04/15/24
May 17, 2010
Pudge Playing to Reach 3,000 Hits: Although he's 38, Washington Nationals catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez wants to play another four years so that he can reach 3,000 hits, a milestone currently 253 hits away. He would be the first full-time catcher to reach the mark. "I'm not old," he said. "Thirty-eight is not a lot."
I know this will sound weird, but I'm kind of pleased to see a player honestly admit "I'm just playing to reach a milestone". And why not? Being the first 3,000 hit catcher would cement a HoF career. Not sure why he'll need 4 though; he should reach that milestone in 2 years, maybe 3 (unless he's assuming he'll get less and less playing time).
I find it baffling when a player retires so close to some key marker (or in the case of Bonds, is forced out). I guess in some cases they know their body and realize they just can't suit up another season, but once they retire... it's almost impossible to ever come back and get those last 15 HR or last 6 wins or whatever the case may be. While he'll likely make the HoF vote next year, I'll bet Bert Blyleven sure wishes he'd played the one or two more years to get those last 13 wins and made the long drawn out HoF vote process more of a cinch.
posted by hincandenza at 12:38 PM on May 17, 2010
And besides, modern players have access to training and health tips- even legal/allowed ones- that can keep them in the kind of shape that was reserved for men 10 years younger just a generation ago. The breakdown of the body still occurs, but more slowly if they put in the time and care throughout their career. I think we'll start seeing a lot more milestones reached as players can put those extra 4-5 years onto a career to go from a 2,500 hit player to a 3,000 hit player, or a 400HR hitter to a 500HR hitter, etc.
posted by hincandenza at 12:40 PM on May 17, 2010
I find it baffling when a player retires so close to some key marker (or in the case of Bonds, is forced out). I guess in some cases they know their body and realize they just can't suit up another season, but once they retire... it's almost impossible to ever come back and get those last 15 HR or last 6 wins or whatever the case may be. While he'll likely make the HoF vote next year, I'll bet Bert Blyleven sure wishes he'd played the one or two more years to get those last 13 wins and made the long drawn out HoF vote process more of a cinch.
The counter-argument, of course, is that it's just a number, and it doesn't gain some new intrinsic meaning because it ends in zeroes. All the meaning that "3000" has is the meaning we assign to it. Why is a 10 year anniversary more important than a nine year anniversary or an 11 year anniversary? It isn't, we just say it is. Why isn't 3001 more meaningful than 3000? Because we like the zeroes. Chasing a number for its own sake, there is always a strong possibility (I'd say probability) that you'll lose sight of too many other things that really matter more.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 02:17 PM on May 17, 2010
Not to get in the way of a good headline, but that's not really what he said. What he said was he can play four more years:
"I'm 38," Rodriguez said. "I'm not old. Thirty-eight is not a lot, the way I take care of myself, work myself. I can play this game for a while."
At 38, Carlton Fisk still had seven seasons ahead of him, including four as a regular. At 38, Bob Boone still had four seasons ahead of him, three as a regular.
"Bob Boone and I talked about it this spring," Rodriguez said. "He was the first to tell me, if he played to that age, I can."
This is what he said about 3000 hits:
"The atmosphere we have is very positive," Rodriguez said. "That's why we're playing great baseball."
That, and the catcher who is knocking on the door of .400 -- and of 3,000 hits.
"It's a goal," Rodriguez said, referring to 3,000. "But I can't think about it."
posted by cjets at 02:44 PM on May 17, 2010
The counter-argument, of course, is that it's just a number, and it doesn't gain some new intrinsic meaning because it ends in zeroes.
You make some good points, but what if the player is a canny self-marketer? Pudge is more marketable in retirement as the first full-time catcher to get 3,000 hits.
posted by rcade at 02:58 PM on May 17, 2010
You make some good points, but what if the player is a canny self-marketer? Pudge is more marketable in retirement as the first full-time catcher to get 3,000 hits.
Sure. But, like I said, still no intrinsic meaning.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 02:58 PM on May 17, 2010
You make some good points, but what if the player is a canny self-marketer? Pudge is more marketable in retirement as the first full-time catcher to get 3,000 hits.
My question becomes with the passing of Bernie Mac, who do they get to play Pudge in this remake of an instant cinematic classic?
posted by Demophon at 03:31 PM on May 17, 2010
And why not? Being the first 3,000 hit catcher would cement a HoF career.
Unless, of course, Jose Canseco is telling the truth and the media treats him the same way they do Barry Bonds...
posted by grum@work at 05:19 PM on May 17, 2010
He seems to still be getting it done as of right now. I hope he makes it.