Ivan

Rodriguez

With Detroit having nothing to play for, Pudge will sit along with Rondell White today. FYI for those of you in daily transaction leagues.

If his strained right hamstring muscle gives him the slightest amount of discomfort during pregame workouts, I-Rod won’t play today.

If I-Rod is unavailable, Brandon Inge will be behind the plate this afternoon and Eric Munson could start at third base.

Rodriguez has only three hits in his last nine games, and hitting coach Bill Robinson said, ''right now he doesn’t have a clue.’' Robinson says Pudge isn’t seeing the ball well. That tends to jive with Pudge’s earlier passed ball issues where he said he wasn’t picking up the ball against the background. Owners may want to keep an eye on Pudge’s day/night (.200/.300) and home/road (.286/.235) splits as he adjusts to the National League parks.

This won’t quiet the steroids talk. Rodriguez said he played last year at 215 pounds. He thinks carrying less weight will prevent him from wearing down in the second half of the season. Those drafting him will just have to hope he didn’t sacrifice any strength.

Pudge says he has ''never gotten hit [by foul tips] in my career like I’m getting hit this year.’' He’s dinged up, but keep him active.

Rodríguez left Saturday’s game after Adam Dunn fouled a ball off his right foot in the sixth. Mike Redmond will likely get the start in his place.

Manager Jack McKeon doesn’t expect Pudge back full-time for a couple days, although it’s possible he could pinch-hit.

“We’ll kick it around,” Trammell said. “He has other gloves.” This happens every spring, and every spring, nothing comes of it. Brandon Inge is set to be the regular at third base, and the Tigers aren’t going to use Pudge elsewhere in order to free up at-bats for Vance Wilson.

Rodriguez said he will retain agent Scott Boras, fueling speculation he will look for the best deal financially. Asked if his hope is to stay with the Marlins, Rodriguez said, “I don’t know. We’ll see later on what’s going to happen.” The Cubs, Orioles and Giants are among the teams that could pursue Pudge.