Pudge Rodriguez Will Soon Pass Pudge Fisk As Game's Iron Man Behind The Plate

[philliesfiend55]

Entering June Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez Needs Just 12 Games Behind The Plate To Pass Carlton 'Pudge' Fisk To Become the New Record Holder For Most Career Games At Catcher.
Rodriguez, now in his 19th major league season, reached the majors when he was just 19 and is now 37 years old. He debuted in the majors on June 20, 1991. He has appeared in 2215 games as a catcher. With
2310 games lifetime, he has only appeared in 95 games in which he hasn't caught (appearing as designated hitter, pinch hitter, and at first baseman). He is 11 games behind record-holder Carlton Fisk total of 2226 games. Rodriguez has 300 home runs with a .301 lifetime batting average. With 2643 basehits he already owns the record for most career hits for a player whose primary position is catcher.
Fisk (1969 & 1971-1993) broke Bob Boone's career mark of 2225 games as a catcher in his last major league game.
A brief recap of the leaders shows that Al Lopez (1928 & 1930-1947) established the record of 1918 games as catcher and held the record for 40 years after his retirement.
That record was broken in 1987 by Bob Boone a Phillies and Angels mainstay. Boone would become the first player to reach the 2,000 games at catcher in history in 1988. Boone played from 1972 through 1990. He held the record for six years until 1993 until in a rather controversial move Chicago White Sox ownership and management carried Fisk on their roster as a backup catcher long enough to break Boone's record in late July, despite the fact that Fisk was batting under .200. Once the record fell to Fisk he was released by the White Sox. He has remained the record holder for the last 16 years.
There are now four members of the 2,000 games at catcher club: Fisk, Boone. Rodriguez and Gary Carter. Two active catchers have over 1800 games at catcher under their belts: Brad Ausmus and Jason Kendall. Ausmus
(1895 games caught) is 40 and sees limited playing time behind the plate with the Dodgers these days and is unlikely to reach the milestone under current condtions. Kendall (1818 games caught) is still an everyday player despite a batting average of around .210. still starts close to 90 per cent of the Milwaukee Brewers' games. At his present playing rate he could conceivably pass 1900 games at catcher by the end of this season and reach the 2000 games at catcher milestone in 2010. Kendall is in his 14th major league season and turns 35 later this month on June 26.

[baseball junkie]

That is just more proof that Ivan "the Great" Rordiguez is the best catcher in MLB history, better than Bench, Fisk, Carter, Boone, Campy, Piazza, etc.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

That is just more proof that Ivan "the Great" Rordiguez is the best catcher in MLB history, better than Bench, Fisk, Carter, Boone, Campy, Piazza, etc.

Come on junkie, We all know that Matt Wieters is the greatest catcher ever. Sheesh...

[baseball junkie]

Come on junkie, We all know that Matt Wieters is the greatest catcher ever. Sheesh...

You are, of course, 100 percent correct. I don't know how or why I overlooked him. Perhaps I was too blinded by his brilliance to think properly.

This post will go down in the history of BBF as my eternal shame!

:bowdown: Matt Wieters

[RubeBaker]

Come on junkie, We all know that Matt Wieters is the greatest catcher ever. Sheesh...

Right, just like 2 years ago, Phil Hughes was the greatest Yankees pitcher ever...

Anyway, this is more more of a longevity accomplishment than an actual stat put up by the player. Not bad on his resume though. I would put him at least in the Top 5.

[ol' aches and pains]

That is just more proof that Ivan "the Great" Rordiguez is the best catcher in MLB history, better than Bench, Fisk, Carter, Boone, Campy, Piazza, etc.

I assume this post was made in jest. I'd take him ahead of Boone, but none of the others. At least you called him I-Rod instead of Pudge. I don't care how many games he plays, there was only one Pudge, and it ain't him.

[philliesfiend55]

I assume this post was made in jest. I'd take him ahead of Boone, but none of the others. At least you called him I-Rod instead of Pudge. I don't care how many games he plays, there was only one Pudge, and it ain't him.

I always thought it was a cheap record since Fisk was carried on the roster in '93 just long enough to break Boone's record for games at Catcher. Once Rodriguez passes Fisk, there will be no further dispute, however. Rodriguez is young enough (even if he plays through 2011, he'll still be under 40) to put the record out of reach for a generation or so.

[ol' aches and pains]

I always thought it was a cheap record since Fisk was carried on the roster in '93 just long enough to break Boone's record for games at Catcher. Once Rodriguez passes Fisk, there will be no further dispute, however. Rodriguez is young enough (even if he plays through 2011, he'll still be under 40) to put the record out of reach for a generation or so.

