Taguchi Off The Hook With Hit
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, July 23, 2008 02:37 PM | Comments: 12
Posts
Todd Zolecki today blogged about So Taguchi’s big two-run double in the ninth inning of last night’s comeback 8-6 win. It was Taguchi’s first memorable moment as a Phillie.
“I am a small part,†he said. “It’s not me. It’s the team.â€
Paul Hagen wrote about the play. Charlie Manuel added that Taguchi had a great at bat:
“So had a heckuva at-bat,” he said. “He fouled off a couple pitches. The guy kept throwing him away, away, away. The rightfielder was playing in a little bit, and he hit it right over his head.”
Taguchi really did have a great at bat, just getting the bat wheerve the ball was coming in until he could get a strike. And what a strike. I couldn’t believe Taguchi could rope the ball that deep into right field.
Looking back, it was really gutsy going with Taguchi and not Eric Bruntlett in that situation — or even sticking with Geoff Jenkins. If Taguchi gets an out there, we’re blasting Jimy Williams for the move. It worked, and boy, what a boost for Taguchi.
Posts: 0 Geoff
Yeah i guess he can stay for a bit longer. shockingly, at this point in time he has more value to this team than geoff jenkins does.
Posted: 02:42 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 ped
i kinda felt that maybe So was put in because he could possibly have outrun a double play. He’s pretty fast right?
Posted: 02:55 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
He’s not much a threat to steal at will but can run the bases as good as anyone from the sound of it. He did well do get his head in the game ater all thats happened, Ruiz was dangerous close to grounding into the double play, we got lucky Reyes showboated and couldn’t make the out at first.
Posted: 03:13 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Frank
Last night’s game was a nifty composite of why, ultimately, the Phillies are probably a little closer to good than mediocre. Philadelphia has quality relief pitching. They have a lot of nights where they don’t do much offensively, but still score five runs or so- mostly cause they hit a lot of homeruns (one mistake equals a crooked number) and they have three-and-a-half very good RBI-style bats: Utley, Howard, Burrell and Rollins. (Rollins only counts for a half because the Phillies stupidly insist on batting him lead-off.)
And of course, while he make us crazy with his game day approach, the Phillies really, really play for Charlie.
I mean, Pat Burrell reads and knows the scouting report: can’t play outfield! But the Mets hit the ball in corner, he hustles after it. He throws a strike to the right guy- a hustle play combined with a smart play- and the Phillies cut off a big inning with an out at the plate.
The Phillies made a ton of opportunistic defensive plays last night- two outs at the plate, Rollins snags one up the middle, Utley stabs a line drive diving- all four examples here made by guys who aren’t “great†defensive players. That is what Charlie brings- alert, if not good, defense and relief pitching and good at-bats even when you’re down four runs on the road. Guys play for him- and play hard and chippy*.
*three Mets, including Santana, hit by pitches- love that chippy play when you’re struggling and they ain’t.
Posted: 03:31 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 ped
speaking of which… It seemed like Blanton was going at Santana with those pitches. I think he hit him too. It made me like the guy a little more.
Posted: 03:36 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
I actually had a really good feeling when they pulled Jenkins and replaced him with So. When I saw So step to the plate I knew he was going to make the best of it, I don’t know why I knew it, but I did. I’ve also been really weird at making predictions lately. Last off season I said to a bunch of my friends Pat Burrell is going to hit roughly, .280 with 40 homers and 120 RBI’s. I’m going to be off by a bit, but his RBI’s are definitely skewed by the fact that he has a guy with a horrible OBP batting in front of him, and that also likes to clear the bases or strike out to end an inning. He also gets taken out late in games constantly. If Burrell was batting 4th all season and played the whole game, like Howard does…I guarantee he’d have 80 RBI’s right now, but regardless that was one prediction I made. I also said they were going to play .500 ball in April. I also said that Hamels wasn’t going to get any run support. Lastly, I had a dream Saturday night that the Phillies were going to lose Sunday to the Marlins 3-2, and that Cantu would win the game with a walk-off home run. Damn, that dream sucked.
Posted: 03:37 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 So Taguchi
take dat, Muts fans!
Posted: 03:42 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Chase Mutley
C’mon, I was screaming “Taguchi!!!!!!!!!!” like everyone else and I was stoked he got the Ashburn but I never want to see him at the plate with the game on the line. Every dog has his day.
Posted: 04:32 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Frank
After they hit Santana, I was wondering how many guys the Phillies could hit (four? five?) before the Mets knocked someone down.
If either team gets up big tonight- I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mets retaliate (particularly if they’re losing or the Phillies hit someone again tonight)
Posted: 04:36 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
A bench clearing brawl……boy you savages are looking for blood
Posted: 04:42 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 Jeffrey
That Taguchi hit reminds me of Rod Barajas getting that clutch RBI single against the Cards last year. In both cases, probably smart not to get carried away. As the saying goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Posted: 05:20 PM on July 23, 2008
Posts: 0 that guy
The sun even shines on a dogs asshole one day
Posted: 06:01 PM on July 23, 2008