After completing batting practice and testing out his ability to throw from behind the plate, it now appears like Ivan Rodriguez might have a shot to be ready for Tuesday's game. Right now, the plan is for Rodriguez to catch for the Potomac Nationals on Monday, and if everything goes well, he will be in the lineup for Tuesday's game.
Here's what he had to say to Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington about the opportunity to play on Tuesday:
The future Hall of Famer obviously would love to be behind the plate to serve as Strasburg's batterymate in the most-anticipated major-league debut in a generation. But he insists he won't push himself to return before he's ready and thus won't be disappointed if he misses the big event.
"No, because I've got to be 100 percent before catching a game," Rodriguez said. "Of course, it's nice for me to catch Tuesday because Stephen's pitching, and it's going to be great to have me behind the plate with him. I'm hoping that happens Tuesday night. But as of right now, the way I'm going, Monday is a big day. If Monday's great, I'll be catching Tuesday. But if not, Wednesday or Thursday or Friday I'll be playing."
Understandably, he's still being guarded about his comments, but there appears to be some hope that the future Hall of Fame catcher could be ready for Stephen Strasburg's debut on Tuesday.