You're right, Fisk's throwing arm was useless at the end, IIRC he had thrown out just 1 of 24 attempted base stealers. But the way the White Sox handled it was pretty tacky. They made Fisk travel with the team to Cleveland, then released him as soon as they got there. Later that summer they held a Carlton Fisk day, and presented him with a Harley Davidson motorcycle, even though Fisk had never ridden bikes, and clearly didn't want one.

The Sox made it to the postseason that year, and when Fisk showed up at the clubhouse at the first home playoff game, he wasn't allowed inside. I never heard the full story, but there was obviously no love lost between Pudge and the White Sox at the end of the road.

[SteveJRogers]

That is just more proof that Ivan "the Great" Rordiguez is the best catcher in MLB history, better than Bench, Fisk, Carter, Boone, Campy, Piazza, etc.

STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-ROIDS! STEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-ROIDS!

And for the record, based on whispers, allegations, and Piazza's generaly cruddiness behind the plate, the two greatest catchers in the game's history are still Lawrence Peter Berra and John Bench.

[SteveJRogers]

The Sox made it to the postseason that year, and when Fisk showed up at the clubhouse at the first home playoff game, he wasn't allowed inside. I never heard the full story, but there was obviously no love lost between Pudge and the White Sox at the end of the road.

Didn't the Sox still retire 72? So they must have mended fences.

[ol' aches and pains]

Didn't the Sox still retire 72? So they must have mended fences.

Maybe to an extent, but he still chose a Red Sox cap for his HOF plaque, even though he spent more years with Chicago.

[SteveJRogers]

Maybe to an extent, but he still chose a Red Sox cap for his HOF plaque, even though he spent more years with Chicago.

True, but he was born in New England, and made his debut as a Red Sox. Plus the thing most people remember him for happened in a Red Sox uniform.

[redban]

Well, congrats to Pudge.

The only thing "tainting" the record would be the steroid allegations. He was mentioned in Canseco's book. Canseco said he personally injected him. Those are some bold claims, and I doubt Canseco would lie about something so drastic.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Here come the Piazza folks trying to keep the pie all to themselves. "No one but ours, no one but ours," That's the call we hear.

[SteveJRogers]

Here come the Piazza folks trying to keep the pie all to themselves. "No one but ours, no one but ours," That's the call we hear.

I just said I'm not ranking Piazza anywhere because of the recent allegations in the Clemens book and the fact that he couldn't throw himself out.

Bench and Berra still the top two all time.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I just said I'm not ranking Piazza anywhere because of the recent allegations in the Clemens book and the fact that he couldn't throw himself out.

Bench and Berra still the top two all time.

Ok, *you're* excluded.
And, yes, yes they are.

[redban]

I just said I'm not ranking Piazza anywhere because of the recent allegations in the Clemens book and the fact that he couldn't throw himself out.

Bench and Berra still the top two all time.


But how credible are those allegations? It said that Piazza told some reporters "Sure, I use". But no proof of that.

Then, even more ridiculously, it includes quotes from Reggie Jefferson. Jefferson never played on the same team or even in the same league as Piazza. If Jeff Pearlsman could get a quote from Bobby Valentine, then I'd give him some credibility.

Piazza's career just seemed so normal, when compared to every other catcher for the past 100+ years. I watched him for so many years, and there just didn't seem to be anything pointing to steroids.

Until an actual teammate accuses Piazza, in detail, or a report of a failed steroid test emerges; I'd say Piazza was clean. Quotes from Reggie Jefferson, signs of backne, or just baseless claims in general will not do.

Lastly - Piazza may have had trouble throwing out runners, but everything else (Calling games, blocking balls in the dirt) was good.

[SteveJRogers]

Piazza's career just seemed so normal, when compared to every other catcher for the past 100+ years. I watched him for so many years, and there just didn't seem to be anything pointing to steroids.


So, is it normal for muscle to fall sheer OFF a bone the way it did on Piazza's freakish groin injury?

Is it normal for someone to shrink and claim they are working on their "flexablity" during the offseason that random drug testing is announced?

Verdict, Piazza WAS a roider. So was Pudge (Rodriguez, though one has to wonder how Fisk lasted SO DAMN LONG)

[philliesfiend55]

Piazza may have had trouble throwing out runners, but everything else (Calling games, blocking balls in the dirt) was good.

