Ruiz walking around all smug after extending hot streak to two games
Carlos Ruiz raised his batting average by nearly 100 points in two days after turning in back-to-back 2-for-2 performances.
Ruiz entered Wednesday’s contest with a .161 average and left Thursday’s game with a robust .257 mark. ‘Chooch’ also walked twice in each game, which raised his OBP from .278 to .409.
Teammates have noted that the seemingly insignificant streak has started to affect Ruiz’s clubhouse behavior.
“He’s going around asking everybody what their batting averages are over the past two games,” said Ryan Howard, who happens to be batting .000 in that period. “And before you can get it out, he’s like ‘No one cares ’cause it’s definitely not 1.000 like mine is’.”
Jimmy Rollins, who responded with a 1-for-5 night after being placed back in the leadoff spot, also felt the sting of Ruiz’s braggadocio after Thursday’s game.
“I was really about to go upside Chooch’s head a minute ago,” Rollins said. “He said something like ‘Dawg . . . can you remember the last time one of these raggedy-ass pitchers actually got me out? ‘Cause I just can’t seem to recall.’”
In the latest World Series-related distraction that the Phils really don’t need, the team visited President Obama at the White House today and will take on the Nationals tonight at 7:05. Joe Blanton will try and get the Phils back in the win column as he faces off against John Lannan.
Ibanez demolishes Aaron Rowand's record for fastest to tri-state man-crush
Aaron Rowand’s legendary record of reaching full-on man-crush status in only 34 games as a Phillie has fallen in nearly half the time due to Raul Ibanez’s epic play, only 18 games into his Phillies career. Rauuuul capped off a 3-for-5 performance at the plate with a go-ahead grand slam in the Phillies’ 13-11 triumph over the bottom-dwelling Washington Nationals.
The previous man-love record was set back on May 11, 2006 when Rowand made a spectacular catch while smashing head first into the center field fence at Citizens Bank Park against the rival Mets with the bases loaded. The bloodied center fielder’s all-out hustle and love for the game earned him an instant free pass for the remainder of his baseball career and an early trip to the disabled list. The injury also led to Cole Hamels’ major league debut as he was called up to replace Rowand and made his first career start the following day.
Ibanez earned the record by hitting .342 with six home runs, 16 RBIs and 18 runs scored through 18 games. By comparison, Rowand hit .306 with only two homers, five RBIs and an un-Ibanez-like nine runs scored through his first 18 games as a Phillie. However, sacrificing your body to make a game-saving catch is easily worth a good 20 or so homers.
“I definitely don’t play this game for the records, but I appreciate the sentiment by the fans,” said Ibanez. “I consider myself lucky that I didn’t have to destroy my face to break the record. That’s always a good thing.”
Phils complete Marlins sweep as Victorino fuels awkward leadoff controversy
Shane Victorino reached base three times and drove in four runs from the leadoff spot, helping the Phillies to their third straight win and a series sweep over the first place Marlins.
Jimmy Rollins was given his second day off this season as he battles through an early season slump. The 2007 NL MVP’s hitting woes and Victorino’s recent hot streak will give Charlie Manuel a tough decision in the coming days of who will bat in the leadoff spot for the reigning World Champions.
“Jimmy’s been our leadoff guy for a while now and the focus is just on getting him going,” Manuel said. “Luckily our next series is with the Nats, so we could throw the pitcher up top and it wouldn’t matter anyway.”