May 6, 200323 yr He might be heading to third if the Marlins Trade Mike Lowell.I thin he should stay at catcher. We need him there but we have pretty good Backups so maybe it is a good move? Pudge at third? Maybe in '05 By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, May 6, 2003 Johnny Bench did it after 14 years of squatting behind the plate. Now, the modern-day catcher most often compared to the Reds' Hall of Famer is preparing for a move to third base to extend his career. "Sometimes you need to start thinking about other positions,'' said Marlins catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who has caught 1,456 games in 11 1/2 seasons. "That's a lot of years behind the plate. Someday I'll play third base. Not next year." And probably not the year after that. But Rodriguez is so serious about a switch someday that on Florida's last homestand he approached infield coach Perry Hill about taking pre-game ground balls at third. "It was his idea. He came up with it,'' Hill said. "He's smart enough to see that and realize that maybe this will prolong his career." Rodriguez said he took practice grounders at third with Texas but he never spoke to the Rangers like he did with Hill about making the switch. "If I can do it, I think I can play six to eight more years,'' said Rodriguez, who caught 28 of Florida's first 32 games. Injuries have limited him to catching no more than 106 since he played 141 games at the position for the Rangers during his MVP season in 1999. Third base would be a natural move for a 10-time All-Star with a knack for throwing out runners. "He certainly has the arm for it," said Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell, who has offered to loan Rodriguez his glove. "And he fits the mold of a third baseman more than a first baseman because of his size (5-9)." Rodriguez, 31, is signed to a one-year contract but has said he would like to finish his career with the Marlins. Until he makes that commitment, his work at third base will be limited to taking batting-practice grounders. The Marlins don't want to risk injuring their everyday catcher, but they also don't want to help prepare him for a position he could end up playing for another team. "He can take all the ground balls he wants, but as far as instruction or extra work, none of that during the season. Absolutely not,'' Hill said. "That's the last thing we need for him, to be out there doing something for five years down the road that he can get hurt for this year. Down the road, if he wants to get more details, that's his call. We've got to make sure he's still going to be here." Pudge on Palmeiro: Rodriguez said he's not surprised that former Rangers teammate Rafael Palmeiro is closing in on 500 home runs. "He's one of the greatest hitters in the game, but nobody recognizes him. Now when he gets close to 500, everybody starts to recognize him. But he's always been a great hitter,'' Rodriguez said. "He doesn't talk much. He just goes out and plays. Puts up his numbers on the field and keeps quiet. And there he is, three from 500. That's pretty good.'' Palmeiro and the Rangers host the Marlins on June 13-15.
May 6, 200323 yr Pudge at third? Maybe in '05 That first line tells me that we will never see it happen in a Marlins uniform. Hell, its too hard to plan for who will be on the team in 2004, nevermind 2005. later.......
May 6, 200323 yr Author I still think he'll end up staying in Miami... Family... He is Going to end up being a Marlins. In recent article he says he is ending his career here no matter what. Thats good because i thought he was leaving after the season but were still going to have him...
May 6, 200323 yr I still think he'll end up staying in Miami... Family... He is Going to end up being a Marlins. In recent article he says he is ending his career here no matter what. Thats good because i thought he was leaving after the season but were still going to have him... Players are alway's making empty comments and promises let me tell you something that I said when Thome signed in Philly. Money can move mountains if someone wants him he'll be gone!
May 7, 200323 yr Pudge will never play third in Florida... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . He'll play left... lol
May 7, 200323 yr Author He'll play left... lol :lol Yea replace that Hollandsworthless! But i think pudge will end up playing third...
May 7, 200323 yr maybe even 2nd base, becu u odnt see luis coming back Luis is leaving? News to me. Not to mention, Pudge doesn't exactly have the look of a 2B.
May 7, 200323 yr pudge was quoted in the paper last weekend saying that a position change to 2nd or 3rd could happen. because of miguel cabera i dot see pudge at third. and i think pudge will play about another two seasons at catcher after this season. he still has a few more seasons.
May 8, 200323 yr when you say a year behind do you mean that he did bad so his eta was set back a year or that he is just younger or drafter later?
May 8, 200323 yr Author maybe even 2nd base, becu u odnt see luis coming back Luis isnt going to be traded for a long time. Pudge cannot play 2nd wats so ever. He isnt a 2nd base type guy. He can only play 3rd and outfield and is too small for 1st base. He will never play 2nd trust me...
May 8, 200323 yr when you say a year behind do you mean that he did bad so his eta was set back a year or that he is just younger or drafter later? drafted later and he is in AA ball, Adrian is in AAA ball
May 8, 200323 yr i dont know ifhe's inupiter but i know he's not in carolina for sure. thats willis and carbera's team
May 9, 200323 yr we can put Miguel at 2b and pudge at 3rd I sure hope that was sarcasm, because that is ridiculous. At this point, if he were to change positions, he should only move to the outfield...especially with his arm. Cabrera should stay at third. later.........
May 9, 200323 yr when you say a year behind do you mean that he did bad so his eta was set back a year or that he is just younger or drafter later? drafted later and he is in AA ball, Adrian is in AAA ball Stokes was not drafted later. Adrian and he were produced from the same draft, Adrian being our #1 that year and Stokes being our #2. Stokes, however, held out during a contract dispute and did not attend rookie ball that year and the Marlins, when they finally signed him, decided to wait a year and send him to the next years rookie ball instead of just skipping it and putting him in single A. Then he experieneced injuries such as his back problem which limited him that year so it essentially set him back another year and that is why he is not in AAA with Adrian right now.
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