MILWAUKEE - Turn the clock back to late February, back before the snow melted, back before the sun came out and long, long before the 2015 Milwaukee Brewers erupted like a dumpster fire.
It was Feb. 26, the first day of full-squad workouts, that word first spread around Maryvale Baseball Park that, once again, right-hander Francisco Rodriguez would return to the Brewers and serve as their closer.
No doubt, Rodriguez's two-year contract caused many a rolled eyebrow but fast-forward to today, four months later, and Rodriguez is the lone All-Star from a wholly disappointing Brewers roster.
He's not going by default, either. In 32 appearances this season, Rodriguez has a 1.41 ERA (five earned runs in 32 innings) and has converted all 19 of his save opportunities - 23 in a row dating to last season.
"Very deserving," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of the All-Star selection. "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."
It's the sixth time Rodriguez has been named to the Midsummer Classic, and second consecutive year.
"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."
Tuesday's All-Star Game will mark an anniversary of sorts for Rodriguez, who was first dealt to Milwaukee by the New York Mets during the 2011 game.
Rodriguez wasn't at the game in Phoenix that season but remembered getting the call from his agent and thinking his career might end.
"When I got that call, I was so extremely disappointed and I thought my career was done," Rodriguez said. "I'd never been in that situation before but at the end of the day, it was a big favor for me. I found a home, a place I feel extremely comfortable where I can come and be me.
"Five years ago, that was the best thing that ever happened to me."
A closer almost since the day he broke in to the majors, Rodriguez was coming to a playoff-bound Brewers team that had John Axford working the ninth inning.
And after some early concern, Rodriguez settled into a setup role and shined in the second half but was unable to land a multi-year offer over the winter.
And so began the odyssey. Rodriguez struggled a bit in 2012, but signed a minor league deal to come back to Milwaukee in 2013 and pitched well enough to get traded to Baltimore at the deadline. Again, Rodriguez looked for work but wound up back in Milwaukee in 2014 and went on to save 44 games.
So general manager Doug Melvin was still looking for an experienced, right-handed reliever early in spring training. Enter Rodriguez, who snagged a two-year, $13 million deal, in large part because he wanted to remain in Milwaukee.
"Doug talks about it a lot and it's important to me, too, is players who want to be in Milwaukee," team owner Mark Attanasio said at the time. "It's always been clear that he wants to be here."
Rodriguez is little like the fire-throwing 20-year-old who broke in with the Angels in 2002 and starred in the World Series as a rookie. He's not the same pitcher who saved a record 62 games in 2008.
"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," Rodriguez said. "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."
Counsell agreed.
"I think K-Rod doesn't get enough credit for how he has consistently reinvented himself," Counsell said. "He just keeps coming up with something different to get you out, and it's a real credit to him.
"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."
It was Feb. 26, the first day of full-squad workouts, that word first spread around Maryvale Baseball Park that, once again, right-hander Francisco Rodriguez would return to the Brewers and serve as their closer.
No doubt, Rodriguez's two-year contract caused many a rolled eyebrow but fast-forward to today, four months later, and Rodriguez is the lone All-Star from a wholly disappointing Brewers roster.
He's not going by default, either. In 32 appearances this season, Rodriguez has a 1.41 ERA (five earned runs in 32 innings) and has converted all 19 of his save opportunities - 23 in a row dating to last season.
"Very deserving," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of the All-Star selection. "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."
It's the sixth time Rodriguez has been named to the Midsummer Classic, and second consecutive year.
"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."
Tuesday's All-Star Game will mark an anniversary of sorts for Rodriguez, who was first dealt to Milwaukee by the New York Mets during the 2011 game.
Rodriguez wasn't at the game in Phoenix that season but remembered getting the call from his agent and thinking his career might end.
"When I got that call, I was so extremely disappointed and I thought my career was done," Rodriguez said. "I'd never been in that situation before but at the end of the day, it was a big favor for me. I found a home, a place I feel extremely comfortable where I can come and be me.
"Five years ago, that was the best thing that ever happened to me."
A closer almost since the day he broke in to the majors, Rodriguez was coming to a playoff-bound Brewers team that had John Axford working the ninth inning.
And after some early concern, Rodriguez settled into a setup role and shined in the second half but was unable to land a multi-year offer over the winter.
And so began the odyssey. Rodriguez struggled a bit in 2012, but signed a minor league deal to come back to Milwaukee in 2013 and pitched well enough to get traded to Baltimore at the deadline. Again, Rodriguez looked for work but wound up back in Milwaukee in 2014 and went on to save 44 games.
So general manager Doug Melvin was still looking for an experienced, right-handed reliever early in spring training. Enter Rodriguez, who snagged a two-year, $13 million deal, in large part because he wanted to remain in Milwaukee.
"Doug talks about it a lot and it's important to me, too, is players who want to be in Milwaukee," team owner Mark Attanasio said at the time. "It's always been clear that he wants to be here."
Rodriguez is little like the fire-throwing 20-year-old who broke in with the Angels in 2002 and starred in the World Series as a rookie. He's not the same pitcher who saved a record 62 games in 2008.
"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," Rodriguez said. "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."
Counsell agreed.
"I think K-Rod doesn't get enough credit for how he has consistently reinvented himself," Counsell said. "He just keeps coming up with something different to get you out, and it's a real credit to him.
"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."
