Yardbarker: Carlos Ruiz

Phillies sign backup catcher Brian Schneider

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:14:00 -0500

With all the talk of needing a third baseman and some bullpen help, the Phillies also needed a backup catcher this offseason to help out Carlos Ruiz. Well, that item can be checked off the list as the Phillies have added catcher Brian Schneider. According to the Allentown Morning Call, the Phillies have signed the 10 year MLB vet to a 2 year contract.Schneider, who has spend his entire career in the NL East with the Expos/Nationals and Mets, is known as a solid defensive catcher. He spent the...

Brian Schneider a Phillie

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:12:00 -0500

Brian Schneider has signed on to be Carlos Ruiz's backup next season. The Cherryville, PA product grew up a Phillies fan and quickly jumped on the opportunity to play for them instead of waiting out free agency for more playing time and possibly a bigger contract. Schneider is a lifetime .251/.697 hitter in 10 MLB seasons with the Expos/Nationals and most recently the Mets. He endured a horrible 2009 (.218/.627), but injuries contributed to his tailspin. Schneider is a reliable defensive ...

Violated : Cultural Appropriation In Honor Of Carlos Ruiz

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:09:43 -0500

Given my own rooting interests in the upcoming World Series (ie., I’d like to see it canceled), I have to say I greatly prefer the original version of Kurt Vile’s video for “Freak Train”. That said, if the above clip can bring peace to the waring factions behind Chooch’s Chicos and the Chooch -Chooch Train [...]

Señor Octubre Gets The Love

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:14:23 -0500

It's impossible to ignore the post-season contributions of one Carlos Ruiz, who prior to last season's magical run was often overlooked for his steadiness behind the plate. True, he had struggled at the plate for most of '08, but he was just one season removed from batting .259 and knocking in 54 runs. Some managers dream of that type of production at the bottom of the order.All he's done since that one lousy season is be clutch in the playoffs. Big hits, game winning hits...

Señor Octubre

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:06:16 -0500

Carlos Ruiz gained a new nickname with his post-season play. There’s even a hoodie you can purchase with Señor Octubre on the front! It took Ruiz a long time to make the majors; he’s 30 years old in his fourth season. He draws walks, hits doubles, and really shines in the post season with [...]

All aboard the Chooch-choo; Ruiz is Phillies' flavor of the month

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:21:26 -0500

The Carlos Ruiz(notes) Bandwagon makes a particular sound at Citizens Bank Park. Just train your ears to pick up the "Chooooooooooooooch" and hitch a ride with the Phillies' hottest postseason hitter.The 30-year-old Ruiz leads the Phillies in the playoffs with a .429 batting average, which contrasts his .246 career mark over three full seasons. The hits haven't been empty ones, either; his three-run homer was the key to victory in Game 1 of the NLCS. Overall, Ruiz has seven ...

El Senior Octubre

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:21:49 -0500

I remember back in spring training, sitting in the seats at the Phillies park in Clearwater and my buddy said to me, "I bet Carlos Ruiz hits .300 this year." Naturally, I thought the cheap beer or the priceless sunshine had gotten to his head and sure enough, Ruiz fell way short. As a matter of fact, he did well to hit .255 for the year, raising his average 36 points over the 2008 WFC campaign. But when you think about all a catcher has to take care of in a game -- he...

Choochtober and Other Photoshop Fun

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:55:07 -0500

Carlos Ruiz has been one of the brightest Phillies in October over the past two seasons. Many felt that his performance in the World Series warranted him consideration for Series MVP. While it was tough to argue with anything Cole Hamels did that series, Chooch has picked up where he left off last October and is batting .333 this post season with 3 RBIs. Thus, the advent of Choochtober. [more PhotoShop'n below] Thanks to reader Pat for sending in the Choochtober photoshop a...

Report: Ruiz flies home to have wrist checked

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:50:50 -0500

ESPN's Jayson Stark reports Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz departed Florida Wednesday morning to have his sprained left wrist examined by team doctor Michael Ciccotti. Ruiz injured the wrist Friday in Atlanta. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. suggested the measure is precautionary and told Stark he doesn't consider the injury to be serious. Beerleaguer: Ruiz didn't make the cut in our earlier poll for team MVP, but if you asked me to list the most indispensable players - the ones they'd...

Today in Philly Sports History: Chico Ruiz Steals Home, 1964

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Whenever Phillies fans feel like developing a swelled head with the team's performance come late-September, one need only say the name "Chico Ruiz" to remind them how they should never take any late-season lead for granted. Ruiz was far from a baseball immortal--he only played sporadically throughout eight seasons as a utility player with the Cincinnati Reds, and hit a whopping total of two home runs in his 1255 career plate appearances (or one every 627.5 PAs--even make...

Carlos Ruiz… Above Average?

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:16:44 -0500

Don’t look now, but the Phillies’ starting catcher is actually hitting above the league average for his position! No, they didn’t hire Mike Lieberthal circa 2003; Carlos Ruiz is just having a damn fine offensive season. He has a .790 OPS, good for a 105 OPS+ in the National League. Most of his production has [...]

The Carlos Ruiz Chest Protector Backpack Giveaway Is Fantastic

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:12:59 -0500

If you happen to have tickets for the August 30th game against the Braves AND you’re 14 & under, this glorious Carlos Ruiz Catcher’s Backpack giveaway could be all yours, my friend: Badass, right? If it weren’t for those Mariners hosting an ‘I Can Haz Cheezburger’ night, this would easily be the greatest promotion of [...]

Ricardo Clark tries to break Carlos Ruiz' arm (video)

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:43:26 -0500

Here's the incident everyone's talking about where Houston Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark kicks FC Dallas' Carlos Ruiz while the latter is on the ground.