Rodriguez selected as Brewers’ only all-star
Francisco Rodriguez’s late-career resurgence continued on Monday, as he was selected to participate in the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.
Rodriguez is the Milwaukee Brewers’ lone representative, one year after they landed three starters and four total players on the National League team.
The game will be played at Great American Ball Park on July 14.
The 33-year-old is 18 for 18 in save opportunities with an ERA of 1.45 and WHIP of 0.87. He’s limited opposing batters to a .168 average and has struck out 36 in 31 innings.
“It means a lot,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know how to explain it. If I try to explain it, it’s going to take all night long. It is really, really satisfying for me and my family — especially with all the adversity I’ve gone through in my career the last five years.
“We’re grateful. We’re happy about it.”
The all-star nod is the second straight and sixth overall for Rodriguez, who is in his 14th season in the major leagues and fifth with the Brewers.
Rodriguez signed a two-year contract with Milwaukee in spring training with a club option for a third year and has picked up right where he left off last season, when he posted 44 saves in 69 appearances.
Going back to 2014, Rodriguez has converted 23 consecutive saves,
with his last blown save coming last Aug. 27 at San Diego. Only Minnesota’s Glen Perkins (27) and Pittsburgh’s Mark Melancon (25) have longer active streaks.
Rodriguez needs one more save to tie Jeff Reardon for ninth on the alltime list with 367.
“To think about me pitching better or not (this year), it would be kind of selfish,” he said. “I think we’ve got to look at whether we’re winning games. That’s the bottom line. To think about personal numbers would be really bad for me.
“I’m just trying to stay sharp and not throw away any opportunity they give me. It’s as simple as that.”
Craig Counsell informed Rodriguez of the honor prior to the Brewers’ 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Monday night at Miller Park.
“Very deserving,” he said. “He’s been outstanding this year. A pleasure to watch. He’s been an outstanding teammate, and he’s a big reason why we had an eight-game winning streak – he was in five of those games, I believe. He’s a real security blanket, for sure.”
What’s impressed Counsell has been Rodriguez’s willingness to adapt. No longer the fireballer he was earlier in his career, Rodriguez has remained a highlevel closer by becoming a better pitcher overall.
“He’s not that old,” Counsell said. “We kind of joke about it sometimes, but he’s not that old. What I’ve always said is he came into the league as one guy and he’s a different guy now, but equally dominant. To me, that’s really impressive.
“He’s a different pitcher, but he’s still just as good. He’s different than the guy that saved 62 games for the Angels, but he’s just as good. And that’s impressive.”
Added Rodriguez: “It’s about making adjustments every day and trying to make it difficult for them as far as timing, throwing pitches they’re not expecting. Pretty much playing a mental game with them.
“Am I going to go out there and try to blow people away with 98 mph like I did earlier in my career? No. But I know how to pitch. I know how to deal with the situations in the game, and just take advantage of it.”
The Brewers haven’t had only one representative in the All-Star Game since 2012, when Ryan Braun was voted in as a starting outfielder.
“Last year we got four,” he said. “But I’ll find a way to enjoy it, definitely. Me and my family, we can’t wait to get there and have a blast and take in the experience.”