Pudge sees Rangers' WS title as final piece to HOF career
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ARLINGTON -- Ivan Rodriguez, better known by his nickname ¡°Pudge,¡± won the 2003 World Series with the then-Florida Marlins, but the Hall of Fame catcher said he still has unfinished business after his 12-year career as one of the best Rangers of all time.
¡°Absolutely,¡± Rodriguez said. ¡°Winning the World Series this year for the Texas Rangers would make me so happy.¡±
Rodriguez, who joined the club as a special assistant to the general manager in 2013 and is involved heavily with the team¡¯s community endeavors, caught the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night from former President George W. Bush.
Very few other players in franchise history can understand the Rangers¡¯ painful playoff history as well as Rodriguez, who played for Texas from 1991-2002 and part of ¡®09, lost in three separate playoff runs and watched on during the club¡¯s ¡®10 and ¡®11 World Series losses.
¡°But that¡¯s in the past,¡± he said.
Rodriguez feels like this is the Rangers¡¯ year. His advice to the players is just to keep doing what they¡¯re doing. It¡¯s no surprise that the former catcher also shouted out backstop Jonah Heim for his skills behind the plate.
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¡°Unbelievable,¡± Rodriguez said. ¡°For me, I know that he is a great hitter from both sides of the plate. But the part of his game that I love the most is behind the plate. The way that he is calling games, the way that he is throwing out runners, the way that he anticipates -- you can¡¯t teach that. That comes naturally. And he has it.
¡°[In Game 6 of the American League Championship Series vs. the Astros, there was a] runner on third base with the game on the line. And he blocked a great ball, and the ball stayed in front. Then we struck out the guy, and [Adolis] Garc¨ªa came and hit the home run. For me, the MVP is Jonah. Because if he doesn¡¯t do that, then Garc¨ªa isn¡¯t able to hit the home run.¡±
It¡¯s fitting that Rodriguez caught the first pitch from Bush before the Rangers¡¯ first World Series game at Globe Life Field. Rodriguez joked that Bush, who owned a stake in the Rangers from 1989-94, was his first boss.
Now, Rodriguez is hoping that both of them will be able to see their franchise win its first title.
¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to see the Texas Rangers win a World Series,¡± Rodriguez said.