Pitcher Fernando Rodney Exceeds Tampa Bay Rays" Expectations The cap on Fernando Rodney's head - perpetually tilted, ever off-kilter - has been about the only thing askew for him this season. At 35, Rodney, a hard-throwing, formerly erratic right-hander closer, is experiencing an astonishing career renaissance, one that took a pause Saturday as the Yankees held on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3. To the great delight and benefit of the Tampa Bay Rays, who before this season signed him to a modest one-year contract, he has been sharp and straight as the imaginary arrows he has taken to shooting after each of his saves. "We expected him to pitch well and be good this year," Manager Joe Maddon said. But this is a little over the top. Rodney's numbers this year have been staggering. Maddon said Friday that he considered Rodney a contender for the American League Cy Young Award. And, while relief pitchers represent extreme long shots to win the honor, it did not seem an outlandish sentiment. After recording the last five outs for the Rays on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, Rodney had a major-league-leading 43 saves and an 0.66 earned run average. Through 68 innings, he had 68 strikeouts and 14 walks. Over all, he was allowing a minuscule 0.78 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched). "He's just attacking hitters like I've never seen anyone do before," catcher Jose Molina said. "He says, "Here it is." He's a got a good fastball, a good changeup, and he just throws strikes. Rodney's statistics this season become more impressive when juxtaposed with his career numbers. He made his debut for the Detroit Tigers in 2002, and compiled a 4.29 E.R.A. and 1.46 WHIP in his first nine seasons. Rodney missed the 2004 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. His last two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, with whom he signed a two-year, $11 million contract, were perhaps his most frustrating. In 2010 and 2011 combined, he recorded 17 saves and walked 5.7 batters per nine innings while failing to hold down his closer's role. Rodney then joined the Rays at a vastly discounted price - a one-year, $2 million deal, with a club option for 2013 - and reduced expectations. And yet he has thrived. "This year, I've got a lot more confidence," Rodney said. Joe's given me more chances, more opportunities, and that's the only difference. Molina, who spent several years opposing Rodney in the American League before signing with the Rays before this season, said he was not surprised by Rodney's success. "He's been dominant in the league before," Molina said. Guys are looking at last year only. But take a look before that. I think he's done a better job than people think. Maybe so. But while Rodney has always had a dominant two-pitch arsenal - a blistering fastball that reaches 95 miles an hour, and a wicked changeup at 83 m.p.h. - he has never utilized it like he has this season. Even in 2009, when he recorded 37 saves for the Tigers, he seemed an essentially different pitcher. That year, acknowledged as his best campaign, he finished with a 4.40 E.R.A. and 41 walks. Now, even more than his lopsided hat, control has become his trademark. "I make my pitches, throwing first pitches for strikes, and that's most important," said Rodney, who said he was enlivened by added responsibility. You know they need you, and you try to do your job. Rodney has done his job impeccably and appears on track to finish one of the more impressive single seasons by a reliever. The only other pitcher to finish a season with at least 40 saves and an E.R.A. below 1.00 was Dennis Eckersley, who had 48 saves and an 0.61 E.R.A. in 1990 with the Oakland Athletics. Rodney has helped keep the Rays in the playoff hunt, celebrating each completed save by pantomiming an archer's shot, aiming his pretend bow into the air. His teammates will sometimes gaze above, as if tracking the arrow's flight. "I don't know why he does it," Maddon said of the celebration, "but I think it's kind of cool." Rodney's resurgence this season has been just as difficult to explain - and, for Maddon and the Rays, just as cool.