What did Pudge Rodriguez say about the Texas Rangers before Game 3 of the World Series?

Texas Rangers legend and MLB Hall of Famer catcher Pudge Rodriguez spent 13 years with the Rangers and knows what a World Series title would mean to the franchise.

“It means everything,” said Rodriguez. “We’ve been close.”

Rodriguez remembers the Rangers’ heartbreaking loss in the 2011 World Series and his own team’s losses to the New York Yankees in the playoffs in the late 1990s.

Rodriguez was at the opening game of this year’s World Series between the Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks where he caught former president George W. Bush’s ceremonial first pitch.

Rodriguez was wowed by the atmosphere at Globe Life Field over the first two games.

“Amazing. I mean, it’s very warm, very loud,” said Rodriguez, “All the fans are right there close to the field...they’re into it and it’s been great.”

Rodriguez is also teaming up with SAXX Underwear for a World Series promotion that will give away free underwear for life to whoever can correctly predict it’s Ballgorithm from the World Series.

The Ballgorithm combines passed balls, balls thrown, 2-0 counts among other ball-related statistics into a new metric. To win fans have to correctly guess the total Ballgorithm for the entire World Series.

SAXX will also multiply the Ballgorithm metric by 1000 and donate the products to the Testicular Cancer Foundation.

“Great cause obviously, and [testicular cancer is] something that we have to keep your eye on it and go check because you never know,” said Rodriguez.

Ahead of game 3 of the World Series Rodriguez knows the Rangers are in for a fight.

“I think, we need to keep doing what we’re doing. We’re gonna have, three very tough games in Arizona coming up and, and the starting pitcher from Arizona [Brandon Pfaadt] today is, is a really good pitcher as well,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez pointed out that Pfaadt had struggled against the Rangers in his MLB debut, but said the playoffs were a different game.

Rodriguez said he spoke with the Rangers’ Game 3 starter Max Scherzer before the game and that the former Cy Young Award winner is ready to go and also praised Rangers catcher Jonah Heim.

“I think the year that Jonah has this year is tremendously defensively and offensively. But to me, behind the plate is what amazed me the most, to be honest with you,” said Rodriguez, “Very happy for him to have the year that he’s had. One of the reasons that the Rangers are in the World Series is because of the job that he’s doing behind the plate.”

Rodriguez won the 2003 World Series with the Miami Marlins so he knows what it’s like to win a World Series and said it would be special to see Rangers fans get that experience.

“I think for the city, Arlington, and the metroplex, Dallas-Fort Worth area I think they’re waiting for that,” said Rodriguez, “Seeing that trophy, you know, by the end of this week is gonna be nice.”