Baseball will never be the same; the retiring of Iván "Pudge" Rodriguez

April 18, 2012 will live in infamy to me as a "what were you doing when" day of my life. The latter part of this question will be "When you found out that Pudge was retiring". This is a huge blow to fans, and to the game. Pudge is a guys whose hard work, dedication, talent and passion brought a lot of people from either luke-warm watcher to fan, or in my case fan to fanatic. He is a guys whose electricity on the field was contagious as you sat in the stands (or in front of the television) to watch him play. He created a palpable type of excitement around the game. You'd get to the ballpark, and see him warming up and joking around. You could just feel that it was going to be a good day. Pudge is a guy who worked hard, and played hard, until the 27th out was recorded. He had some fights, He had a lot of milestones, and he will to me, undoubtedly be the greatest and my favorite player to ever put on a baseball uniform.   Being a very passionate person, I will say what you don't usually hear in this case, but I feel strongly about it...so her goes...I'm pissed that Pudge is retiring. I'm pissed that Scott Boras sat all of the off-season with his hand up his ass waiting for his check from Prince Fielder. I'm pissed that this game is getting younger and younger this year, and Im pissed that deals like Fielder/Pujols/and other fucktarded contracts make this such a conplicated calculations that Veterans are looked over in favor of hideous options.   Im pissed that Gerald-fucking-Laird is the back-up catcher for the Tigers (He's had a couple good games-shut up). Im pissed that there are idiots like Ryan Rayburn batting under .100 and Brandon Inge taking up space on the Tigers roster. Im pissed that people like Henry Blanco, and Jose Molina have jobs, and Pudge doesnt. For a guy, a living walking legend in the game, that Scott Boras just had time for his 7 and 8 figure commission guys this year. It is an absolute fucking tradgedy to me that guys like Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Magglio Ordonez, and Vladimir Guerrero are forced to go to Japan, or retire. These guys, even with their declining skills and advancing age could be affordable, talented options for a team, not to mention invaluble learning opportunities for young players in an organization, and they are overlooked. I think a big part of it is because their agents see that their time of profitability is coming to an end. Why put effort towards players like Rodriguez/Ordonez/Damon & Guerrero when their gonna be done in 2 -4 years when they can rape a franchise for a young player whose contracts will be regretted and profitted on for years to come?   Its a shame. There is no one protecting the heritage of the game. And I dont mean because Pudge isnt signed, but what I mean is by agents/GMs and other people trying to make this such a "young mans" game...that they are doing the opposite. Its like buying a car with a 10 year car loan...probably not a good idea. Mr. Dombrowski(Tigers GM), how will you feel about Prince's contract, in 2021, when he's 37...Mr. Dipoto (Angels GM) how will you feel about Paying a 42 year old Albert Pujols 30 Million Dollars. And Mr. Jocketty(Reds GM), in TEN years, let me know how you feel about what your paying a 38 year old Joey Votto. I believe with certainty that you will look back at the 2-4 million that you could have gotten a 40 year old Pudge Rodriguez for as the worst waste of good.   There will not be another player like Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez ever. Not in the clubhouse, not on the field, not in the memory or the hearts of fans like me that loved him so much. And though this day had to come someday. I truly believe that when A guy like Pudge retires with, what he calls "a lot of baseball left him", that it is the deepest of tragedies. I will look forward to the dawn of the Minnesota Twins' up and coming prospect (Ivan) Dereck Rodriguez. And though I am sure he is fully capable of making a name for himself aside from his legendary father, I look forward to seeing the spark and the passion that Im sure can only be passed down genetically. I look forward to his debut, and hope, with the highest of hopes that baseball has not heard the last from his dad.

One Simple Rule...

What a weekend for baseball. Today was a challenging day for me. Tigers and Nationals both had day games today, Which is always Challenging going back and forth (Thank goodness for DVR). They both played great games, and though my Tigers got swept in 3 hearbreaking late inning losses in Cleveland, My Nats had a great weekend Including a shut out, and a great Game Today. I'll try not to mention him every blog, but I have no idea why more teams are not inquiring about Pudge. I think if Ramos stays hot, Pudge will justifiably continue to only get about 2 games a week, and I don't see him reaching 3000 in D.C. In watching both my teams this weekend, there is one simple philosophy that all Major League Ballclubs would save themselves a lot of agony by practicing: You don't run on Pudge Rodriguez anymore than you pitch to Miguel Cabrera. Its simple, yet so difficult to understand, apparently. Thursday night, Pudge gunned down Jose Reyes, and today he threw out Darren Ford after catching a change-up...Yes. A Change-up. Yesterday Manny Acta said that if Cleveland lost, it wouldnt be because of Miguel Cabrera. And while it is true that Cleveland didnt lose...It definetely wasnt because of restring Miguel Cabrera's bat. He did strike out yesterday, but the one strike he was thrown before that at bat he drove over 400 ft. I have no idea why they are still pitching to him, and no idea why managers are putting on pinch runners to run on Pudge. Insanity.
So this week, I hope, And I believe that the Tigers can and will turn it around, and show the Yankees just how good they really are.  One more note on todays game in Cleveland...I have never seen Alex Avila so aggitated during a game. I love it. If your not gonna play with passion....Go home. Go Tigers, and Go Nats! 

