SB Nation DC - Ivan Rodriguez Will Be Back In Time For Strasburg's Debuthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2010-06-08T17:06:40-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/12489032010-06-08T17:06:40-04:002010-06-08T17:06:40-04:00Ivan Rodriguez Officially Off The DL, Will Catch For Stephen Strasburg Tuesday
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<p>There had been plenty of speculation that the Nationals would take Ivan Rodriguez, arguably the greatest defensive catchers of all time, off the DL in time to catch Stephen Strasburg’s major league debut. A press release from the Nationals organization now confirms that Pudge is off the DL and will be behind the plate on Tuesday.</p>
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<p>The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, recalled from rehab and reinstated catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the 15-Day Disabled List and designated catcher Jamie Burke for assignment. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.</p>
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<p>That also means that for all the time we have spent talking about Stephen Strasburg’s future with this ball club, he only became a member of the parent club late this afternoon. Either way, Strasburg and his catcher will be ready to go on Tuesday night.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/8/1507904/Stephen-Strasburg-debut-washington-nationals-ivan-rodriguezJordan Ruby2010-06-07T21:52:20-04:002010-06-07T21:52:20-04:00Washington Post's Adam Kilgore: Pudge Rodriguez To Return For Stephen Strasburg's Debut
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<p><a target="new" href="http://twitter.com/AdamKilgoreWP">Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore</a> reports that his colleague at the Post, writer Jorge Castillo, was at the Potomac Nationals’ game today to watch Nats’ catcher and future Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez test out the back that sent him to the 15-day disabled list and threatened to force him to miss Stephen Strasburg’s debut, but Kilgore and Castillo provided the following update via Kilgore’s Twitter account <a target="new" href="http://twitter.com/AdamKilgoreWP/status/15671127947">(@adamkilgoreWP) </a>late tonight:</p>
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<p>“The Post’s Jorge Castillo, in Potomac, reports Rodriguez will indeed play tomorrow. Pudge tells him his back has 'no pain.' #Nats"</p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/7/1506420/washington-posts-adam-kilgore-pudge-rodriguez-stephen-strasburgPatrick Reddington2010-06-05T18:29:35-04:002010-06-05T18:29:35-04:00Rodriguez Hopes To Be Back By Tuesday
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<p>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. </p>
<p>Here's what he had to say to <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/06/05/10/Zuckerman-Pudge-Shoots-For-Tuesday-Retur/landing_nationals.html?blockID=247829&feedID=280">Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington</a> about the opportunity to play on Tuesday:</p>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>"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."</p>
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<p>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.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/5/1503195/ivan-rodriguez-nationals-stephen-strasburg-back-injuryJake Whitacre2010-06-04T20:42:31-04:002010-06-04T20:42:31-04:00Ivan Rodriguez Unlikely To Start For Strasburgmania
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<p>Our dreams of seeing a sure future Hall of Famer catch for the prospective greatest pitching phenom of our generation took a minor step back today.</p>
<p>Even though Ivan Rodriguez’s stint on the 15-day disabled list will technically end on June 8, MASN’s <a href="http://masnsports.com/the_goessling_game/2010/06/pudge-improving-but-might-miss-strasburg.html">Ben Goessling reports </a>that he may not be back in time to start for Stephen Strasburg’s Nationals debut.</p>
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<p>“We would like for him to catch a game, probably in (Single-A) Potomac, before he catches here,” Riggleman said. “He might not do that until Tuesday, or even Wednesday. But if he was able to do that on Sunday or Monday, it’s possible he would be back here for Tuesday.”</p>
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<p>Rodriguez is set to return at some point next week. It just might not be for the biggest baseball game in D.C. since Opening Day 2005.</p>
<p>For more on Strasburg’s debut and Rodriguez’s return, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com">Federal Baseball</a>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/6/4/1502096/ivan-rodriguez-nationals-stephen-strasburgMartin Shatzer2010-05-25T14:41:51-04:002010-05-25T14:41:51-04:00Carlos Maldonado Called Up From Triple-A After Rodriguez's Injury
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<p>The Nationals have called up Carlos Maldonado to replace Ivan Rodriguez's spot on the roster as Rodriguez goes on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back injury, <a href="http://masnsports.com/the_goessling_game/2010/05/maldonado-called-up-to-replace-rodriguez.html">according</a> to MASN's Ben Goessling. </p>
<p>I know, I know, that doesn't sound so exciting. But wait, there's intrigue! Maldonado has essentially been Stephen Strasburg's personal catcher at Triple-A Syracuse, which means ... oh wait, <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2010/5/20/1480158/stephen-strasburg-nationals-syracuse-shutout">nevermind</a>.</p>
<p>Maldonado isn't expected to start -- that role will likely fall to Wil Nieves instead. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/5/25/1487030/ivan-rodriguez-back-injury-nationals-carlos-maldonado-called-upMike Prada2010-05-24T11:28:29-04:002010-05-24T11:28:29-04:00Ivan Rodriguez Placed on DL
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<p>MASN’s Ben Goessling reports on<a href="http://twitter.com/masnBen/statuses/14627826804"> Twitter</a> that Ivan Rodriguez has been placed on the DL, retroactive to Sunday, May 23rd.</p>
<p>Rodriguez, currently batting .325 for the Nationals, joins fellow catcher Jesus Flores on the DL, whose return is still uncertain. Rodriguez's primary backup, Wil Nieves, is expected to step into the starting catching role during Rodriguez's absence.</p>
<p>For more info on who will be called up to backup Nieves, head over to SB Nation's Nat's blog <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com">Federal Baseball</a>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/5/24/1485249/ivan-rodriguez-placed-on-DL-Nationals-catcherSean Fagan2010-05-24T00:33:35-04:002010-05-24T00:33:35-04:00Ivan Rodriguez Injures Lower Back, Could Head To Disabled List
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/WAS">Nationals</a> may have won the Battle of the Beltway, but they also may have lost catcher <span>Ivan Rodriguez</span> for an extended period of time after he aggravated a lower back injury prior to the rubber match of the series Sunday. Ben Goessling of MASN <a href="http://masnsports.com/the_goessling_game/2010/05/rodriguez-to-miss-teams-road-trip-dl-possible.html">is reporting</a> Rodriguez will not be with the team as they embark on a 10-game road trip.</p>
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<p>Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez did not make the team's road trip to San Francisco on Sunday night after aggravating a lower back injury on Saturday. He is expected to miss the entire 10-game road trip, which means there's a good chance he'll go on the disabled list so the Nationals can get another catcher to back up <span>Wil Nieves</span>. </p>
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<p>The veteran Rodriguez had been a pleasant surprise for the Nationals, hitting .325 this year, which is second on the team. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/5/24/2315702/ivan-rodriguez-injures-lower-back-could-head-to-disabled-listMike Prada