pudge, overrated?

[SteveNYY]

I was just looking at Ivan Rodriguez's career numbers... i was shocked that hes only hit 30 homers once and 100 rbi's once in his career.. and i cant help but think that hes a bit overrated after looking at those numbers

average season: 93 R, 189 H, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 34 BB, 90 K, .304 BA, .341 OBP

maybe i have a skewed image of him as being a 30-120-more than .304 kinda guy

[TheKingofKings]

I was just looking at Ivan Rodriguez's career numbers... i was shocked that hes only hit 30 homers once and 100 rbi's once in his career.. and i cant help but think that hes a bit overrated after looking at those numbers

average season: 93 R, 189 H, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 34 BB, 90 K, .304 BA, .341 OBP

maybe i have a skewed image of him as being a 30-120-more than .304 kinda guy

Those stats are huge for a catcher man, 20 HR/ 90 RBI and an average over .300 is incredible for a catcher...

[RubeBaker]

They are good numbers for a catcher. But couple that with 12 gold gloves, 13 all star games, and the fact that he has thrown out 48% of the fools who actually try to run on him lifetime, he's one of the greatest catchers of all time.

[SteveNYY]

for whatever reason ive just always thought he hit more than he has is what i was saying.. nothing to do with defense, i kno 12 gold gloves speaks for itslef

[GrandSlam]

for whatever reason ive just always thought he hit more than he has is what i was saying.. nothing to do with defense, i kno 12 gold gloves speaks for itslef

Yeah but his hitting is still not overrated.

[SteveNYY]

it is if I, along with 4 other people around my computer at the time in my office, looked at pudge's numbers and gasped at how little offense hes produced... everyone sees pudge as a monster hitting wise and on defense

we all were under the assumption he put up much bigger numbers

[KCGHOST]

If you miss perceive someones production it doesn't make them overrated in that area. It is a simple mistake in assimilating the information. Considering Rodriguez ranks 11th among all catchers with 5000+ AB's (as a catcher) in OPS versus the league he is not too overrated.

Only 3 of the catchers who outrank him in this stat are not in the HoF (Piazza, Simmons and Javier Lopez) and they aren't remotely Irod's defensive equal. Piazza, of course, will make it when the time comes.

[gambler21777]

I'll take a 304. ba from a catcher 10 out of 10 times. Really if i was a coach i would much rather have a defenseive catcher than a ofense but 304 is great for a catcher.

[RubeBaker]

it is if I, along with 4 other people around my computer at the time in my office, looked at pudge's numbers and gasped at how little offense hes produced... everyone sees pudge as a monster hitting wise and on defense

we all were under the assumption he put up much bigger numbers

Then you probably haven't been following him all that much. He's never been touted as a monster hitter, just a very good one for his position. Certainly not among the league's elite overall though.

In addition, he's been one of the speedier catchers as well. He has 112 SB lifetime, including 25 in 1999.

[iPod]

Then you probably haven't been following him all that much. He's never been touted as a monster hitter, just a very good one for his position. Certainly not among the league's elite overall though.

In addition, he's been one of the speedier catchers as well. He has 112 SB lifetime, including 25 in 1999.

The problem isn't that our guy mistakenly thought Pudge hit more than he did, it's that everyone thinks that. Specifically, the Pudge our guy is describing is essentially the 1999 version of him, when he won MVP. I think a lot of people hadn't paid attention to him until then, and when every noteworthy story about him since has been positive (hitting .347 in 2000, going to Florida and winning a WS and hearing about his veteran leadership, then going to Detroit when that franchise was turning around, hitting .334 in 2004, competing in the HR derby in 2005) your opinion will probably stay the same about him.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I just noticed that Pudge has just three walks in 225 PAs so far in 2007. What's up with that? :shrug:

[geezer]

Then Again, Pudge still has more hits, runs, doubles, triples, stolen bases, total bases, extra base hits, slugging Pct., and career batting average than Johnny Bench, in fewer games played.

[BoSox Rule]

He doesn't have the best plate discipline but he's still a good hitter overall, a great hitter for a catcher, and by far the best defensive catcher ever.

[hiddengem]

it is if I, along with 4 other people around my computer at the time in my office, looked at pudge's numbers and gasped at how little offense hes produced

This line gave me the best laugh I've had in quite some time...thanks.

I wish I could somehow give you just a smidgen of an idea as to how hard Pudges job is, and just how easy he makes it look.

[OldEnglishD]

I just noticed that Pudge has just three walks in 225 PAs so far in 2007. What's up with that? :shrug:

He's never been a big eye guy. But the last few years in particular, he's been swingin' away ! (BBs : '07 so far - 3, '06 - 26, '05 -11) .

he's still a good hitter overall, a great hitter for a catcher, and by far the best defensive catcher ever.

I agree :).

[ReignInBlood]

Wasn't he criticized by his own pitchers for not having any good communication with him?

[SteveNYY]

The problem isn't that our guy mistakenly thought Pudge hit more than he did, it's that everyone thinks that. Specifically, the Pudge our guy is describing is essentially the 1999 version of him, when he won MVP. I think a lot of people hadn't paid attention to him until then, and when every noteworthy story about him since has been positive (hitting .347 in 2000, going to Florida and winning a WS and hearing about his veteran leadership, then going to Detroit when that franchise was turning around, hitting .334 in 2004, competing in the HR derby in 2005) your opinion will probably stay the same about him.

thank you^.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

This line gave me the best laugh I've had in quite some time...thanks.

I wish I could somehow give you just a smidgen of an idea as to how hard Pudges job is, and just how easy he makes it look.
That fact that he can still hit almost.300 and play well behind the plate at age 35 is truly amazing.

[REKER 9]

I dont agree that he is over rated, but I do think he could block balls better and not try to pick everything.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Pudge drew a walk last night! He's up to four walks now.