Friday, September 05, 2008

Welcome Back, Tadahito

In one of Pat Gillick's final, inexplicable acts (unless he secretly hates his own team) the Phillies re-signed second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. Iguchi would be ineligible for the post-season, a moot point if ever there were one.

Gillick, like Bob Clarke of the Flyers, has shown a strong tendency to re-sign players from his past, a sure sign he didn't know what he was doing when he let them go or failed to re-sign them in the first place. Iguchi has had a terrible season for the Padres, including spending a long period on the Disabled List. If asked about that, Gillick no doubt would reject the notion, claiming "He wasn't injured when we had him!"

According to Yahoo Sports Iguchi, who is hitting a robust .231, "was serviceable during the first part of the season, but missed 47 games with a separated right shoulder and hit just .125 since his return from the disabled list."

I'm trying to imagine exactly where Tadahito is going to play. Utley isn't injured as far as I know, so I guess he won't be subbing for him. Jimmy seems to be healthy, too. Howard is...oh forget it...Tadahito isn't going to play first base. Third? It's well-known the Phils tried to persuade the Japanese infielder to take a turn at third when he was last under contract but Iguchi rejected the idea and signed with San Diego. I give up. Heck, he backs right handed so he isn't even a left-handed batter off the bench. Oh, wait, we signed Matt Stairs to do that, didn't we? I just dunno. Maybe Iguchi is going to be a defensive replacement for So Taguchi who is going to be a defensive replacement for Pat Burrell.

Wherever they play him this is hardly the kind of signing that is likely to put the Phillies over the top. But let's not get negative here; at least we won't have to suffer too many more appearances from super-sub Eric Bruntlett with old Tadahito back in town.

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