That’ll Move Chooch to Third Base

Posted by ptb under *like, Sports |

The Phillies played an epic six hour and eleven minute, 19 inning game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night and hearing the words “that’ll move Chooch from the catcher’s spot to third base” woke me from the half sleep I had fallen into. After running out of pitching options well after midnight, manager Charlie Manuel had no choice but to bring in a position player to pitch for the top of the 19th inning. Selecting second baseman Wilson Valdez as the new pitcher, Placido Polanco moved from third base to second. This was followed by catcher Carlos Ruiz (“Chooch”) moving to third, being replaced by backup catcher Dane Sardinha. Valdez recorded a full inning of work and earned his first Major League win as the Phillies scored in the bottom of the 19th behind his pitching.

Manuel said in his post game interview that he doesn’t like using position players as pitchers and this is actually the first time he has done it as a manager. While it’s not ideal, I have to admit that I love it, particularly when it ends well. One of my favorite memories of baseball from childhood was seeing Phillies Right Fielder Glenn Wilson come in to pitch an inning and even strike out the Mets’ Howard Johnson in 1987 (the Phillies went on to lose that game 3-13). Of course that happened in the 8th inning under the management of Lee Elia.