SF Giants beat writer provides explanation for why hard-throwing reliever is not closer

Randy Rodríguez has been the SF Giants' best reliever this season. So, why is he not considered for the team's closer? Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area explained that the Giants are uncomfortable with Rodríguez throwing in back-to-back games.

SF Giants beat writer provides explanation for why hard-throwing reliever is not closer

Closers have to be available when the need arises. Sometimes, that is only once in a seven-game stretch. Other times, they are needed to pitch in three out of four games.

The workload can vary, but team needs tends to determine that. Pavlovic did not provide any other context for why the Giants are uncomfortable with Rodríguez throwing in back-to-back games. That said, throwing a baseball is a violent motion and Rodríguez relies on a high 90's, high-spin four-seam fastball. That can be a tough pitch on the arm.

The Giants did need Rodríguez to close out the game on Wednesday night against the San Diego Padres. The Padres got out to a 5-0 lead, but the Giants scored six unanswered runs. With Camilo Doval unavailable to close it out, the Giants tabbed Ryan Walker to fill in.

Walker allowed two runners to reach base while recording just one out. Manager Bob Melvin replaced him with Rodríguez, who got the final two outs to secure the win. Of course, with the success Rodríguez has had this year, it led to many wondering why he is not the closer in the first place. We now have an answer.

While the 25-year-old reliever may not be closing out games for the Giants often, he has been an important part of the bullpen. When a reliable reliever gets put into a concrete bullpen role, they tend to lose some versatility. Melvin does like being able to use Rodríguez in a number of spots, especially coming in with runners on base. Sometimes, the biggest outs are not in the ninth inning.

The Giants' bullpen has been the best in baseball with a 2.38 ERA. Rodríguez has been a big part of that, posting a 0.66 ERA, 1.56 FIP, 0.62 WHIP, 12.8 K/9, and a 13.00 SO/W rate across 27.1 frames this season.