Questions or Suggestions? Email me Baseballchica7@yahoo.com

Why I Live for this.

Why I Live for this.

You might say that I was born with the Old English D on my onesie. But I don’t just root for the home team. (Though I do root for the home team – Even though I do!). As my first blog, I just want to explain why baseball is my passion. First of all, I am from a baseball family. Not as in my dad was a ballplayer, but my dad was watching the game every night, and I was right by his side, since before I can remember. It was heaven. We followed the Tigers from back then until well, I follow them still today. It has become my passion, as well as my goal (To work in baseball one day). It’s more than a game to me. It’s my life. It’s the one thing I look forward to every day, as well as that one thing that makes me CRAZY. It is a huge part of who I am. It is a big part of who my dad was, and what my memories of him still continue to be to me. You see.....It’s unexplainable, it’s the adrenaline, the rush, the heartbreak, the ohmigosh can you believe that...That post-season slogan "I live for this".....it should be tattooed on my forehead. Either you get it or you don't.
As for my loyalty to the home team...its true I love my Tigers. I love Detroit. I love Comerica Park. I love driving down Trumble, I love listening to Ernie Harwell broadcasts....I LOOVE it. But I don’t think you can trust a franchise...I learned the hard way. Saying we were elated when the Tigers signed Pudge Rodriguez was an understatement. It was like a holiday in my house. He was, and is (And will always be) BASEBALL to me. The talent and the passion he put into every swing, every catch and every argument with the umpire(s) was the absolute manifestation of everything I loved about the game.  I remember like it was yesterday my dad called me and said "Lisa are you driving?" I said no "Are you sitting down" I said no...."I need your undivided attention Lisa". I said "What’s wrong dad...who died"....he said "Lisa sit down...I gotta tell you something"  I said "alright dad I’m sitting" he said "Guess who the Tigers are signing".....d...e...a...d.........s...i...l...e..n..c..e... "PUDGE". I was on my way somewhere with friends, and I turned around and went home so we (My dad and I) could scream and celebrate together. It’s typical Lisa behavior, really. (I came home at 8pm from my prom because an Oscar De La Hoya fight was on).  So he was not surprised to see me 10 minutes later.
Pudge is the Renaissance man. He brought the Tigs back to life, and I think he is doing much of the same thing in regards to leadership and passion for the Nationals right now. The Pudge Rodriguez era in Detroit was the best time of my life. It was me, dad, Rod, Mario, Pudge, Poli, Maggz, Carlos, JV...Curtis....night in and night out. Man that magic 2006 Championship run is the most exciting thing I have ever experienced in my life. That last game vs. Oakland and Magglio's heroic Homerun...I will Never forget Mario Impemba (or was it Dan Dickerson...I think it was Dickerson...i said I remember the words, not the announcer)'s words: "Swing and a fly ball, it’s deep....It’s way back...THE TIGERS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES....3 run walk-off Homerun....OH man". The thought still gives me goose bumps.
Needless to say 3 years ago Brian Cashman stole my heart for Kyle Farnsworth (the guy could find a cure for cancer, and I still will never like him....childish I know). And then he went from there to Houston, to the Rangers, and now is a Washington National...so like I said...the Tigers broke my heart....and though I still love them...I follow the players whose passion, and talent and performance makes baseball the greatest thing in the world to me: Pudge, Polanco, Suzuki, Jeter, Beltran, Guillen, Swisher, Guerrero,Valverde, Pujols,Ordonez, Papelbon...and that’s a small, small fraction of the players I love. Ozzie Smith was my favorite player growing up. I loved Cecil Fielder, Loved Tram. LOVE CLEMENTE, (I’ve read so much about him, I have really fallen in love with his legacy and who he was). So sorry if this is a bit scattered, I just a little excited. So join me as I write about the greatest love of my life: Baseball. Not just the Tigers, not just Pudge....a little bit of everything. See you at the ballpark. May this be the greatest season ever.