So will he make it into the Hall of Fame?
Ivan Rodriguez is sitting on 2,570 career hits, just 430 away from the legendary 3,000 Hit Club. What’s even more shocking is the fact that in an 18-year career, “Pudge” has only played in 150 games or more just twice. He’s also never had a 200-hit season but is inching closer and closer and unlike his teammate Gary Sheffield, he’s still got a little Juice left in the tank (hitting .290 in ‘08 )
Only time will tell for this former M.V.P and 14-time All-Star if he can put in enough years to reach 3,000 but what will come of all the Steroids talk, including the fact that he was close with not only Jose Canseco, but Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro? He also lost a ton of weight in an incredibly short amount of time when all hell broke loose and players were being named left and right.
Things that make you go “hmm”….
I always thought that weight loss was pretty fishy. But, when you discuss the all time greats at catcher, Ivan’s name has to come up.
He is a great catcher and doesn’t get the attention and props he deserves.
He is better and has always been better than the credit he is given.
In the “steriod” era what is going to become of all the records of all the players that “might” have used steriods.
Even more, what of it, skill is the primary factor in baseball, steroids don’t make you able to hit a curve ball, just hit it a bit farther if you already can.
There needs to some Hall of Fame players come out of the 1990’s and 2000’s besides Cal Ripken. The Palmerio’s and Rodriquez and Sosa’ of baseball were flat out great players, who without steriods would have been great players anyway. The Bonds, Clements and on and on were great players, period.
Two words.
Johnny
Bench
Nuff said.
That’s 4 words.
Even if Pudge is caught on live TV getting shot in the butt with enough steroids to kill a mule by his transvestite underage girlfriend who is an al-Qaida terrorist, he’s still a first ballot hall of famer.
The numbers he’s put up as a catcher are ridiculous, PLUS he’s one of the best defensive catchers of all time. He’s not in the top three of Berra/Bench/ Fisk, but he’s right below them. He’s light years better than Gary Carter and he managed to get in.
Hmmm, played with Canseco in Texas, had his best seasons, after playing with Canseco. ‘Roids, ‘roids, ‘riods, he deserves no entry into the Hall, unless McGwire, Canseco, Palmeiro, and Bonds get in first.
Forget about all the statheads and that he was a defesive genius, how much of that is due to ‘roids, we will never know. But if you let him in, better get the jackets out for the other ‘roid users as well.
If you have to wonder if he was on it or not, he doesn’t deserve to get in. Don’t forget that one item to get in is his integrity to the game. If he was a steroid user than forget that part.
Named by Canseco in “Juiced.” I wouldn’t vote for him. I’ve had enough of Bud Selig and his conspiracies.
I honestly feel all the steroid talk with Pudge has gone by the wayside and he is a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Guilty by association? The fact Pudge is still playing [relatively well] and is seemingly universally considered a leader [this days by commentators] and one of the great all-time catchers distinguishes him from Jose Canseco, Rafael Palmeiroids, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, et al. The only comparable player of star ability maybe Jason Giambi, since he is still performing.
Pudge has only played 150 games twice in his career because he is a catcher and they suffer the wear and tear position players do not. About 130 games caught a year is what I’d consider a full season for him, short of an actual years where he may have gotten hurt for whatever reason i.e. 2000-2002.
The thing is, Canseco named him in Juiced and you know what so far he’s batting 1.000 as far as truth.
If you read my blog you know he is one of my favorite players of all time. I was hooked the first time I saw him in a game throwing out a runner at second. The steroids question is a problem but I agree if Gary Carter is in you have to put Pudge in.
If you need to feel better about putting him in go back and watch the World Series run with the Marlins in 2003.