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.