Ryan Madson and other Angels bullpen options

I'm not too impressed with the Angels' signing of former Philadephia Phillies closer Ryan Madson - but it is a gamble probably pays off for the Angels if Madson is able to come back [whenever that may be next season] and be a guy who saves 30-40 games.

The Angels look to be one of the favorites to get Kyuji Fujikawa and hopefully the Angels can get a deal done - whether it's to defer to Madson in the ninth inning or actually close games out himself, Fujikawa adds another live arm into the Angels' bullpen for 2013.

If not Fujikawa, the Angels need to patch up the pen and find another reliever like Jose Veras - a hard thrower who may not be young and may not always be in control, but can still be useful.

Featured card: 2011 Topps Chrome Jordan Walden Orange refractor #183

I was able to pick up this Orange refractor of the Angels closer from Brian at Play at the Plate - in exchange for a Mason Tobin X-Fractor from this pack break.

Walden was thrown into the fire in 2011 and his season went from being impressive as a rookie closer making the All-Star team - to a guy who has some things to work on after two rough outings to end the year.

Unlike the last two great Angels closers [Troy Percival and Francisco Rodriguez] - I don't know if Walden has had a 'mentor' to allow him to develop, like Percival did when Lee Smith was a closer for the Angels back in 1995 and like 'K-Rod' who watched Percival close out games, before taking over closing duties for the Angels in the mid 2000s.

Walden is still a young guy and perhaps the Angels can go out and sign at end of the game reliever that sort of helps Walden out - if not really as a 'mentor' type, someone who can close out games as Walden figures things out.

As much talent as Walden has, I don't want to see the Angels burn him out because they don't have any other closing options - instead of hitting his prime in his mid 20s, you might find a guy like Walden bottoming out like the seemingly sad case of Jonathan Broxton, circa 2010-2011.

Considering the Hall candidates - Lee Smith

Lee Smith

Pro - once was time the all-time saves leader, Smith racked up 478 saves in a 18 year career. He had 30 or more saves in 10 seasons and 40 or more saves in three of those seasons.

Smith was an intimidating figure 6'6" but never really had the 'signature theatrics' of a modern-day closer from the last 30 years - it seemed like he was the time who went about his business closing games out and then had a beer after the game.

Con - Smith piled up a bunch of saves in the regular season, but in his only postseason appearances in 1984 and 1988, he was 0-2 in four games and was bombed for nine hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings. If his teams had advanced further than they did in the playoffs, Smith's accomplishments in general would be held in higher regard, especially if he was a closer for a World Series championship team.

Yes/No - I'd lean towards 'no.'

With the elections of Bruce Sutter and Goose Gossage, maybe a precedent has been set to look deeper into role of a closer as far as consideration for the Hall - Smith benefits because he was pretty good for a long time, regardless of how many teams he played for. Unfortunately, his lack of postseason glory with the Chicago Cubs or the Boston Red Sox maybe the reason he is looking in from the outside.

Featured card: 2007 Topps Heritage All-Star subset Brian Fuentes #494

The Angels have signed Brian Fuentes and it obviously gives the end of the bullpen a different look - with a decidedly different type of guy. To be honest, the typical Angels' fans are likely thinking Fuentes still isn't Troy Percival, but at least he isn't Frankie [who they've had enough of]. For the Angels, it is a shorter commitment with less money for a pitcher who would seem to be as good as former closer K-Rod was in 2008 [except for the number of saves]. Less money and less years probably allows like Jose Arredondo or Kevin Jepsen to step in at some point in their careers to make a play for the eventual closer's job.

As much as he is a departure from K-Rod - Angels fans are expecting this guy to be a hammer out of the bullpen and that may not be realistic.

Fuentes was a three-time all-star [2005, 2006 and 2007], but Fuentes also lost his job midway through the 2007 season - I still remember questions about his all-star credentials during the time he struggled that season and was demoted in the Colorado Rockies' bullpen. Hopefully it was just a bump in the road and he doesn't do something like implode [blows 10-12 saves/gives up 10-15 home runs] and/or miss the rest of the season doing something stupid.

K-Rod is a goner

Angels fans knew how this was going to turn out and instead of being a pariah in Anaheim the [animosity over a signing long-term deal, mound/celebration antics, 'nervous save' moments] - Francisco Rodriguez can have a fresh start in New York [providing his arm doesn't pop off].

He was pushed out the door, but as I thank him for his service in Angels' organization for 10 years - it is time to move on.

You figure he has done all he can - helped the Angels to a 2002 World Series Championship and set the bar with his single-season saves record.

While it falls a bit short of what he and his agent were probably looking to get - K-Rod got his money [about $37 million] and also three years to close for a New York Mets team that was desperate for a star reliever / closer type.

I'm sure there are Angels' fans rejoicing the moment K-Rod inked his deal with the Mets - but there is always a caveat. I have trust in the Angels' organization to replace him but the time is now for either Jose Arredondo or Scot Shields.

Thank you K-Rod

As a California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels' fan, I hear and read the sentiment bantered about closer Francisco Rodriguez - he is considered one of the best in the game or terribly overrated.

There is a 'common-sense' sentiment against those who frankly do not want him in a Halos uniform past 2008 - that a closer who pitches 60 innings a year is just not worth $15 million a year. Tell that to guys like Joe Nathan or Mariano Rivera...

I like him just the way he is and it maybe sacriligious, but I think he is worth $15 million a year for the next four years to a team like the Angels - who are likely pennant contenders each year.

If you are a second division team, who cares if you have scrap heap guys closing for you - his record setting 58th save in a 5-2 over the Seattle Mariners on Sept. 13 punctuated his Angels' career as one of the greatest in the history of the franchise.

Derided for his post game celebratory antics and his 'shaky' 2008 season - K-Rod is an elite talent whose career achievements in a Halos uniform will not easily be duplicated.