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Sunday, July 27, 1997

Rodrigeuz one of game's best catchers, but will Texas keep him?

By JAIME ARON / AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Johnny Oates was managing the Baltimore Orioles in 1991 when he first saw a pudgy rookie named Ivan Rodriguez behind the plate for the Texas Rangers.

As a former catcher, Oates was especially amazed by how quickly and accurately the kid threw the ball. Just as impressive was his glovework. And the way he handled the bat proved he wasn't the all-field, no-hit type.

"This guy is not 19 years old," Oates said at the time, awed that someone so good could be so young.

Rodriguez is 25 now and the best all-around catcher in the American League, probably in all of baseball. Six All-Star games, five Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards help support that claim.

He's been hailed as the best catcher since Johnny Bench, someone who could be remembered alongside greats such as Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra and Roy Campanella.

"People say I'm the best. That's good," Rodriguez said. "But I don't feel like that. I feel like I've got to do my job and play the game hard for 27 outs."

No matter how he rates with the all-time greats, he probably will become the best-paid catcher in history by next spring. But for now, Rodriguez and the Texas Rangers face a burning question: Which team will be writing the checks?

With Texas fading out of contention in the AL West, attention has shifted to whether the Rangers will re-sign Rodriguez, who makes $6.65 million this season, or if he'll be traded before the July 31 deadline. He would become a free agent at the end of the season.

Fans have made their opinions known by slapping "Sign Pudge" bumper stickers on their cars. Every home game is sure to have several signs saying the same thing.

Talk shows and columnists for Dallas and Fort Worth newspapers have put the Rodriguez issue in the spotlight, forcing Texas general manager Doug Melvin to repeatedly explain his stance.

"We've said all along that we would try to handle it at the end of the year," Melvin said wearily.

Rangers president Tom Schieffer said Friday that Rodriguez had rejected a $38 million deal that would have kept the catcher with Texas for at least five years. It included a club option for two additional years that would have pushed the total value of the contract to $55 million.

Mike Piazza set the standard for catchers' salaries in January when the Los Angeles Dodgers gave him a two-year, $15 million contract.

In March, the Rangers rejected Rodriguez's request for a $37.5 million, five-year deal with options that could have increased it to $85 million for 10 years.

Research by Melvin shows that catchers begin breaking down after about 900 games, a figure Rodriguez will hit by early 1999, possibly sooner. The only way to try to slow down the wear-and-tear is by limiting a catcher to 120-125 games a year. But then it's hard to justify an annual salary of $8 million or more.

Rodriguez's supporters point out that he is the exception, the once-in-a-lifetime talent who shouldn't be compared with others. How many other catchers hit No. 2 in their lineup or lead their league in hits?

Sure, there are other good-hitting catchers, such as Piazza and Cleveland's Sandy Alomar. But Rodriguez also leads the majors in throwing out base stealers and he keeps other base runners from wandering too far for fear of being picked off.

"The first thing you think about is his throwing," said Oates, who became Rodriguez's manager in 1995. "He's probably the best thrower I've ever seen. He gets rid of the ball quick, throws it hard and accurate."

Rodriguez also is a workhorse. He's played so much this year that backup Henry Mercedes has only about 30 at-bats. Rodriguez, who is shy and often reluctant to talk about himself, hasn't been on the disabled list since 1992.

Most catchers take Sundays off or get a break on day games after night games. Not Rodriguez. He started 140 games last year and he's been behind the plate in at least 80 percent of Texas' games each year since 1993.

Rodriguez also plays with flair, whether it's a snap throw behind a runner at first or jumping up and down to celebrate an out at the plate.

"Pudge will draw attention," Oates said. "You can recognize some of his characteristics just by seeing one game. He's so flashy.

"You just wish him health and the desire to keep working to be the best he can be, for as long as he wants to be, so that he can be in the Hall of Fame someday."

Rodriguez's Hall of Fame potential has been evident ever since Texas signed him at age 16. The Rangers hope loyalty to their organization and the friendships he has developed will persuade him to remain.

But they also realize he could sit on their best offer, then wait for the highest bid.

Expansion teams probably will be interested, especially Arizona, whose front office includes Sandy Johnson - who discovered Rodriguez for the Rangers in Puerto Rico a decade ago.

Melvin doesn't sound interested in getting involved in a bidding war.

"It doesn't matter where the bar goes," Melvin said of another offseason of big-dollar contracts. "It matters what a club wants to do, and what they can afford to do to put the best team together." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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