Piazza's problems throwing out baserunners was so severe that it nearly offset his positive contributions with his power bat in his final years. He hit 429 homeruns overall and a record 396 as a catcher so people will overlook his defensive problems and he should have no problems becoming a
first-ballot Hall Of Famer. He could have topped 400 home runs as a catcher if he's stayed with San Diego his final season in 2007. Stubbornly he resisted a pay cut and wound up signing with Oakland, who never used him at catcher and used him exclusively at Designated Hitter. Still that 396 home runs will stand as the record for catchers for a long, long time. Even "The Great Matt Wieters" might have trouble challenging that record.::happy:

[philliesfiend55]

Verdict, Piazza WAS a roider. So was Pudge (Rodriguez, though one has to wonder how Fisk lasted SO DAMN LONG)
Rodriguez might seem like he's been around forever and that he's as old as the hills, but in actuality he was just 19 when he reached the major leagues. He's only 37 now. Many catchers have lasted much longer than that in terms of age. Longevity is no proof of steroid or HGH use, even for pitchers and catchers, baseball's most demanding positions.

[redban]

So, is it normal for muscle to fall sheer OFF a bone the way it did on Piazza's freakish groin injury?

Is it normal for someone to shrink and claim they are working on their "flexablity" during the offseason that random drug testing is announced?

Verdict, Piazza WAS a roider. So was Pudge (Rodriguez, though one has to wonder how Fisk lasted SO DAMN LONG)

I don't recall Piazza ever losing weight dramatically.

He was huge in 2000, and in 2001-2002 he became slimmer; but he still hit well those years.

In 2003-2004, he didn't seem any smaller.

[SteveJRogers]

Rodriguez might seem like he's been around forever and that he's as old as the hills, but in actuality he was just 19 when he reached the major leagues. He's only 37 now. Many catchers have lasted much longer than that in terms of age. Longevity is no proof of steroid or HGH use, even for pitchers and catchers, baseball's most demanding positions.

What do PEDs do again? Oh yeah thats right, enhance your recovery time.

[SteveJRogers]

I don't recall Piazza ever losing weight dramatically.

He was huge in 2000, and in 2001-2002 he became slimmer; but he still hit well those years.

In 2003-2004, he didn't seem any smaller.

Nice how you side-stepped Piazza having an "that NEVER HAPPENS" type of injury.

Check out photos of Piazza in the minors and out of college, and compare that with his "incredible shrinking man" years of 2002-2007 and yes, he looked quite slimmer both times than he did during the prime of his career.

Piazza was a juicer, and so was Rodriguez. End of debate.

[philliesfiend55]

Well, congrats to Pudge.

The only thing "tainting" the record would be the steroid allegations. He was mentioned in Canseco's book. Canseco said he personally injected him. Those are some bold claims, and I doubt Canseco would lie about something so drastic.

You're forgetting that Canseco is an "Attention Whore" who will say anything if a newspaper writer jots it down in his notebook or if a broadcaster shoves a microphone in his face. I'd say Canseco has a tentative grasp on reality, at best, and is liable to change his story on ANY and EVERY subject.

[SteveJRogers]

You're forgetting that Canseco is an "Attention Whore" who will say anything if a newspaper writer jots it down in his notebook or if a broadcaster shoves a microphone in his face. I'd say Canseco has a tentative grasp on reality, at best, and is liable to change his story on ANY and EVERY subject.

Have you noticed when it comes to actual steriod allegations, Canseco has been dead on accurate in BOTH of his books? McGwire, Palmerio, Clemens, ARod, Tejada.

There is more smoke around Rodriguez than there is about Piazza you know.

[philliesfiend55]

Have you noticed when it comes to actual steriod allegations, Canseco has been dead on accurate in BOTH of his books? McGwire, Palmerio, Clemens, ARod, Tejada.



....and you'd call a dope who is currently appearing on several VH1 "Reality" shows with other hasbeens .... Reliable?

[bob]

Piazza was a juicer, and so was Rodriguez. End of debate.
Unless you personally injected him with Roids after he asked you to then you cannot know for sure. Sure he's suspect, but leave it to be scientists doing the drug screening to say "end of debate".

[ol' aches and pains]

....and you'd call a dope who is currently appearing on several VH1 "Reality" shows with other hasbeens .... Reliable?

While there's no denying Canseco is an attention-seeking sleazeball, you have to give the devil his due - so far he's been dead on about who was juicing.

[KCW]

If I recall correctly, Ivan Rodriguez did an interview where he was asked about A-Rod's steroid revelations, then was asked if he thought his own name would be on the list of players who tested positive during the supposed "anonymous" testing. His response was something along the lines of, "I don't know, only God knows". That is basically an admission to me. I don't have a link, so please correct me if I am remembering this wrong.

