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Jan

20

Say It Ain’t So

We’re getting awfully close — this was fast! — to baseball season, and as such the Phillies are signing their arbitration-eligible players left and right. Cole Hamels signed for 3 years, reliever Ryan Madson also got three and Shane Victorino signed a one-year deal and so did Joe Blanton.

Not signed yet is Ryan Howard, who asked for $18 million in arbitration; he set a record (for a player who won) with his successful request for $10 million last season. If he wins — or, really, even if he gets close to it — he’ll be one of the highest paid players in baseball.

Not signed by the Phillies at all is reserve outfielder So Taguchi, who inked a minor-league deal with the Cubs. We’ll miss you, So, and your incredibly wide-open eyes.

Thanks, Jim
 
dmac | 6:10 PM | 0 Comments
Phillies, Ryan Howard, So Taguchi
 

Jul

23

Phillies’ So Taguchi Beneficiary Of Famous Reverse PW Cover Jinx

TaguchiPW

How about that? After new acquisition Joe Blanton set a Phillies record on the day off (with 7 cheesesteaks eaten in one trip to Pat’s), he pitched last night in typical fashion: 6 innings, 5 runs, an impressive 1:3 strikeout:walk ratio. The Phillies, though, rallied in the ninth inning — and they weren’t even facing this year’s Least Deserving All-Star and Worst All-Star Ever, Billy Wagner.

After the Phillies loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, Carlos Ruiz was in prime position to make another rally-killing double play but managed to hit the ball high enough to make it just a fielder’s choice; he got an added bonus when Jose Reyes screwed up and got nobody out. So Taguchi, 0-for-16 as a pinch hitter this year, came up to the plate. The recent PW cover story subject hit one over the head of (who else?) Inning-Endy Chavez — who was thrown out twice at home last night — and the Phils tied the game. Jimmy Rollins doubled in two more runs and the Phillies eventually won, 8-6.

After the jump, So Taguchi’s game-tying hit. I have a request: Watch the Redlasso video (it’s crashing my Firefox 3, so standard warning applies) and listen if you hear Sarge cheering in the background during the play. It could just be a fan, but it didn’t show up on the Mets broadcast I saw in highlights.

More »
 
dmac | 10:35 AM | 7 Comments
Jimmy Rollins, Phillies, Phillies Highlights, PW, Sarge, So Taguchi