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Let's try and lure Pudge Rodriguez, 2 years- 7.5 million per year, and stick him at third. I have heard that he is athletic enough to play 2nd. He probably has the reflexes to play third.
I think he is too short for first and he should stop catching. He is getting a bad rep for forcing pitchers to throw too many fastballs once runners are on base so he has a better chance to throw potential base stealers out. Texas pitchers' ERA's have been rising the last couple of years, even pitchers that are brought in from other teams.
Pudge is such an offensive force anyway, he would be preserving his career if he switched position. Joe Torre did it, started as a catcher, then went to third. (I think?) And Joe Torre was not as athletic or the hitter that Pudge is.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 31, 2002 06:29 PM: Message edited by: Super8 Filmmaking in the DigitalAge ]</font>
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Dolan's paying Gutierrez too much to sign Pudge. It's obvious salaries are on the downswing. I think the Tribe could possibly sign Pudge for your price, but the Tribe's focus is not on winning.
I think it's a shame that the focus is not on winning. That's what a team is supposed to do--win. Even when you're rebuilding, your still supposed to try to win. And Minnesota and Oakland have learned how to do that. Dolan's not willing to pay for the big guns. We'll see how playing Gutierrez at third pans out.
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Pudge would sell tickets. And he could be a help at third by keeping an eye out on the "kids" (our plethora of young kid pitchers).
What a great combination. A catching legend helping our two rookie catchers, yet he still gets to make a name for himself at the "Joe Torre" position.
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I'd be willing to bet that whichever NY team misses out on this "Godzilla" player from Japan will turn their attention to Pudge. He's not gonna go just anywhere. He'll be a hired bat the rest of his career playing multiple positions ala BJ Surhoff. But he'd look good batting 3rd for the Tribe wouldn't he?
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Perhaps Moorad is a snob. It's New York, or Boston, or bust.
But the best thing Pudge could do is put in one or two great years in Cleveland (as our third baseman) and then sign a Thome type of contract.
The idea being that for a little more than half what we offered Jim Thome, Pudge could be just as significant of an offensive force.
And a former catcher at third, watching the young kids and their delivery to home, could be a good thing.
