http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/619 Recent articles about So Taguchi en-us From my loft just north of Center City I can hear the crickets chirping at Citizen's Bank Park. The celebrations have ended, the confetti's been cleaned up, and now Phillies fans have to wait another 14 weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater. That's when the World Champion ... Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:43:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/382596 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/382596 <strong>So Taguchi</strong><br /><em>Review:</em> Taguchi started the last game of the season and went 3-5. But if you forget that game, he was hitless in September. He was also hitless in August. In He was also hitless in the playoffs, too. For the majority of the season, So Taguchi was hitless. But he hung around and got ... Click on URL for more on So Taguchi, and a Review/Preview of Clay Condrey and Chris Coste. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:16:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/380807 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/380807 <b>Shane Victorino</b><br />Review: Does anybody remember when Victorino <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"http://pabaseball.blogspot.com/2008/05/who-starts- who-cares-phils-lose.html"">lost his starting job to Jayson Werth back in May? I do and six months later it was still a dumb move.<br /><br />I'll admit, I'm a ... Click on URL for full article that includes a Review/Preview for Adam Eaton, Matt Stairs, and Scott Eyre as well. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:56:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/372643 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/372643 The Phillies didn't wait long to begin preparing themselves for the 2009 season. Starting with the hiring of a new GM, they have made a flurry of moves as they begin the long process of fielding a team that will look to defend their World Series Title. That still feels good to say. Steve Smith canned: Third base coach Steve Smith will no longer be killing Phillie rallies..... Taguchi released: The Phillies released little-used outfielder So Taguchi.... Walrond to the Blue Jays: Les Walrond and his 6.10 ERA will no longer be toiling in Lehigh Valley or making the occasional appearance with the big club.... Click for more on each of these moves..... Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:03:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/363797 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/363797 New Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is already dismantling the team allowing Tom Gordon, Rudy Seanez, So Taguchi, and Les Walrond to walk away. Also, 3rd base coach Steve Smith won't be returning with the team in '09. How will these guys every be replaced? What's next, trading Chase Utley to Japan for Hideki Irabu? Click on the URL for the full article and some juicy Phils rumors. Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:21:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/363424 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/363424 Was unable to make it to all the festivities taking place in the city on Friday due to professional duties, but took the family down for a day in Philly yesterday and it was still special. All walks of life sporting World Champions Phillies gear, businesses from dive bars to swanky clothing boutiques proudly supporting the team with "Go Phils" signs in their windows and display cases, and many smiles, high fives, and "Phils!" shouted my direction as we walked the streets wearing our Phils red; even saw a pumpkin on a stoop with a Phillies "P" carved into it. Of course a pitstop at Modell's was necessary to purchase World Series Champions memorabilia. I know this will sound corny, but it truly felt like the City of Brotherly Love and I'm sad to see October end. Click on URL for full article that also contains a look at new GM Ruben Amaro Jr., prospect Jason Donald, and the contract status of So Taguchi, Tom Gordon, and Eric Bruntlett. Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:12:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/361824 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/361824 The parade has ended, and the flag has been flown. Like Chase Utley so eloquently put, the Phillies are "World ****ing Champions". Although some Philadelphians are still celebrating the Phillies World Series win, the 2008 baseball season is officially over. The playing season that is; now comes the offseason. With only one day into the offseason, the Phillies have not wasted any time shaping up their 2009 team as they have announced they will not pick up the options on pitcher Tom Gordon and outfielder So Taguchi. Gordon appeared in 32 games for the Phillies this season going 5-4 with a 5.14 ERA. He was sidelined since early-July with a sore elbow, which required surgery earlier this month. Most likely he will not be ready for the start of the 2009 season. Taguchi had somewhat of a disappointing season for the Phillies. Sporadically used, Taguchi struggled at the plate, and make a few key defensive errors, which led Charlie Manuel to use infielder Eric Bruntlett at Pat Burrell defensive replacement. Although he struggled, Phillies fans should remember Taguchi for his July 22nd at-bat against the Mets. His bases loaded double scored two runs, leading the Phillies to an 8-6 win. Sun, 02 Nov 2008 11:27:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/361768 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/361768 Thank you to: Geoff Jenkins. He was the most obvious pinch hitter in baseball history, and he decided to knock the biggest hit of his entire career, a leadoff double. So Taguchi. (...) Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:32:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/360754 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/360754 One thing left me scratching my head last night. I couldn't determine which was more bizarre: The fact that this question was asked, or the answer which Charlie Manuel gave. Let's just say it involves So Taguchi, Billy Martin, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew. Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:24:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/360684 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/360684 Believe it or not, like it or not, the Philadelphia Phillies are your 2008 World Series champions! Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:29:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/360446 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/360446 With the World Series only five days away, ideas are beginning to be tossed around about who will be the team's designated hitter in Game 1, be it in Tampa or Boston. The obvious choices would be Greg Dobbs, Geoff Jenkins, or Matt Stairs. Currently all valuable assets off the bench for pinch hitting duties, they could each step into the lineup and find success as a designated hitter. Unfortunately all of these hitters are left handed and struggle against left-handed pitching. So when the Rays Scott Kazmir or Red Sox Jon Lester takes the mound, manager Charlie Manuel might find himself in a bit of a jam as he turns to a right handed hitter. If there's one weakness on the Phillies, it's a right handed bat off the bench, which consists of Chris Coste, Eric Bruntlett, and So Taguchi. While Coste is the better of the three, he's also the backup catcher. Should an injury occur to Carlos Ruiz and Coste is the DH, it would force Jayson Werth to get behind the plate (Werth, who has never caught a game in his six major league seasons was originally a catcher when drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1997). It wouldn't be the ideal situation for Werth or the Phillies. With that potential scenerio, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the Phillies to add Lou Marson to the World Series roster. Marson, a Phillies top prospect, has been with the team the entire postseason, as a bullpen catcher. Marson spent the entire season (minus two weeks in Beijing as a member of the US Olympic Team), with the Reading Phillies where he hit .314 with 5 home runs and 46 RBI's. A September call up, has exactly one major league game under his belt, when he went 2 for 4 in the regular season finally. One of his two hits was a two-run home run against Nationals pitcher, Marco Estrada. Marson wouldn't be counted on the Fall Classic unless Ruiz or Coste fall victim to injury. He's tabbed as the Phillies catcher of the future as soon as 2009, so it would also give the 22-year old some added experience and the Phillies some needed flexibility. If Marson were to be added, he'd replace the seldom used Taguchi. Taguchi is 0 for 4 this post season, with all for at-bats coming in the NLCS against the Dodgers. Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:16:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/352655 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/352655 Had to question this one a?" Carlos Ruiz singles in the seventh inning (by the way, nice game, Chooch). Charlie Manuel decides to pinch hit Cole Hamels and go with So Taguchi against Greg Maddux. (...) Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:49:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/348253 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/348253 Game 1 Recap: Key Play- Furcal's error. Runner-Up- left field wall saving a Manny Ramirez homerun in the 1st. Best Homerun- Pat The Bat Burrell. Worst Play- pinch-bunting So Taguchi. Best Defender- Blake Dewitt. Best Slider- Brad Lidge. Worst Defender- Ryan Stonehands Howard. Worst Announcer- tie between butt-bumper Joe Buck and dick-lick Tim McCarver. Game 2 Preview- Chad Billingsley vs. Brett Myers. Go Phils! Click on the URL for a full breakdown of each category above. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:56:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/348156 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/348156 How many great athletes have worn the number 99? Think about it, after Wayne Gretzky whattaya got? I mean, you could go with the Poker Brat, Phil Hellmuth but for as much as I love poker, I would never claim they were athletes and keep a straight face.A But baseball has had even fewer double-nine's [...] Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:06:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/347513 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/347513 As expected, the Phils will carry 11 pitchers, including J.A. Happ and excluding Rudy Seanez, and So Taguchi makes the team as a bat off the bench. (From a Phillies news release): Reliever Rudy Seanez and catcher Lou Marson are not on the roster, but will travel with the team. Pitcher Kyle Kendrick, infielders Mike Cervenak and Andy Tracy and outfielder Greg Golson have reported to Clearwater, Fla., and will participate in the Florida Instructional League program to stay sharp.... Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:34:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/342487 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/342487