Ivan Rodriguez to retire.

[bluedigger]

At the top of his game, Ivan was one of the most dominating players I ever saw. The '99 All Star game was an incredible display of this. Heck of a player.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7830099/ivan-rodriguez-retire-texas-ranger-monday-source-says

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Still better than a majority of the catchers out there. I'll miss him.

[bluedigger]

2. I don't know if he's the best ever, but he's in the discussion.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. To sit right at home plate, and watch him put someone out at second, practically

before they knew they were even going to steal a base was a thing of beauty.

[El Supremo]

4. There is a questionable asterisk next to his name.

Otherwise his record 13 gold gloves might make him the best ever. Oh, and he played for the 2003 Marlins.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. In that case, we also need to asterisk Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and everyone else

who came along before the banning of PED's. Who the heck knows what they were on.

http://www.sportsandsocialchange.org/index.php/browse-by-category?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=136&sobi2Id=78

[El Supremo]

7. Uh...

Uh. Canseco said he shot him up.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/buy-cap-jose-canseco-wearing-home-run-bounced-140538832.html

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Uh...Canseco also said Magglio did steroids...and that doesn't address my comments

on asterisking those we have no idea about.

Is it possible that Pudge took steroids? Yes. Do I give a shit? Nope.

Before and after his alleged steroid use Pudge was an outstanding athlete.

[El Supremo]

9. I believe Canseco was dead on for Bonds and others.

I'll have to look it up.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Well, here's this for you...

http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2008/01/was-jose-cansec.html

[madinmaryland]

10. Nice post, Mike Schmidt...

I suppose you are going to bring up Johnny Bench, next.

[trumad]

11. And won a world series with them

[MaineDem]

5. I liked him

But it must be hell on the knees to be a catcher.

[TZ]

12. I really enjoyed watching him in DC the last few years.

Not quite the same hitter but still a hell of a catcher. Pretty sure he helped Strasburg learn the ropes in the Show in 2010. Good luck in retirement Pudge.