Francisco Rodriguez now an Oriole

When the Milwaukee Brewers signed 31-year-old Francisco Rodriguez to a minor league deal worth approximately $2 million to $2.5 million back on April 17, fans were unsure of what to expect from the veteran reliever who posted a 4.38 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with the team in 2012. The move, however, was justified by the fact that the team's bullpen struggled in the first month of the season to the tune of a 3.96 ERA and .394 opponent slugging percentage, both of which ranked in the bottom half of NL bullpens in April.

Fast forward three months later, and Rodriguez -- who was jobless on opening day -- has become one of the best late-inning relievers in baseball, pitching as effectively as he did during his historic 62-save 2008 campaign with the Los Angeles Angels. His trade-market value rose to the point that yesterday the Baltimore Orioles acquired him for minor league infielder Nick Delmonico.

Orioles vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said, "Nick Delmonico shows a lot of promise as a hitter, but the major league club needed a little more depth for our pitching staff to accomplish what we want to accomplish this year."

He's a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities this season, boasting a 1.09 ERA, 1.054 WHIP and strikeout rate of 26.8% while holding opponents to a .198/.274/.291 slash line over 24.2 innings of work in 25 appearances. Back in 2008, he posted an ERA of 2.24 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 26.7 percent strikeout rate while limiting opponents to a .216/.314/.316 line.

K-Rod - Comparing 2008 and 2013

	2008	2013
Swing%	40.2%	44.2%
In-play%	37.2%	36.9%
Chase%	22.4%	23.8%
Called-strike%	33.4%	40.%

• Rodriguez has induced more frequent swings this season than in 2008.
• Opponents are putting fewer pitches in play this season than in 2008.
• Opponents are swinging at more pitches out of the strike zone this season than in 2008.
• Rodriguez is throwing more pitches for called-strikes.

Rodriguez 2008 and 2013 pitch frequency

Rodriguez's pitch frequency over both seasons doesn't reveal a prominent change in approach at first glance, but there are a few alterations worth noting:

• Rodriguez has placed his offerings in the outer half of the zone at a 59.9 percent rate this season, a considerable increase from his 51.5 percent in 2008.

• Rodriguez has located his offerings in the lower half of the zone at a 52.2 percent clip this season, up from his 50.8 percent in 2008.

Combining Rodriguez's elevated frequency of pitches located on the outer and lower portion of the strike zone, we find that he is among the best relievers in baseball this season in commanding his stuff to that area of the zone.

Comparing Rodriguez's down-and-outside pitch frequency between 2008 and 2013

• Rodriguez's zone rate on low-and-away pitches this season is 37% compared to 27.3% in 2008.
• Rodriguez's called-strike rate has jumped from 21.9% in 2008 to 32.4% this season. 

What does this mean for the Orioles?

Rodriguez's 2008 season was one of the most dominating campaigns a late-inning reliever has ever put together.

This season, he's managed to best many of the statistics and rates that he posted in 2008, a product of his command of low-and-away offerings and some luck as exhibited by his .259 BABIP (the league BABIP is .291). While his fastball speed has dropped from 92.2 in 2008 to 91.0 isn't that significant, it is bordering on not very fast, so his command, which he has shown thus far, must remain excellent particularly since he's now a flyball pitcher having given up 25 in 97 PA.