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Pudge Rodriguez envisions everyday role with Nationals News Sports Entertainment Radio TV My Region Member Centre Login Sign UpHalifax (Shearwater) Change City9c Tomorrow0c Snow and blowing snow Hockey Headlines Scoreboard Standings Stats NHL Schedule Teams Players Hockey Night in Canada Highlights Fantasy Pool FIFA World Cup Vancouver Now Football Headlines CFL Scoreboard CFL Standings CFL Stats CFL Teams NFL Scoreboard NFL Standings NFL Stats NFL Teams NFL Players Video Alpine Skiing Curling Figure Skating Basketball NBA Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Basketball News Feed Baseball MLB Scoreboard Standings Stats Teams Players Baseball News Feed Soccer MLS Scoreboard MLS Standings International Stats Soccer News Feed Amateur Sports Golf Tennis Auto Racing Story Tools EMAIL PRINT Text Size S M L XL REPORT TYPO SEND YOUR FEEDBACK Pudge Rodriguez envisions everyday role with NationalsLast Updated Friday December 11 2009 734 PM ET The Associated Press Ivan Rodriguez right shakes hands with Nationals GM Mike Rizzo at the catchers introductory news conference (Kevin WolfAssociated Press)Ivan Rodriguez insisted Friday he wants to be an everyday player He also insisted kept saying so over and over that what he cares about most is winningBoth of those stances make the catchers decision to sign a twoyear $6million US deal with the Washington Nationals a fascinating oneThis is after all a club that figures it has a starinthemaking at catcher in Jesus Flores even if the kid is coming off shoulder surgery And this is also a club that led the major leagues in losses in 2008 and 2009 accumulating more than 100 each yearHes a very prideful guy And he thinks his skills are at their finest He might be right You never know Hes going to be a significant contributor to the ball club Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Now if that means 70 to 80 games or if that means 708090100 games those are questions that will be answered throughout the course of the season The best problem that Ill have all season is Who of these two hot catchers are we going to play on a daily basisFlores was injured in May when he was hit by a foul ball returned for three atbats in early September then had surgery to repair a torn labrum He hit 301 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 93 atbats and Rizzo said Flores is expected to be ready for spring trainingFlores is 25 and has played in 198 games in the majorsRodriguez is 38 and has caught a record 2288 games earning 14 AllStar selections 13 Gold Gloves and the 1999 AL MVP award along the way He also has a 299 career batting average with 2711 hits 305 homers and 1264 RBIs and has thrown out 42 per cent of wouldbe basestealersAll of which is why Rizzo opened Fridays news conference at Nationals Park by calling the player known as Pudge the greatest catcher in our generation and quite possib...