Insert Carlos Ruiz flattery here
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Insert Carlos Ruiz flattery here
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Carlos Ruiz awoke Wednesday morning as the best hitter on the planet. He is batting .361, which leads the majors, and it is June 27.
This is real.
Someone asked the catcher if he had to pinch himself Tuesday night after another three-hit game, which included what proved to be the game-winning hit — a solo homer in the eighth.
Ruiz pinched his left arm.
"That's me," he said.
This is fun for Ruiz, of course.
The season is almost halfway over and he has established a new career-high with 10 home runs. He ranks in the top five in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. No catcher has led the National League in hitting since 1942 when Ernie Lombardi did it for the Boston Braves.
This will be hard to sustain, of course.
Not that it should temper what Ruiz has done. Two of his hits, including the homer, were on 0-2 pitches. He is succeeding even when the pitcher is extremely favored.
"When he's hitting good, I don't like to talk about it a lot," Charlie Manuel said, and then he proceeded to talk about it.
"When they get ahead of him," Manuel said, "they were going to blow him away inside."
That didn't work. Ruiz said when a hitter is going good, he can anticipate how pitchers will throw him. He says he is relaxed. But even then...
"It's hard to explain," Ruiz said.
That makes it all the more special.
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Chooch is the man! Where would this team be without him? I shutter
to think! It's a pleasure to watch him play. He's a tough player and
I admire his strength at catching. He gets hit by pitches and base
runners. Hope he makes the All Star team....he deserves it!
— Lynnwood- All I can tell you is I saw him square up every ball in spring training from day 1. I don't know what he's doing different hitting wise but he did say he did a dfferent off season workout program this winter. He has only had a 3-4 game stretch back in May where he looked like the old Chooch flying out weakly to the right side, since then bammmm! What's really cool is you can see his confidence, his leadership emerging more and more every week, not to mention the new level he has taken his defensive game to also. The guy just never screws up. That play he made tonight on the popped up bunt back by the screen is a play he wouldn't have made any other year in his career. I am very proud of him and feel bad inside that I was one of his harshest critics back in the early Chris Coste days.— Mark1npt
- My sincere apologies, Carlos.— Mark1npt
- Chooch's love of the game is infectious. It's been great cheering him on this season. I really hope he gets an allstar nod, and I'd consider him for midpoint MVP if such a thing existed.— phils_tnj1
Tough as nails. Humble to a fault. Admired by his teammates. A leader in every sense of the word.
He has steadily improved as a hitter and a catcher for his entire career. Finally getting the respect he deserves.
Where would we be without him? Choooooch !!!— zubzub- I bet Chooch could catch RA Dickey better then Posey:) I am shocked he has not picked up more votes beings we have had this home stand. He will go to the game though because LaRusso would look foolish not picking him. What a year he is having and one reason to root hard for this team— pattymac3
- For our sake, thank god this isn't a contract year for him! Sucks for Ruiz though, to be one of the best in baseball and being paid like a good bench player.— birdsfaninnc
- Mark1...just remember that the next time you rip one of our guys or the manager...there's a good chance that you're wrong...it'll be a crime if Chooch doesn't make the All-Star team...and based on the 1st half of the season alone, he should be the NL MVP...— Buck Dharma
- MVP MVP MVP MVP MVP (if this team even squeaks into the playoffs) MVP MVP MVP MVP MVP MVP MVP MVP MVP— TongueWagger
- @Buck....I've gone to Phils games since 1965....I'll rip any guy I feel like when they deserve it, particularly when they don't hustle or when they hit .230 which is what Chooch used to hit, while Coste was hitting .320, but as you can see above I do atone for it. How many other posters on here can you say that about?
I'm very proud of Carlos and the way he's improved his game every year. I am hopeful that since he got a late start in his catching career, that his body will hold up longer than the norm age for catchers, give him a chance for one more good contract and us a few more good years of watching him perform. He is easily the team MVP and if this performance continues through the season and if the Phils make the playoffs, he will easily be the NL MVP. Who among us would have entertained that idea 4-5 years ago? I'll tell you who, nobody, not even his own madre.— Mark1npt - i've always admired chooch for his defensive prowess...but never thought much of him as an offensive player. and i too always thought coste should have played more at his expensive. but chooch should his true potential in the post season, especially in '08...he was clutch, really clutch. i've looked at him differently ever since. but i never expected him to be leading the league in hitting, in june....i hope he can keep it up. love seeing a humble guy succeeding though hard work and determination. i wish some of his teammates could get a little chooch in them.— nyphilliephan
- WOW
He will be MVP if we make the playoffs and he keeps this mostly up.
Key this year is more rest. Kratz has got to play more every year Chooch (and Rollins) fizzle when he gets banged up. 2 days off a week and he can keep this up.— WFChamps - yes, let's hope Chooch follows fellow Panamanian players Rod Carew and Mariano Rivera in playing at later ages.— phils_tnj1
Comment removed.- He has been solid for years and now he's having a career year. Great for The Chooch!!— jjthree