[BiZmaRK]

How do they qualify "games caught". If a player plays catcher for just one batter and spends the rest of the game as a first baseman - and does that for his entire career, would he qualify?

[Domenic]

While there's no denying Canseco is an attention-seeking sleazeball, you have to give the devil his due - so far he's been dead on about who was juicing.

There are still several players he named that have not been supported by any other evidence, beyond his mention and the "signs." These players include: Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez, Dave Martinez, Tony Saunders, Magglio Ordonez, Bret Boone, and Wilson Alvarez.

Is it likely that some of these players used PEDs? Absolutely. Is it possible that all of them did? Certainly. However, none of these players have been linked to PEDs by anything other than Canseco's commentary - and Canseco has named hundreds of other players in interviews.

[philliesfiend55]

There are still several players he named that have not been supported by any other evidence, beyond his mention and the "signs." These players include: Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez, Dave Martinez, Tony Saunders, Magglio Ordonez, Bret Boone, and Wilson Alvarez.

Is it likely that some of these players used PEDs? Absolutely. Is it possible that all of them did? Certainly. However, none of these players have been linked to PEDs by anything other than Canseco's commentary - and Canseco has named hundreds of other players in interviews.


There's way too much rumor and innuendo going around about certain players started by media and fans. Unless you can prove something its better to just shut up. Lots of people are bending The Ninth Commandment "Thou shall not bear false witness against they neighbor" completely out of shape.
Anytime a player has an off year a certain segment of the public is going to say "His performance is off because drug testing is more accurate and The MLB drug policy is much stricter than it was a few years ago". They don't want to acknowledge that it is really injuries and aging that are the most likely causes of diminished performance.

An example would be Todd Helton. He's had back injuries which means that although he's still a threat to hit .335 - .350, his injury has limited his ability to drive the ball out of the park with the frequency he did a few years ago. Cynics are not going to closely examine the issue of the severity of Helton's injury and the fact that he's not as young as he used to be. They prefer to paint everybody with the same broad brush and accuse him of "laying off the juice" these days, since there is greater likelihood of getting caught today, and to imply that his big power years were the result of the use of a performance enhancing substance.

It's a cynical era, true, but that pervading cynicism among fans doesn't give them the right to destroy a player's reputation when they lack proof of his misconduct!!

-philliesfiend55- (Dennis Orlandini).

[SteveJRogers]

How do they qualify "games caught". If a player plays catcher for just one batter and spends the rest of the game as a first baseman - and does that for his entire career, would he qualify?

Yes he would.

For instance, both Cal Ripken and Alex Rodriguez are credited with playing both at short stop and at third base for the 2001 All Star Game.

[ol' aches and pains]

There are still several players he named that have not been supported by any other evidence, beyond his mention and the "signs." These players include: Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez, Dave Martinez, Tony Saunders, Magglio Ordonez, Bret Boone, and Wilson Alvarez.

Is it likely that some of these players used PEDs? Absolutely. Is it possible that all of them did? Certainly. However, none of these players have been linked to PEDs by anything other than Canseco's commentary - and Canseco has named hundreds of other players in interviews.

Well, he wasn't lying about Palmeiro, Clemens, McGwire, etc., so I tend to think he's not lying about the others. Anyone who doesn't think Sammy Sosa was on the juice is delusional.

BTW, I heard on the local news yesterday that Sammy has announced his "retirement". This will come as bad news to all the teams who were lining up trying to sign him for the last two years.

[philliesfiend55]

The career record for games at Catcher fell to Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez yesterday, June 17. In a nice touch, the record-breaking game was played when Pudge's Astros were on the road against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas. Pudge broke in with the Rangers in 1991. He caught 1426 of his 2227 games for the Rangers (over 64 per cent), so it was fitting that the schedule took him back to Arlington for the record=setter.

-philliesfiend55-

[ol' aches and pains]

How exactly did Rodriguez become known as "Pudge" anyway? Because here in Chicago, and I imagine in New England too, there's only one Pudge, and it isn't him.

[Greg Maddux's Biggest Fan]

Surprised he's been able to catch so many games & relatively injury-free with the steroid usage and all. I'll never forget the way Rodriguez looked the year MLB started testing for steroids; he lost at least 25 pounds and looked much leaner. Maybe that helped extend his career in retrospect.

[RubeBaker]

There are still several players he named that have not been supported by any other evidence, beyond his mention and the "signs." These players include: Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez, Dave Martinez, Tony Saunders, Magglio Ordonez, Bret Boone, and Wilson Alvarez

Looks like you can scratch Sammy off of the list.