Saturday, June 08, 2002
Slimmer Pudge back with Texas
Baseball notebook
The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — Carrying 24 fewer pounds, Ivan Rodriguez was activated from the disabled list Friday and returned to his usual role as the Texas Rangers' starting catcher and No. 2 hitter.
“I'm ready to go,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez played only 12 games before being disabled April 15 because of a herniated disk in his back. He was hitting .222 with only five RBI, and the extra weight seemed to hamper him.
He said Friday that being lighter — 208 pounds, down from 232 when he was hurt — “absolutely” made a difference.
“I'm going to focus on today and trying to stay healthy, trying to finish the season healthy,” he said. “There's still four months to go, a lot of games to go. I'm going to do my job and play hard.”
Texas can use his bat and defensive presence. The Rangers went into Friday night's game against Atlanta having lost nine of 13. They were 20-25 during his DL stay.
“It's hard, because I'm an everyday player. I hate to see the team struggling and not being able to be there,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez took the roster spot of outfielder Rusty Greer, who has been hobbled by back problems since making a pair of diving catches Sunday. Greer was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday.
Rodriguez has missed 168 of the last 382 games (44 percent) since winning the American League MVP award in 1999, mostly because of injuries. The 30-year-old perennial All-Star is eligible to become a free agent after this season.
“I don't think about my future right now,” Rodriguez said. “I just think about starting the season today. After the season we'll see what happens.”
INDIANS: Charles Nagy, who has pitched the past two seasons without any cartilage in his right elbow, was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Nagy, 35, who has 128 career victories, has had two surgeries since 2000 and is 0-1 with an 11.29 ERA in 10 games this season. He will go to Triple-A Buffalo for a rehabilitation stint.
The Indians purchased the contract of right-hander Nerio Rodriguez from Buffalo. He is 4-2 with a 1.80 ERA in 10 starts for the Bisons.
DEVIL RAYS: Pitcher Nick Bierbrodt was shot and wounded Friday in Charleston, S.C., while sitting in a taxi waiting in a drive-through line at a fast food restaurant. The left-hander, who was optioned to the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs Wednesday, was shot twice in the chest and once in the right arm shortly after 3 a.m., according to a police report.
Bierbrodt, 24, is in serious condition at the Medical University of South Carolina, hospital spokesman Jeff Watkins said.
According to the report, Bierbrodt was in the right rear seat of the cab when a man rode up beside the cab on a bicycle and had a verbal exchange with Bierbrodt. The man who fired two shots and rode away.
No arrests had been made late Friday.
CARDINALS: Andy Benes has decided to begin a rehabilitation assignment next week with Triple-A Memphis, after general manager Walt Jocketty encouraged the right-hander to try it rather than retire.
Benes, 34, who has not pitched since being placed on the disabled list April 16 with an arthritic right knee, declined to report last week as expected for extended spring training in Jupiter, Fla., citing swelling in the knee. Since then, he has resumed throwing and has experienced less swelling.
ORIOLES: The team put right-hander Calvin Maduro on the 15-day disabled list and activated pitcher Jason Johnson, who will start today against Los Angeles.
Maduro has a fractured bone spur and bone chips in his right elbow. He must decide whether to rest for three weeks or undergo surgery that would keep him out six to eight weeks.
RED SOX: Outfielder Manny Ramirez, who has been on the disabled list for a month because of a broken finger, did not return to Boston for an examination Friday because he missed his flight from Florida.
CUBS: Reliever Carlos Zambrano was activated from the disabled list after missing the past four weeks because of a strained right elbow. The 21-year-old rookie has no record and a 3.27 ERA this season.
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Slimmer Pudge back with Texas
