Thursday, May 31, 2012

2012 Topps Archives #45 Carlos Ruiz

Phillies 10, Mets 6
Game 52 – Wednesday Night, May 30th in Flushing
Record – 27-25, 5th Place, 3 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Carlos Ruiz and Jimmy Rollins powered the Phillies past the Mets, 10-6.

What It Means:  If you had told me in spring training that the Phillies would be in last place at the end of May, I would have been distraught.  However, if you then added that they would be only three games out of first place while Ryan Howard and Chase Utley had yet to play a game, and while Cliff Lee had yet to win a game despite pitching very well, I'd be relieved and even somewhat hopeful.

Of course, if you had then told me about Roy Halladay's injury, I’d go back to feeling distraught.  This season is messing with me emotionally.

What Went Right:  It was a pitcher's duel through six innings until Ruiz unknotted a 2-2 tie with a two-run, pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning.  Chooch's heroics were made possible by Brian Schneider's two-out double to keep the inning alive.  The Phillies poured on six runs in the ninth, capped by Rollins' three-run home run.  Ty Wigginton homered in the second to start the scoring for the Phils.

Lee, still winless on the season, pitched another solid ballgame.  He scattered seven hits over six innings while allowing three runs and striking out seven.

Featured Card:  At the rate Ruiz is producing, I'm going to run out of his 2012 baseball cards to display.  This is his latest cardboard offering, from the recently released Topps Archives set.  The card is very good reproduction (smaller size notwithstanding) of a 1954 Topps-style card.  If they awarded a team MVP trophy for April and May, Ruiz would be the unanimous choice.

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