Ivan Rodriguez

Meet Ivan Rodriguez Catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez of the Texas Rangers has led the American League in throwing out runners five of the past seven seasons. "I don't even try stealing on him anymore," says New YorYankee Chuck Knoblauch, one of the A.L. 's top base-stealers. Ivan was a short, pudgy kid, which is why a Little League coacnicknamed him Pudge. He grew up to be only 5-foot-9, but he has won six Gold Gloves and is a six-time All-Star! Pub Date: 4/29/98 Tim Hardaway of the Miami Heat once made his elementary school classroom red hot. Why?

On the field: Rafael Palmeiro extended his hitting streak to 13 games, second-longest in the American League behind Texas' Ivan Rodriguez, who went 4-for-5 to extend his streak to 15.In the dugout: Two days before his troubled pitcher's next start, Davey Johnson met with Rocky Coppinger to allay any hard feelings.In the clubhouse: "At any time, his door's open. I'm a young guy. I'm going to use that open door many times in my career." -- Coppinger after meeting with Johnson.Pub Date: 5/03/97

Hitting Juan Gonzalez, Rangers: 3-for-5, 2 HRs, 3 runs, 4 RBIs.Ivan Rodriguez, Rangers: 3-for-4, double, 2 runs.Mike Blowers, Athletics: 2-for-5, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs.Joe Randa, Tigers: 3 hits, 3 RBIs.PitchingBrian Moehler, Tigers: 9 innings, 7 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks.Bret Saberhagen, Red Sox: 6 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 6 strikeouts.Woody Williams, Blue Jays: 6 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts.Dennis Springer, Devil Rays: 5 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs.Pub Date: 5/31/98

BaseballMontreal Expos -- Signed IF Jeff Gardner and P Randy Kramer to contracts with Triple-A Ottawa. Invited nonroster P Heath Haynes to spring training.San Diego Padres -- Signed P Trevor Hoffman to a three-year contract. Signed SS Ricky Gutierrez, a former Orioles prospect, to a one-year contract.San Francisco Giants -- Agreed to terms with P Pat Gomez on a minor-league contract.Texas Rangers -- Agreed to terms with 3B Dean Palmer and C Ivan Rodriguez on one-year contracts.BasketballMiami Heat -- Signed F Glen Rice to a five-year contract.

Players who received bonuses for their election to Tuesday's All-Star Game:AMERICAN LEAGUE $100,000 Kirby Puckett, Minn.Cal Ripken, OriolesRick Aguilera, Minn.Roberto Alomar, Tor.Wade Boggs, N.Y.Joe Carter, Tor.Ken Griffey, Sea.Jimmy Key, N.Y.J. Montgomery, K.C.John Olerud, Tor.Greg Vaughn, Milw.Duane Ward, Tor.$25,000 M. Mussina, OriolesCarlos Baerga, Cleve.Albert Belle, Cleve.Cecil Fielder, Det.Travis Fryman, Det.Paul Molitor, Tor.Devon White, Tor.$10,000 Ivan Rodriguez, Tex.NATIONAL LEAGUE $50,000 Darren Daulton, Phi.Tom Glavine, Atl.Bryan Harvey, Fla.David Justice, Atl.John Kruk, Phil.

Overseas duty for 2 O'sA major-league all-star team will resume Japanese postseason tours for the first time since 1992, playing an eight-game series from Oct. 31-Nov. 10.Cal Ripken, Ken Griffey, Albert Belle, Alex Rodriguez, Mike Piazza, Chuck Knoblauch, Andres Galarraga and Ivan Rodriguez are among the players already selected for the major-league roster."I think it's awesome," Anderson said. "I've been wanting to go for four years."Others also already selected are Robin Ventura, Eric Young, Todd Hundley, Brady Anderson, John Franco, Tom Glavine, Pedro J. Martinez, Denny Neagle (Arundel)

Blue Jays: Joe Carter's homer was his 374th, moving him past Rocky Colavito into 37th place all-time.Braves: The sellout crowd gave the team a season attendance of 2,536,239, the sixth consecutive year it has surpassed 2.5 million. Shortstop Jeff Blauser didn't start for the second game in a row after being spiked on his left foot.Mets: Pete Harnisch is 0-6 in 12 starts in the majors since winning last Aug. 8.Rangers: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who signed a five-year, $42 million contract on July 31, took the night off. He has six hits in his past 40 games.

Quote: "I was heading around second and still looking for the umpire to signal home run." -- Athletics' Ryan Christianson, who saw the ball, thrown back by a fan, but no signal that he'd hit his first major-league homer, which barely cleared the wall in right-center.It's a fact: The Athletics-Devil Rays game was delayed for four minutes in the eighth while the grounds crew swept up broken glass from a light hit by A. J. Hinch's foul ball.Who's hot: The Rangers' Ivan Rodriguez doubled twice and singled, lifting his major-league-leading average from .442 to .451.