Angels’ ‘K-Rod’ seeks refinement

A major league-high 43 saves in 46 opportunities and a .183 batting average against are outstanding, as is Rodriguez’s 2.33 earned-run average in 46 1/3 innings over 40 appearances.

But the right-hander has already walked 28, seven shy of his career high, set in 2003. He has struck out only 48, well off the pace of his 99-strikeout average in his first five full seasons. Opponents have reached base at a career-high .302 clip against Rodriguez.

“The walks are kind of high — that’s the only thing that irritates me,” said Rodriguez, who is on pace for 67 saves. “I have to give credit to the hitters. They’re not chasing pitches as much as they used to. They’re working counts.

“I have to adjust by trying to make pitches earlier in the count, by not falling behind. Some of it depends on the situation, who’s hitting, who’s not. You might be pitching around a guy to get to the next guy.”

The great equalizer for Rodriguez has been his changeup, a pitch he began tinkering with three years ago and has honed into a lethal weapon this season.

Rodriguez — nicknamed “K-Rod” — has always complemented a 93-mph fastball with a devastating two-look slider, a pitch he loops slowly into the strike zone or snap-hooks into the dirt, but his changeup has given him a fourth option with which to attack hitters.

The 26-year-old has also thrived in pressure situations, from the time he burst into the big leagues as a 20-year-old phenom and helped the Angels win the 2002 World Series, throughout his first six years in the big leagues. “He’s just getting that big out when he needs to,” catcher Jeff Mathis said. “I know there have been some people on base, but he’s making that big pitch when he needs to.”

Where does Rodriguez draw that ability from?

“You can ask a lot of those questions with him, like where does his curve come from?” Mathis said. “That’s what makes him, him. He is...what’s the word I’m looking for? Confident. He knows he has the stuff and makeup to get it done, and we’ve been seeing it.”

Some opponents have complained about the over-the-top celebration Rodriguez punctuates his saves with, and even Angels fans gripe about Rodriguez’s penchant for turning save situations into high-wire acts by walking a batter, giving up a hit or both.

Fortunately, Rodriguez has had some margin for error — 15 of his saves have come when he went into the game with a one-run lead, and 17 have come when he had a two-run cushion. Only 14 of his saves have come in one-two-three fashion.

“I’m working on it,” Rodriguez said. “I wish I could strike everyone out on three pitches, but it doesn’t work like that. This is the big leagues, not a Nintendo game.”

Though Rodriguez is on pace to pitch in 78 games, nine more than his career high, in 2006, he is on pace to throw only 73 innings, which would be less than his 77-inning average.

The reason: Manager Mike Scioscia has limited Rodriguez to one-inning outings this season, which has kept his closer feeling fresh and strong.

“I know I’ve been out there more than I’m used to, but I feel fine,” Rodriguez said. “When I push my arm, it responds. I don’t feel tired at all.”

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