Can you remember back to the 2002 Postseason? When the then Anaheim Angels made their remarkable run to their 1st World Series Championship. For me, it was an eye opener as to how the game is played from a total team concept. That homage to how great of a manager is Mike Scioscia. Thus, why he still holds the same job 16 years later.

What most people remember about the Angels from that October is the electric emergence of Francisco Rodriguez. Soon to be known as K-Rod. At this time, other than Mariano Rivera, the value of relief pitching was still trying to win over mainstream acceptance from the fans and media. The fresh faced and fearless 20 year old shook up that old image of the bullpen by mowing down established Big League hitters with authority! The pinnacle of the one man transformation on the sport came in Game 6 when K-Rod Struck out Barry Bonds.

 

When K-Rod Struck Out
Barry Bonds
Leading Up To It

K-Rod was a September call up making 5 appearances striking out 13 in just 5.2 IP.  As his lights out performance forced the Angels hand of adding him to the postseason roster, he didn’t disappoint. Rodriguez posted a 5-1 record with a 1.93 ERA and 28 Ks in 18.2 IP. Despite the Angels having above average starting pitching, K-Rod was the bridge to the veteran flamethrowing closer, Troy Percival.

K-Rod’s fastball was between 94-96, yet appeared much faster than that. His dominance came from running his electric Slider off the fastball. His slightly herky jerky motion tensed up hitters, as none of them want to get beat by the fastball. As a result, his Slider became even more effective.  In my honest opinion, baseball at the time was yet to see a Slider this nasty.

 

 

When K-Rod Struck Out
Barry Bonds
The Most Feared Hitter in the Game

Enter the foe. Barry Bonds was in the prime of his prime career. In the midst of winning 4 straight MVP Awards, added to his previous 3. The previous year he set the single season homerun record with 73. In 2002, he won the batting title with a .370 average. Love him, hate him, or have other strong reservations about him, he never missed a pitch over the plate in this phase of his career. By 2004, his ability to change the game with a single swing of the bat was so feared, that 120 of his 232 walks were INTENTIONAL!!!! It is the only reason why they created this silly OPS stat. Think about it….

Despite the previous postseason woes in his career, Bonds was on a mission in 2002. In the 17 postseason games that October, Bonds crushed 8 homers. 4 of them in the World Series. The last one being off of K-Rod prior to this featured at bat. He also patiently logged 27 more free passes. Teams would not let him beat them….You Can’t Blame Them….Unless….

 

When K-Rod Struck Out
Barry Bonds
The 20 Year Old Game Changer

K-Rod already retired Bonds twice in the series, getting him to ground out to 1B each time. In the 6th inning of Game 6, Bonds lead off hitting a high Slider that was up out the zone that ended up in a concourse runway in the right centerfield bleachers in Anaheim. Most hitters would have laid off the pitch and taken it for a ball. This man hit it into orbit. When K-Rod faced Bonds the next time in the 7th inning, he had a plan. One with a determination to beat him.  And he did…

 

Enjoy the Full Breakdown of the EPIC At Bat Here in this Video

 

 

When K-Rod Struck Out
Barry Bonds
The Change in Momentum

In the bottom of the inning, the Angels began their legendary comeback to force a Game 7. The next night, K-Rod struck out the side in Dominant fashion the 8th inning to hand to ball over to Percival to close it out. Hence, giving the Angels their 1st World Series Championship and making them a premier franchise in baseball for the next 10+ years. Rodriguez set up for Percival over the next 2 seasons and was even given opportunities to close out games. The crystal ball was as clear as it could ever be. In 2005, K-Rod became the Angels Closer as Percival went to Detroit in free agency. Rodriguez helped the Angels return to the postseason 4 more times and he set the the single season Saves record with 62 in 2008.

 

 

 

When K-Rod Struck Out
Barry Bonds
What it Meant For Relief Pitching

Currently, Rodriguez is 4th on the All Time Saves List with 437 behind 2 soon to be Hall of Famers (Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman) and a should be, Why the Hell isn’t He Hall of Famer in Lee Smith. Hats off to the Angels for not trying to make Francisco Rodriguez into a starting pitcher after his initial postseason success. There is always the talk of that transition with young relievers who possess great stuff. It usually backfires and deters a pitcher’s career….Neftali Feliz for one. Until a few years ago, Aroldis Chapman’s name was still considered to make the move also. No clue why!!!! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  Even more so, when one is Dominant in the late innings, don’t even touch it!!!! Just let it be and reap the benefits.

 

When K-Rod Struck Out
Barry Bonds
How It All Influenced Me

On a personal note. Watching the emergence of Francisco Rodriguez on the big stage of October baseball, made it be known to me, that the Slider was the pitch that I needed to succeed. When he struck out Bonds, he put the entire baseball world on notice….from the Top on down.  As a result, pitchers everywhere at all levels wanted to get on board with this level of Domination. Low and Behold, just 2 months later, I was fortunate to learn the Slider and things took off very quickly for my career.

What is your pitching arsenal missing to get your career to the next level(s)? Where do you want to be in a year from now as a pitcher?  …and what is your game plan to Make it Happen?

 

Keep Dominating!!!