Pudge to the Astros

by
March 16, 2009

Given that the Astros’ catching situation was described as “dire” last week, this makes a lot of sense:

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez has agree to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Houston Astros, a source told ESPN’s Steve Phillips on Monday. Rodriguez can make an additional $1.5 million in performances bonuses. At the World Baseball Classic this spring, Rodriguez, a 14-time major league All-Star, is hitting .600 (9-for-15) in four games for Puerto Rico . . .

. . . Rodriguez has caught 2,173 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.

With only Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles standing in the way, I don’t think it’s too bold a prediction to say that Fisk’s record is going to fall before the All Star break.


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Andy L
15 years ago

Yeah…as bad as Pudge has gotten at the plate, he’s a lot better than those schlubs.

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Aarcraft
15 years ago

Hurray – we can now expect to win 73 games, as opposed to 72.

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Travis M. Nelson
15 years ago

Funny, but for as much as we mock Brad Ausmus for his lack of offense, he actually had a higher OBP than Pudge in two of the past four seasons, since he actually walked once in a while.  Not that it means much, since Ausmus’ utter lack of ability to hit with any power, run, etc. negates even that little bit of value. 

With that siad, this is the Astros’ idea of a youth movement?  Replacing their 40-year old catcher with a 37-year old catcher?

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Aarcraft
15 years ago

If only we had some youth for this youth movement, we would be good to go.

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fifth of
15 years ago

I think there is an unreasonably negative opinion of JR Towles floating around. If the Astros start Pudge over Towles, I think we will have pretty compelling evidence that they hate catchers named JR with good minor league numbers. I just assumed their strategy was to bet the House on Towles.

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scot
15 years ago

It’s nice to see Ed Wade has moved on from 40 year old middle relievers, to 40 year old catchers.

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APBA Guy
15 years ago

What’s the deal with Towles? He seems to have fallen off the edge of prospect cliff. Nobody in our keeper league even took a flyer on him.

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