Marlin’s Pudge still a hero
by Rawly Bransom, Sports Editor

   As a child, sports were a way of life for me. I played every sport offered to me. I started in T-ball, then moved into baseball, basketball and football. I collected sports cards by the thousands.
  To me, the cards were like having those very same stars I idolized right next to me.
  My two most prized possessions were an Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez pre-rookie card and his rookie card. I lorded over all the other kids that I had the best player in baseball’s best and most important cards.
  Pudge was my god of the baseball diamond. He was blessed with a golden glove, proved by multiple Gold Glove awards. He was also one of my few favorite players who always seemed to hit for both average and power.
  It always seemed that every time I got to go to a game, Pudge would hit one out of the park, just for me.
  I know now that those were childhood fantasies, but those images remain with me today.
  The child in me wept with unparallel despair as the Rangers cast my hero aside at the end of last season, even as the adult in me swore it was a good idea.
  Pudge, who had two injury-prone seasons in a row, showed all the signs of an aging superstar. His stats were beginning to drop.   Even his greatest strength—his ability to throw out a would-be base stealer—dropped to a career-low 33 percent.
  There was also talk that Rangers pitching problems were partially his fault. Since the catcher calls the pitches for the pitcher to throw, a catcher must know all the pitches that any one pitcher can throw and be able to keep the pitches random enough not to become predicable.
  Pudge was taught how to call a game by one of the greatest players ever, Nolan Ryan. Pudge was always considered great at calling a game. Yet they said he could no longer call a game.
  Unfortunately, all of this made the Rangers decide they could no longer rely on their 10-time all-star.
  Pudge left the Metroplex to find a new home in Florida. The Marlins were more than happy to give Pudge a chance. They took that chance and never looked back.
   This year, Pudge has hit .297 with a .369 on-base percentage and 16 homeruns. He also has a .992 fielding percentage, which is .02 higher than his career average. This season he also had only eight errors in 1132.1 innings played.
  Plus, he scored the winning run to clinch a World Series berth as well as saved the tying run later in that same game.
  So good luck, Pudge, in all that you do. You are still my hero, no matter where you go. I do hope, however, that you do not reconsider the statement you gave about wanting to return home.
  After all, you got to go to THE game—the World Series—and emerge a winner. Maybe you can come back and show the Rangers the way.