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2009 MLB National League Central Notebook
There was beautiful irony and then nightmarish irony for Houston catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
During the Astros series in Arlington, Texas against the in-state rival Rangers, Rodriguez passed Carlton Fisk for the most games caught by a catcher with 2,227.
Rodriguez broke into the big leagues with the Rangers in 1991 as a 19-year-old phenom. He said he was touched by the Rangers video tribute and standing ovations given to him during the June 17 game that set the new mark.
However, Rodriguez committed two throwing errors in the Astros’ 5-4 10-inning loss. Still, the 37-year-old Rodriguez will make the Hall of Fame because of his extraordinary career. He is a 13-time Gold Glove winner, has thrown out 46 percent of would be base stealers and hit 301 home runs. Rodriguez is a .300 career hitter.
CHICAGO
The sale of the Cubs has taken a new twist. Another group has entered the picture while the bankrupt Tribune Co. still talks with the Ricketts Family.
Reports out of Chicago revealed that the media company is also speaking with a private equity investor group led by Marc Utay and Leon Hindery.
The Cubs appeared to have sold the team in January to the Ricketts family for $900 million. But the economic climate has caused credit markets to tighten. Thus, everything went on hold.
However, spokespeople for both the Ricketts family and the Tribune Co. are publicly saying the talks are still progressing nicely.
ST. LOUIS
You know you’ve been in the game for some time when you are reaching huge milestones. Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa, who is already 3 rd on the all-time victory list, is closing in on 2,500 wins.
La Russa stands at 2,497 wins. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, La Russa has won at least 100 games against 16 other Major League teams. No other manager in history has accomplished that feat.
Of course, the two victory leaders – Connie Mack (3,831) and John McGraw (2,763) – managed in an era of 16 teams (8 in the American and 8 in the National leagues) and never crossed over.
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MILWAUKEE
It’s been nothing short of a nightmare for Brewers third baseman Bill Hall. When he homered against Cleveland on June 17, that left his current slump at 7-for-77 (.091), but snapped his homerless streak at a month. He last homered on May 14.
We have discussed Hall before, but his plummet from being one of the up-and-coming bright young hitters to a near washout is pretty shocking. His average has dipped to .201.
Maybe there was a tipoff that this was coming. He fell off to .225 last year. Quite frankly, the Brewers have to have him and try and get him up to the .240s toward the end of the season.
PITTSBURGH
The Pirates learned from their errors last year. They signed their No.1 draft choice, Boston College catcher Tony Sanchez, to a $2.5 million signing bonus earlier in the week.
Sanchez led the Eagles to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 42 years. Sanchez led the team in batting (.346), slugging percentage (.614), on base percentage (.443), home runs (14) and runs scored (63).
He was the fourth overall selection in the 2009 first year player draft. It’s a better result than last year when they did not sign their 2008 choice, Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez, until late September.
CINCINNATI
The Reds got some good news when their slugging first baseman Joey Votto, was expected to start a rehab assignment with Class A Sarasota in the Florida State league.
Votto suffered from stress from an inner ear infection. But his return can’t come soon enough. Cincinnati is 12 th in the National League in runs scored.
By Kevin Lonnquist
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
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