The K-Rod Difference

When you think about it, K-Rod is no different than any of our other relievers from the past. He gives up base hits like John Franco. He fails to throw first pitch strikes like Braden Looper. He throws hard, but can get hit hard like Benitez and Wagner.

The only difference between K-Rod and our past relievers is in the end he gets the job done.

Last night was the perfect case in point. The scenario in last night's 9th inning has been played out countless times before over the course of the last decade. Mets are up a few runs in the 9th. Closer comes in. Base hit. Then another base hit. Then a walk. Then a run scores and the winning run is at the plate and the tying run at second base.

We've all seen it. And we know what happens. The closer blows the game. But that's not what happened last night.

To say K-Rod has a flair for the dramatic would be like saying John Daly has a weight problem. K-Rod loves the spotlight. He loves the tense moments. And you know what, he thrives in them.

Other than Luis Castillo's Buckneresque play the other night, K-Rod has been perfect even when he has found himself, or gotten himself, in dicey situations.

This is the first time the Mets have had a real closer who can handle the pressure. I love that he wasn't going to take any garbage from Bruney. Now other closers, like Wagner or Franco, may have played it out in the media with some jawing back and forth, but K-Rod backs up his smack by going straight after Brian Bruney on the field..

That's the kind of guy I want closing out games. I know he's going to blow a few saves this season because no one is perfect. But for the first time in a long time, I feel confident that the man pitching in the 9th inning knows how to seal the deal.

Bruney Rips K-Rod, K-Rod Doesn't Know Who Bruney Is

In what are some of the more laughable comments you will hear, Brian Bruney, a middle reliever for the Yankees said that last night's loss could not have happened to a "better guy." Sounds like he might have been piling on Castillo, right? I mean, he was the guy who dropped a pop up. But no, Bruney was actually talking about K-Rod, when he said "his act is getting tired," apparently referring to K-Rod's controversial celebrations after he saves a game.

First of all, who is Brian Bruney anyway? "I don't even know who the guy is," said Rodriguez when asked about the comments. "He should just say it to my face, and not through the media if he feels that way." Bamn, right back at ya!

What's even more hysterical is that the only thing that happened to K-Rod last night was that his blown save was a mere statistic, a technicality to complete the box score. Other than that, K-Rod was well on his way toward his 17th save in 17 chances. So what was Bruney even talking about "couldn't have happened to a better guy"? Hello?

Bruney's misplaced comments are all the more perplexing when you consider the fact that his own teammate, Joba Chamberlain, is one of the more demonstrative pitchers in the sport. Chamberlain is consistently criticized by his peers for showing the other team up. When Aubrey Huff hit a moon shot off him last month, he actually imitated Chamberlain as he ran around the bases. Huff said he never got so many calls, text messages before from players around the league who loved it, and thought it was hilarious.

This story will be all over the papers tomorrow and talk radio. I hope a reporter has the guts to ask Bruney what he thinks of Chamberlain's "act", because I would love to hear that response.

By the way, is it me or does Bruney look a little amped up in that photo?