BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Ivan Rodriguez set to break catching record against old team

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Ivan Rodriguez set to break catching record against old team

Half the career of Ivan Rodriguez.

That’s all Texas Rangers starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is hoping for.

If all goes as planned after tonight’s start against the Rangers, half the career of the Houston catcher would be more than 1,100 games caught.

Rodriguez tied Carlton Fisk for most games caught with 2,226 on Tuesday night. He’s in line to break the record tonight.

Rodriguez will get to do it against the club for whom he played for 12 seasons and started what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career.

sptaylor Posted: June 17, 2009 at 01:46 PM | 22 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: astros, miami, rangers, tigers, yankees

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 17, 2009 at 05:48 PM (#3222407)

I still remember when he came up. Where does he rank among catchers All-Time? My guess is right behind Johnny, Yogi and Piazza? Or should he rank ahead of Piazza?

2. RJ in TO Posted: June 17, 2009 at 05:52 PM (#3222415)

I still remember when he came up. Where does he rank among catchers All-Time? My guess is right behind Johnny, Yogi and Piazza? Or should he rank ahead of Piazza?

I'd put him behind Piazza, since I think the criticisms of Piazza's defense are overstated, and Piazza's offense was at just too high a level at the peak (5 seasons above 150 OPS+, 142 OPS+ for his career). I-Rod, in comparison, has 1 season above 150, 2 above 130, and a career 109 OPS+.

3. SoSH U at work Posted: June 17, 2009 at 05:53 PM (#3222417)

Or should he rank ahead of Piazza?

No, and he's not particularly close.

4. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: June 17, 2009 at 05:58 PM (#3222424)

Without, like, looking it up or anything, I also have to think that Campanella, Cochrane, and Hartnett had greater offensive peaks than Rodriguez, and all three of them were considered hells of defensive catchers, too. Rodriguez quite obviously has a very, very impressive career.

Both he and Vizquel are supposed to start tonight, which would make two guys who hold all-time games played records at different positions playing in the same game. I wonder when/if that's happened before.

5. Hack Wilson Posted: June 17, 2009 at 05:59 PM (#3222425)

Al Lopez was elected to the Hall primarily, as I recall, because he had at the time the record for most games as a catcher. I'm sure his years as a manager helped some though.

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:01 PM (#3222430)

Does BB-Ref allow you to look at career leaders by games played at a certain position? Like who has the most home runs as a catcher?

7. RJ in TO Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:02 PM (#3222432)

Al Lopez was elected to the Hall primarily, as I recall, because he had at the time the record for most games as a catcher. I'm sure his years as a manager helped some though.

I'm sure they helped a lot, since Bob Boone retired as the all-time leader for games at catcher, and I don't think he even got up to 10% in the BBWAA voting.

8. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:23 PM (#3222469)

Does BB-Ref allow you to look at career leaders by games played at a certain position? Like who has the most home runs as a catcher?

There was a thread that was kind of about Jeter becoming the leader in hits as a shortstop, and I don't think we found a way to do that, except by running searches like "Most hits, 90% of games at SS."

9. Moneyball can't buy you love (Joey B.) Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:23 PM (#3222470)

Congratulations Pudge "Mini Pudge" 'Roidriguez!

10. SouthSideRyan Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:26 PM (#3222474)

The Astros will celebrate by giving him a Harley-Davidson and releasing him.

11. Shock Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:36 PM (#3222487)

Does BB-Ref allow you to look at career leaders by games played at a certain position? Like who has the most home runs as a catcher?

No. Too DB intensive, i think.

12. Cabbage Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:37 PM (#3222489)

#10, Golf Clap

I was at that game, BTW.

13. GregD Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:37 PM (#3222491)

Without, like, looking it up or anything, I also have to think that Campanella, Cochrane, and Hartnett had greater offensive peaks than Rodriguez, and all three of them were considered hells of defensive catchers, too. Rodriguez quite obviously has a very, very impressive career.

Career value is going to look wildly different since Rodriguez played so many more games, but for quick glance at peak:

Top 5 OPS+ full season
Rodriguez 155, 136, 128,126, 125 (155 in season with only 389 PA)
Campanella 159, 155, 153, 135, 131
Gabby Hartnett 158, 151, 144, 142, 138 (Hartnett only broke 500 PAs in one of those seasons, though)
Gary Carter 148, 143, 138, 137, 126
Mickey Cochrane 157, 149, 137, 135, 133
Carlton Fisk 162, 138, 136, 134, 134

Rodriguez's argument has to rely heavily on career length and defense.

14. Obama Bomaye Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:40 PM (#3222500)

two guys who hold all-time games played records at different positions playing in the same game. I wonder when/if that's happened before.

In the 1870s.

15. Srul Itza Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:45 PM (#3222511)

Does BB-Ref allow you to look at career leaders by games played at a certain position? Like who has the most home runs as a catcher?

A delightfully idiosyncratic site, Baseball-Almanac, does keep a list of most home runs by position and other categories. I don't know how often they update it. Definitely not in-season, since Chipper's total (as NL Switch hitter) is from last year.

16. Srul Itza Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:50 PM (#3222516)

Rodriguez's argument has to rely heavily on career length and defense and not yet having been reported to be on the list of 2003 test failers.

17. RJ in TO Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:55 PM (#3222526)

Campanella 159, 155, 153, 135, 131

Of course, this represents almost all of Campanella's value. Outside of these seasons, he's got a 121, a 102, and then three sub-90 years. He's a fairly extreme peak candidate.

18. Moneyball can't buy you love (Joey B.) Posted: June 17, 2009 at 06:57 PM (#3222528)

When I was a little kid, two of my favorite mystery books were "Pudge 'Roidriguez and the Mystery of the Missing Muscle Mass", and it's sequel "Pudge 'Roidriguez and the Case of the Incredible Shrinking OPS".

19. RJ in TO Posted: June 17, 2009 at 07:01 PM (#3222534)

Out of curiosity, is there anyone that you haven't already mentally associated with steroids/PEDs?

20. Shock Posted: June 17, 2009 at 07:01 PM (#3222536)

Your mom

21. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader