One more chance. One more blown save.
That’s all Fernando Rodney gets before he loses his job as closer.
After a horrific meltdown in Los Angeles, many Valley fans want Rodney shipped out of town. That’s understandable. The crushing nature of Thursday’s loss to the Dodgers was one of the most painful defeats in recent memory.
It’s also shortsighted. Here’s the bottom line:
The last time Rodney blew consecutive save opportunities, he responded with a brilliant month of relief pitching. After blowing a save against the Rockies last weekend, manager Torey Lovullo said Rodney has been “great” this season, and the team is more than willing to live with the occasional hiccup.