I-Rod Has Turned Into Lone Ranger

Ivan Rodriguez leans back in a black leather chair, his hands wrapped around a bat and his eyes fixed upon a TV showing video of the next opponent.

The No. 7 Texas Rangers jersey hangs behind him, awaiting Rodriguez as it has since he became a starter as a 19-year-old rookie.

He often goes through his pregame routine without being noticed, thanks to a huge post that hides his locker. And that’s fine with the 30-year-old catcher, who has been to 10 All-Star games and won 10 Gold Gloves.

Rafael Palmeiro, his close friend who sits nearby, finds it hard to imagine that scene playing out in any other clubhouse. He knows, however, that it’s a possibility--with Rodriguez eligible for free agency after this season.

“Did you ever think A-Rod would be a Ranger? Did you ever think Griffey would be a Cincinnati Red?” Palmeiro said. “If those two guys can switch teams, so can Pudge, and so can anybody else.”

Ivan Rodriguez would like to spend the rest of his career in Texas, where he has always been one of the team’s most popular players. But he’s also expected to seek at least $15 million a season in his new contract.

He’s not likely to get that from Ranger owner Tom Hicks, who is planning to slash the team’s $105 million payroll after this season, their third straight in last place.

“Pudge’s first choice is to play the rest of his career in Texas, so the last thing we intend to do is close the door, especially at this premature stage,” said his agent, Jeff Moorad. “Irrespective of the owner’s comment, it’s too early to project what the position will be.”

General Manager John Hart said the Rangers want to see how Rodriguez responds from a series of injuries, the latest a herniated disc in his back that kept him out seven weeks, before addressing his contract situation.

Rodriguez is in the final year of the $42 million, five-year contract he signed in 1997 when he walked into the office of then-club president Tom Schieffer and made the deal.

This time, Rodriguez isn’t planning to make any deals on his own.

“I’ll leave that to my agent and see what happens later,” he said. “It’s got to be fair. It’s got to be something that I’m going to be happy with.”

His focus is on the field. Heading into a weekend series at Houston, he has played only 18 games (.299, no homers, 8 RBIs), just six since coming off the disabled list.

Injuries have hampered Rodriguez since he was the AL MVP in 1999, when he was the first catcher since Thurman Munson in 1976 to win that award.

Rodriguez was hitting .347 with 27 homers and 83 RBIs through 91 games in 2000 when a broken thumb ended his season. Last year, he played 111 games (.308, 25 homers, 65 RBIs) before having knee surgery for tendinitis.

Even though 1,340 major league games as a catcher appear to be taking their toll, Rodriguez insists he is healthy and wants to spend the rest of his career behind the plate. And he plans to be around for many more years.

“I love to catch. Simply put, that’s the position I want to be,” he said.

Unlike his quiet clubhouse demeanor, Rodriguez is still one of the game’s most exciting players, whether at bat or in the field.

Rodriguez throws out half of the runners who try to steal, and he’s always trying to pick off others with a quick throw. He often punctuates a big play, whether his own or one by a teammate, with a fist pump and a smile that is revealed when he removes his mask.

“When you look over the history of baseball, only eight to 10 catchers have really distinguished themselves,” said Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench. “They only come around once a decade, so it’s his decade. I’m glad I had the last century, because he can’t have that.”

Bench, a 14-time All-Star who won two NL MVP awards (1970, 1972), was in Texas to present Rodriguez with his 10th Gold Glove, the one that matched Bench for the most by a catcher.

“There is only one Johnny Bench, yet Rodriguez is the Johnny Bench of this era,” said Cincinnati Manager Bob Boone, a seven-time Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star during his 19 major league seasons as a catcher. “He’s absolutely comparable to Bench.”

Bench and Rodriguez are the only catchers to start nine consecutive All-Star games.

Rodriguez still has a chance to make it 10.

Even though he was out nearly two months, Rodriguez is so popular that he had an early lead in the fan voting to be the All-Star starter again. Jorge Posada of the New York Yankees has overtaken him slightly in the tally.

“He’s in a class of his own,” Palmeiro said. “His career isn’t done yet. He’s got a lot to do yet, but his talent level is unmatched. It’s unbelievable what he’s been able to accomplish.”

Like the 37-year-old Palmeiro, the primary goal for Rodriguez is to win a World Series before his career is over.

“The 10 Gold Gloves, the All-Star games, the MVP and all of that, there’s still nothing better than having a ring on your hand,” Rodriguez said. “That is the one thing I really want to have.”

The Rangers were eliminated in the opening round by the Yankees in their only three postseason appearances (1996, 1998 and 1999). They have been in last place in the AL West since.

“He has done it all as a player, offensively and defensively. Now he needs to win a championship,” said Rangers All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez. “If he does that, he definitely will be the greatest catcher of all time.”