Aaron Rowand warned me yesterday. Now that the Phillies have acquired Tadahito Iguchi, the pool of beat writers who cover the team daily at home and on the road (about six of us) is about to double. Sure enough, Iguchi, his interpreter and at least a half-dozen reporters for Japanese media outlets showed up at Citizens Bank Park today. Iguchi, by the way, is in the lineup, wearing No. 12 and batting seventh, although Charlie Manuel likely will bump him up to second as soon as Rowand comes back from his shoulder injury. Rowand is sitting out again tonight, still a little sore after tearing some scar tissue while playing tag with his kids in the backyard.
Interesting guy, Iguchi, at least from what I can tell. He said he thought he may get traded, considering the White Sox are in sell-mode and they're trying to create more playing time for rookie second baseman Danny Richar. But he was still shocked to find out about the deal.
"We were very aware of the rumors," Iguchi said through interpreter David Yamamoto. "It became a daily routine to get autographs of guys we might miss. I thought there was a possibility I might get moved after Jermaine Dye. I actually got a bat from Dye yesterday."
Manuel met with Iguchi for a few minutes this afternoon but didn't break out his Japanese. As I wrote in today's paper, Manuel is fluent after playing for six seasons for the Yakult Swallows and Kinetsu Buffaloes. But he said he'll likely wait to lay his Japanese on Iguchi during the team's flight to Chicago tomorrow night.
Oh, the guy Iguchi is replacing? He's in the dugout in full uniform, one day after having surgery on his broken right hand. Iguchi called him "Mr. Chase Utley."
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Utley won't play again until at least Aug. 17, but it could be as late as Aug. 24. Let's take a look at the Phillies schedule between now and then:
Tonight-tomorrow: vs. Pirates
Monday-Thursday: at Cubs
Aug. 3-5: at Brewers
Aug. 7-9: vs. Marlins
Aug. 10-12: vs. Braves
Aug. 14-16: at Nationals
Aug. 17-19: at Pirates
Aug. 21-23: vs. Dodgers
Anyone want to venture a guess on the Phillies' record during that time?
2 comments:
21-1 (I think the Brewers could possibly put up a fight and win one of their games).
Okay, maybe not that good, but that's certainly a managable schedule. Having Myers and Gordon back right now is huge, and as I said a few days ago, there's more than enough firepower in that lineup (especially now that Burrell has decided to hit) to make up for Utley's absence.
Tell me Scott, am I crazy? I haven't felt this good about the Phils since 'round about '93. I like this team (something I couldn't imagine saying early on) and think they could, at the very least, make the playoffs. Am I setting myself for a fall again?
if utley was to miss ANY time this year, this had to of been the best time. 12+ games against below .500 teams. they could easily pull out a .500 record out of that. i don't see the braves/mets playing anymore than .500 ball with all of their respective problems.
but it also really sucks cause the phils could of potentially took first place in this division with the way this offense is pounding the ball.
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