FanPost

Henry Rodriguez Can Flat Out Bring IT!!!

I am huddling on my couch and still thawing out from my journey to San Jose to see Henry Rodriguez battle the San Jose Giants.

I was fortunate enough to get an entire front row of seats for my friends and family that was located within easy speaking distance to the players and coaches.

When I first got to my seat, Henry Rodriguez was getting ready to take the field for his warm-up and he signed a couple of autographs first, one of which was on my game program. When he was done, Jared Lansford signed it as well. I was stoked.

When I finally got a chance to sit down I saw this HUGE young man in the dugout

and after referencing my game notes I saw that he was Chris Carter...A's fans, THIS KID IS HUGE!!! He is also a gentle Giant type who looks happy to be playing the game.

I walked up to him and asked if he was 6-5 and he said that he was. I told him that I'd heard he was big but that I was astounded by just how big he was. He posed for a picture for me and I was in baseball nerd mode for the rest of the night. (Complete with pitch for pitch scorecard)

When H-Rod took the mound it was apparent that he was in an entirely different League than the kids he was pitching too. Well all except for one, the Giants 21 year old catcher, Sandoval, turned around a 98 MPH fastball in a split second and hit it over the CF fence. Every other Giants was just hoping to hit a fastball.

Rodriguez was consistently between 94-98 MPH and didn't walk a batter.

He has some things to work on, like being better with runners on base and gaining command of a true off-speed pitch, but this kid has major league heat.

If he can work on a slide step and add one more pitch he will be Major League ready.

On a funny side note, when I pointed out to the Stockton Manager that H-Rod needed a better slide step, he said that they were working on it and then in a moderately polite tone thanked me. For some reason I took that to mean, "WTF do you know, leave the coaching to us pros".

I'll be interested in seeing IF he can take the next step in his progression. His control was there all night...Well...Except for the time that he nailed a batter with a 98 MPH heater square in the middle of his neck.

If you haven't taken the time to get out and see the Ports yet this year...WHAT's stopping you. Anderson goes tomorrow and Cahill goes on Wednesday. In San Jose, you can sit in the 8th row between the plate and dugout for 8 bucks (General Admission) and the parking is only $7.

Cheers,

Saint