Not Tigers right-handed relief pitcher Fernando Rodney, who strutted toward the stage by himself. Fitting for a guy who seems to march to the beat of his own drum.

While his teammates wore collared shirts and khakis or dress pants, Rodney went the casual route -- navy-blue Detroit jacket, untucked Polo shirt, jeans, tennis shoes.

Not that this is some fashion expose -- just suggesting the notion that a closer is wired a bit differently than most. Note the link between Rodney and the word "closer."

"We know our jobs are a lot different than other guys on the team," fellow Tigers reliever Bobby Seay said during Thursday's media session, which preceded the 45-minute program.

All this assumes, of course, that Rodney is indeed the Tigers' new closer. Well, unless the organization comes up with a better option -- it was reportedly nearing a deal with former Arizona Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon on Thursday -- the 31-year-old Rodney will be the guy entering spring training.

For a team with much uncertainty, coming off a disappointing 74-88 season that left the Tigers dead-last in the AL Central, entrusting the inconsistent Rodney (13-of-19 in save opportunities, 4.91 ERA in 2008) with the closer role is a shaky proposition.

At best, let's just say it could be a wild ride.

Hey, didn't we often say that when former Tigers closer Todd "Roller Coaster" Jones entered games?

Rodney didn't seem worried Thursday. The man who seems a bit off-center -- notice the way he wears his hat cocked to the left? -- wasn't fazed by the possibility that his team's fate will ride on his ninth-inning performances.

"I think (the mentality's) the same (as a setup man and closer)," he said. "(As a closer) you have to get the last three outs -- that's the only difference."

Rodney has the ability. When he's right, the combo of his mid- to high-90s fastball and devastating changeup causes opposing hitters fits. During the Tigers' World Series run in 2006, he was lights-out as a setup guy (65 strikeouts, 34 walks, 3.52 ERA in 71 2/3 innings).

"You have to be 100 percent," Rodney said. "You can't try to do too much."

But when he's off -- and, in fairness, nearly the entire Tigers pitching staff was off last season -- Rodney is all over the place (49 strikeouts, 30 walks in 40 1/3 innings).

Whether he's the closer or setup guy this season, the Tigers need to know they can count on Rodney, who has remained healthy for a full season only once since 2003. He began last season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis before returning and eventually assuming the closer role for the injured Jones.

"It seemed like last year, at times, it took like a perfect concoction just to get a win," said Seay, a left-hander who struck out 58, walked 25 and had a 4.47 ERA in 56 1/3 innings as a middle reliever last season. "If we were doing one thing right, then we were let down in another."

Could Rodney be rejuvenated? He seemed to be enjoying himself on the stage during Thursday's event, which featured a fact-and-fiction game between Tigers players and selected members of the audience, as well as a question-and-answer segment.

At one point, Rodney, who is known for singing in the Tigers bullpen, shared the mic with Seay as they attempted a verse of Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina."

Later, Rodney tossed T-shirts to raffle winners in the audience. (Don't worry, Tigers fans, he didn't use his pitching arm.)

He seemed to be having fun, as were many of the fans in attendance.

Will those fans still like what they see from Rodney in August or September? Your guess is as good as anyone's.

Scott DeCamp can be reached at 388-8518 or sdecamp@kalamazoogazette.com