Beerleaguer Notebook

• Placido Polanco has been batting lead-off for the Tigers. In 18 games, he’s hitting .338 with a .424 OBP in that spot. Wouldn’t it be nice.

• Remeber former Philadelphia Phillie Calvin Maduro? He was the team’s opening-day pitcher in 1997. Back from the Holland professional leagues, Maduro threw six scoreless innings of one-hit baseball in the Trenton Thunder's 6-1 win over the Reading Phillies Wednesday night at Waterfront Park.
• Speaking of Reading, the R-Phils purchased the contract of 32-year-old RHP Brady Raggio of the Campeche Pirates of the Mexican League. He spent parts of three seasons in the majors with the Cards and Diamondbacks. This season he was 5-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 10 starts with independent Bridgeport and 2-2 with a 6.00 ERA in eight games for Campeche.
• What else can be said about Atlanta? I don’t know how they do it. Once again, a different player comes through in the clutch. Marcus Giles' two-out single in the 12th last night drove in the winning run, giving Atlanta a 5-4 victory over the Giants. This was a night after rookie Jeff Francoeur went 4-4 in a 7-1 victory, raising his BA to a lusty .432 for the season.
• Still waiting for the debut Eude Brito, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton on August 5. The Dominican left-hander had been pitching well for the Red Barons since moving from the bullpen into the starting rotation.
• Since going "public," the Black Hole of David Bell and Mike Lieberthal have been 2-0, averaging 8.5 runs in the last two games.
• Baseball America has published its best tools issue. Phillies farm honorees include:

Best Defensive Catcher, South Atlantic League: Jason Jaramillo, Lakewood (Low-A)
Best Outfield Arm, Eastern League: Chris Roberson, Reading (Double-A)
Most Exciting Player, Eastern League: Michael Bourn, Reading (Double-A)
Best Batting Prospect, International League: Ryan Howard, SWB (Triple-A)
Best Power Prospect, International League: Ryan Howard, SWB (Triple-A)
Best Defensive First Baseman, International League: Ryan Howard, SWB (Triple-A)
Best Defensive Catcher, International League: Carlos Ruiz, SWB (Triple-A)

Notes: No awards for Clearwater. What a mess. Carlos Ruiz earns the award while mostly playing as DH. I'm not sure about this one.

Comments

[Tom G]

What was the word on Ruiz's defense when he was a R-Phil?

[J. Weitzel]

High marks for D, especially his arm. In the interview I did with Chad Jennings of the Scranton paper, he said Ruiz is good but sometimes tries to do too much with his arm. Ruiz is still a work in progress because he was originally an infielder.