Carlos Ruiz is underappreciated, pudgy

There is no doubt catcher is one of less glamorous positions in sport. There are exceptions of course but do not let them distract you from the squatting anonymity most mask-wearing men behind the plate enjoy. And Carlos is the rule, not the exception. Some local fans call him Chooch, and less call him Hot Carl, but these nicknames do nothing for the general public. Outside of Philadelphia and Panama the man can walk down the street with nary a person approaching him for an autograph or a job not on a banana plantation.

The fact is the man should have been the World Series MVP last year, but whoever chooses that award instead went with the feminine aloofness of Cole Hamels. One can only assume that the World Series MVP voters don't take much heed in "tough outs" or "blocking balls in the dirt" or even "handling the pitching staff." But Holy Sweating Jesus, give the man his due. He does in fact do all of those things and likely more. Somebody knows this, why else would he be featured on the World Series poster I have, twice.