looking at his stats as a closer in the past....most of us knew what was coming. Heck, we have watched him decline and his stats rise even out of the closer role, so we knew what was coming.