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11th Gold Glove, Silver Slugger for Rodriguez

BY GENE GUIDI, FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

For a record 11th time in his career, Tigers catcher Ivan (Pudge) Rodriguez has been awarded a Gold Glove by managers and coaches as the best fielder at his position in the American League.

It's the most Gold Gloves won by a catcher (the Reds' Johnny Bench had 10).

Rodriguez also won his seventh Silver Slugger award, tying Cleveland's Victor Martinez for the honor as the top-hitting AL catcher. It was the first time since the awards began in 1980 that there was a tie at one position.

Rodriguez is the Tigers' first Gold Glove winner since centerfielder Gary Pettis won the award in 1989. It is Rodriguez's first Gold Glove since 2001, when he was with the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez dominated the award in 1992-2001, winning it 10 straight years.

He's one of 13 major league players to win at least 10 Gold Gloves.

Rodriguez is the first Tigers catcher to win the award since Lance Parrish in 1985 -- the third straight year he was named he best catcher in the league. Before that, Bill Freehan won the award for the Tigers five straight seasons in 1965-69.

When the Tigers signed Rodriguez before the 2004 season, Parrish said the catcher was arguably the best player ever to play behind the plate.

"He's probably the best I've ever seen defensively," Parrish said.

Rodriguez won the award this year despite playing much of the season with a painful hip flexor that limited his mobility behind the plate.

"It was obvious to me that the hip was bothering him," Parrish said Tuesday. "But Pudge is a very proud man and he wanted to be in the lineup. That's something that both (manager Alan Trammell) and the rest of us appreciated."

In 123 starts at catcher, Rodriguez made 11 errors -- his highest total since 1992 -- and had a .987 fielding percentage.

He threw out 19 of 59 runners attempting to steal, a figure impacted by the Tigers' pitchers inability to hold runners on base.

Rodriguez, who hit .500 in June, led the Tigers offensively with a .334 batting average to go along with 19 homers and 86 RBIs.

More Gold Gloves: New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's diving grab caught the attention of all of baseball and perhaps earned him his first AL Gold Glove.

In the 12th inning of a game against Boston on July 1, Jeter sprinted after Trot Nixon's pop down the leftfield line with runners at second and third. He made the catch in fair territory, went sprawling into the crowd and was stopped by the hard-backed seats. He was taken to a hospital with a bloodied chin, red-and-swollen cheek and bruised shoulder, and New York went on to win in the 13th inning.

Toronto outfielder Vernon Wells also was a first-time winner.

Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers, who turns 40 on Nov. 10, won for the third time, the first since 2002.

Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez, Minnesota centerfielder Torii Hunter and Seattle rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki all won the award for the fourth straight season. Mariners second baseman Bret Boone won his third straight Gold Glove, his fourth overall, and Anaheim first baseman Darin Erstad won his third award, his first since 2002.

Silver Slugger: San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds extended his record by winning his 12th Silver Slugger, awarded to the top offensive players at their positions in each league by managers and coaches.

In the AL outfield, Boston's Manny Ramirez won his seventh award, Anaheim's Vladimir Guerrero his fourth and the Yankees' Gary Sheffield his third. Texas second baseman Alfonso Soriano won for the second time.

Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira, Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada and third baseman Melvin Mora, and Boston designated hitter David Ortiz were first-time winners in the AL.

St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols won for the third time in the NL, where there were seven first-time winners: San Diego second baseman Mark Loretta, Pittsburgh shortstop Jack Wilson, Los Angeles third baseman Adrian Beltre, St. Louis outfielder Jim Edmonds, Philadelphia outfielder Bobby Abreu, Atlanta catcher Johnny Estrada and Montreal pitcher Livan Hernandez.

Free agents: Red Sox star Pedro Martinez filed for free agency. Martinez just completed a $90-million, seven-year contract. The Red Sox have exclusive negotiating rights with him until Nov. 11, when other teams can make an offer for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Also filing for free agency was Red Sox outfielder Ellis Burks, 40, who has said he will retire.

Baltimore: Second baseman Jerry Hairston underwent ankle surgery and is expected to be fully recovered within six weeks. Hairston had a bone removed from his left ankle, team officials said. After wearing a protective boot for two weeks, he will begin a rehabilitation program.

Boston: Curt Schilling will have his right ankle examined Friday, and could have surgery early next week. Red Sox spokesman Glenn Geffner said Schilling's ankle was irritated by a lotion doctors used while performing a procedure to enable him to pitch in the World Series. Doctors need to wait until the inflammation goes away to examine the ankle. He will need six weeks of rest and six weeks of rehabilitation.

Cincinnati: Ryan Freel had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. Freel hit .277 in 143 games last season and led the Reds with 37 stolen bases. He made 10 or more starts at five positions, the first player to do so since the Tigers' Tony Phillips in 1992. The Reds also activated outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and right-handed pitchers Josh Hall and D.J. Mattox from the 60-day disabled list.

Free Press news services contributed.