Tagged: Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz’ Return

His 25 game suspension nearing completion, Carlos Ruiz may return to catch for the Phils on April 28 against the Mets.That means he might be back next week.

He ‘might be’ and not surely will be because he was hit on the wrist in a game in Clearwater yesterday.

His X-rays are negative, but he’s been deemed day to day by the Phillies’ brass.

Phillies Carlos Makes Sports Illustrated’s Cover

This isn’t a commercial – but….buy this week’s Sports Illustrated. It’s the one with Carlos Ruiz on the cover.

What a great article, a complimentary article.

The article tells some of Carlos’ background in Panama, the struggle after his father died, how he promised he’d make the big leagues – a promise that had such a slim chance of being fulfilled.

But he did it.

The article describes his attitude towards catching: that the pitchers’ ERAS become his own, that he tries to be one with the pitcher when he’s on the mound, thinking together with him as one entity.

I know. You loved Carlos already, but read the article. I guarantee you’ll love him even more after you do.

And by the way, the mystery concerning the source of Chooch’s nickname is unveiled in the article. There were always several explanations floating around. But I guess now we know.

 

Cole Knocks Out the Reds

The story of the day is that Cole Hamels is exactly where he wants to be, pitching practically perfectly, and scaring his opposition. He has left no doubt that he is one of the Three Aces, as surgical as any pitcher could hope to be, with a fast ball of 95 that is enhanced by his cutter.

The Reds were held to a .113 average, the lowest batting average any team was ever held to in a post season series.

Meanwhile, the team has a bunch of days to rest and recover from various beanings from pitching during the last few weeks.

Here’s hoping that Carlos spends a great deal of this week in a whirlpool. How he catches , courching and then jumping to his feet up to throw out a runner, after his knee was drilled the other day, is a marvel.

Whirlpool, Carlos!

 

Hudson Drills Ruiz

Braves pitcher Tim Hudson is fast becoming one of my least favorite people. He gave Polanco a surgery-necessitating injury early in the season, and then yesterday, he hit Carlos Ruiz on his arm- that’s Carlos, the Phillies’ player with the highest average and highest on base percentage. And he hit him in the final game before the play offs begin.

That’s really two hit players too many.

Xrays were negative and Carlos said on Sunday that though he is sore, he doesn’t anticipate trouble. But he also said he’d see how he feels when he wakes up this morning.

So now the Phils play the Reds on Wednesday, in the first game of the playoffs.

And as they say, the game is truly afoot.

Chooch?

So I finally decided to research the meaning of Carlos Ruiz’ nickname. What is a Chooch?

After scurrying around the internet for a while, I came up with several possible meanings for the term.

Some of the Phillies say that ‘Chooch’ doesn’t mean anything, that it’s just an affectionate term Carlos gained around the clubhouse. Um…maybe.

There are three other possible meanings that I found  – and they were all unpleasant ones to one degree or another, especially when one thinks of 44,000 people screaming them when Chooch comes to bat.

I found that one potential meaning comes from the Columbian word for B.O. (chucha), while another potential meaning comes from an Italian word that means jackass or moron. The last term is too vile to be funny: It refers to a sex offender, so that can’t be it.

All in all, I’d prefer to believe that ‘Chooch’ has no meaning, that it’s just a funny sounding nickname for our gutsy catcher – but I think I know better than that.

Ruiz and Burrell

Carlos Ruiz said that sometime ‘after the game’ (ie during the celebration) that he injured his quad. Um. Should the clubhouse be given a Celebration 101 tutorial, to avoid injuries in the future? (Remember, Lidge seemingly was injured in the ’08 celebration, tho he denied it.)

Would MLB stars sit still for tutorials? How much CAN the manager tell his players? One wonders.

Speaking of tutorials, Pat Burrell comes to Philly this week with the Giants. Philadelphia is always generous when returning players (who don’t diss them) come home to Citizens Bank Park. (exceptions: Rolen, Waggoner..etc)

Now, Fans, repeat after me:

I will applaud for Pat at his first at bat. I will even stand and applaud for Pat at his first at bat.

However, I will not applaud any hits he makes.

Cmon, Phil fans, it’s not hard. Repeat it, memorize it and then this week at the Park, do the right thing.

And give our regards to Elvis.

The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Phillies’ Bats

The snow capped Rockies rang with the cracks of the Phils’ bats in the 9th inning during last night’s outing against the Colorado Rockies.

In total, the Phils knocked in four runs during the 9th. Ross Gload pinch hit – and homered.

And Carlos Ruiz – the Mighty Carlos Ruiz, rather – got Howard home with his single.

Everyone did their part. It was a pretty much a picture perfect 9th.

Shane Victorino had two triples in the game. Two.  He sort of looked like a comic strip character, his legs whirring in a blurry speed as he rounded the bases.  Like the announcer said, they don’t call him the Flyin’ Hawaaian for nothing.

Today the Phillies send out The Doctor. Should be good.

 

Phillies Looking Good While Hamels Shines

What does every Phillies fan need to hear? I’ll tell you: Cole Hamels is looking like his 2008 self.

And he is. His fastball was in the mid 90’s, and his pitches were down. He looked great. And if that idiot hadn’t run out on the field in the 9th inning, Hamels might have finished the game in great style. But….that is something we’ll never know.

Brad Lidge looked crisp, too. His slider was very effective, and who isn’t relieved (honest, no pun intended) to see that?

And Carlos. When his first homerun attempt went foul, he muscled another one, fair this time, and won the game.

And did you see him when he got not one, but two cream pies in the face? (kindness of Victorino and Dobbs, I believe.)  He just wiped his face a little bit, leaving all the shaving cream in his hair, and continued his post-game interview, looking like some sort of demented Christmas elf as Sarge commented on the ‘children’ present.

The Cardinals are a tough team to beat. Their pitching is good, and they seem to get hits when they need them. But to a great degree, the Phillies continue to have Pujols’ number.

Yep. The Phillies looked good last night.

Phils Sick List Grows

Over the past week, a number of Phillies players have gotten sick and have not played for that reason.

Coach Sam Perlozzo has been out, as has Carlos Ruiz. Chase Utley was sick last week, and Shane Victorino has been sick as well.

Wash your hands, boys.

Meanwhile, at Bright House Field, Brett Myers comes to town on Thursday. Should be interesting. Anyone hoping for a lopsided Phillies victory? mm Hmm.

Phillies on the Hunt for Third Base and Bench

While the Phillies management are looking for third base and bench players, Chan Ho Park has not been brought back – although Ruben Amaro says they would like to bring back both Park and Eyre for the 2010 season.

Both pitchers did well in the Phillies bullpen. Park was sometimes downright amazing, and made many wonder if he were potential closer material.

As for Carlos Ruiz, he remains numero uno behind the plate. Brian Schneider – who grew up near Allentown, PA – has been signed to catch back up to Ruiz. It’s a nice story: Brian, an all-his-life-Phillies-fan now plays for the team he loves. You gotta like that.

And that the Mets let him go? May they live to heartily regret it.