Tigers' K-Rod upset with mop-up role
The Detroit Tigers removed Francisco Rodriguez from the team's closer role over a month ago after blowing five saves, and the veteran reliever is voicing his displeasure over it.
"I made my living in tough, pressure situations," K-Rod told Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. "I have not made my living being a mop-up guy."
Rodriguez rhetorically asked, "They have to test me? They have to find out if I can pitch? That's exactly what it means. I've never been in a mop-up situation. I haven't pitched the last 15 years, being consistent, putting up numbers being mop-up."
Two of K-Rod's last three outings have been with the team down by at least seven runs.
The 35-year-old closer ranks fourth all time with 437 saves in his 16-year career. In 2008, he collected 62 saves for the Los Angeles Angels - a single-season record - and finished third in AL Cy Young voting.
In K-Rod's place, Justin Wilson has assumed the closer duties, converting four of his five opportunities since the beginning of May.