All-Star catcher, Ivan Rodriguez out with back problems

All-Star catcher, Ivan Rodriguez out 4-6 weeks with herniated disc.

April 22, 2002 -- Puerto Rican, All-Star catcher, Ivan Rodriguez will miss nearly two months of baseball due to a herniated disc in his lower back.

The Rangers will place him on the 15-day disabled list once they return home from the Seattle trip. A move that the entire team is dreading.

"It hurts," said teammate Rafael Palmeiro. "He is one of the best players in the game. We've got Haselman who can step in, but we're going to miss Pudge."

I-Rod's injury is the latest in a rash of injuries to the Rangers' ballclub.

Slugger Juan Gonzalez and pitcher Chan Ho Park are also injured and on the disabled list.

Backup Bill Haselman will do the catching in Rodriguez's place. Rodriguez is hitting .222 (10-for-45) in 12 games this season.

Manager Jerry Narron is confident Rodriguez will come back strong, and perhaps sooner than estimated.

"If anybody can be ready in that length of time or before it would be Pudge," Narron said. "He's already rehabbing."

Rodriguez, 30, is coming off two seasons of injuries and can be a free agent after the season. Hart said it's too early to tell if this latest problem will affect whether or not the Rangers re-sign Rodriguez.