THIS column today is going to be all about baseball. If you don't like it, move to Norway. Let’s hear it for
a loyal lone RangerIt was just a hunch or wishful thinking: On a sports radio show Wednesday, I said I believed that Ivan Rodriguez would remain with Texas, even when it seemed the Rangers and the best all-around catcher in baseball could not come to terms.
With yesterday's trade deadline looming, there was speculation that Rodriguez would be dealt to a pennant contender for the stretch drive.
Actually, it wasn't Rodriguez who had a problem with the Rangers. He proved that by bypassing his attorney, walking into the team president's office yesterday and negotiating a deal.
Now Rodriguez is signed with Texas through 2002. He says he wants to be a Ranger for his entire career. You know what? I believe him.
I am an Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez fan for life. And not just because he made my little prediction come true.
There was another great catcher nickname of Pudge. He, of course, was Carlton Fisk. But Fisk was a different kind of guy than Rodriguez.
After the 1980 season, Fisk, who is from New Hampshire, broke the heart of every Red Sox fan from Kaumoli Street in Pearl City (where I lived at the time) to Kenmore Square.
He took the free-agent route and went to the White Sox. It didn't help that center fielder Fred Lynn and shortstop Rick Burl-eson were traded before they could split for nothing in return, too. My favorite team was gutted right up the middle.
If that's not enough, get this -- the next spring, I'm going to college in Chicago. The Red Sox open at Comiskey Park, and I'm there. Guess who hits the home run to win the game for the White Sox?
Carlton Fisk, that's who.
That was over 15 years ago. And the Red Sox continue to do bonehead things. I'm not talking about stuff like Buckner's Error -- physical mistakes are eventually forgivable (well. . .). But how can you excuse a front office that lets Roger Clemens go but keeps Wil Cordero?
Point is, there's so little loyalty and decency in baseball that you've got to love the Tony Gwynns and Cal Ripkens. Ivan Rodriguez -- the real Pudge -- joins that group now.
OK, since I bragged about my earth-shattering prediction coming true, it's time to admit I'm wrong.
The Giants, whose demise I predicted three months ago, are for real.
And yesterday, they got three established pitchers from the White Sox for Jeff Kent's autograph and a pinetar rag to be named later.
If the Giants do get to the World Series, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf should get a share.
Unless the prospects Chicago got make the Hall of Fame and find a cure for cancer, this is the biggest rip-off since . . . well, since Carlton Fisk for nothing.
What goes around comes around.
Which reminds me. The Bay Area got Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin yesterday. But it also lost Mark McGwire. Can he help the Cardinals make up a 71/2-game deficit?
Don't think so. In crime, follow the money. In pennant races, follow the pitching.
That's also why I like the Mariner moves. They grabbed three relievers -- two of them, Heathcliff Slocumb and Mike Timlin, guys with big pressure experience.
Jose Cruz Jr. has potential, but potential doesn't win pennants. It can lose them, in the form of rookie mistakes. Not everyone with Junior at the end of their name becomes a superstar, and Cruz is a butcher in the field.
When the real Junior gets surly and makes the slightest hint about packing his bags, you do what you can to help him win. Now, not next year.
Dave Reardon is a magazine editor and freelance
writer who has covered Hawaii sports since 1977.
He can be reached via the Star-Bulletin or
by email at reardon@aloha.com.
