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Those of you tuning in for the pregame festivities before tonight's Game 3 of the World Series - the first the Rangers will have ever played in Texas - will notice another first: A current member of the Nationals will be catching a baseball on the field of a World Series game.
Don't get too excited; it's for ceremonial purposes only. But Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez will be on the field nonetheless, catching former Rangers legend (and current team president) Nolan Ryan's first pitch.
On the surface, it makes sense. Rodriguez is the greatest catcher in Rangers history, and caught Ryan for the final three seasons of his career in Texas. But Hardball Talk's Craig Calcaterra was upset by the news yesterday, arguing that a player currently under contract with another team shouldn't be participating in ceremonies for another team like he's retired.
Any thoughts on this? Personally, I don't think it's a huge deal. I can understand the objection, but let's be honest: Rodriguez will always be known as a Ranger. It's not like he's had a long and storied career with the Nationals.
But maybe some of you feel different about it. What do you think? Let me know.
