So Taguchi takes Ball One on an outside pitch during his 9th inning at-bat against the Dodgers in Game Three of the LA series. 7.23.06

So had replaced left fielder Chris Duncan in the 7th inning. This was his one and only at-bat of the game– not to mention his one and only at-bat of the series.

So Taguchi fouls another one off during his only plate appearance of the Dodger series in LA. 7.23.06

Talk about making the most of your opportunity… especially after riding the pine for three days straight!

So Taguchi fouls one off the plate during his one and only plate appearance of Game Three against the Dodgers in LA. 7.23.06

So would foul off a total of three pitches before straightening one out and putting it in play.

So Taguchi hits foul ball #3 in his one and only at-bat against the Dodgers this series. 7.23.06

You know how it goes: The more pitches you see, the more likely you’ll see one you like.

So Taguchi hits the deck to avoid taking one in the ear off Dodgers relief pitcher Takashi Saito. 7.23.06

After he had fouled off three in a row, maybe Saito thought So was having trouble seeing the ball and this was his way of offering his countryman a closer look? (Yes, both fellas are from Japan.)

Scott Rolen initiates his swing during second at-bat (in the 4th inning) of Game Three against the Dodgers in LA. 7.23.06

Part of Scott’s on-deck ritual has always been to take his customary wide stance, settle into it and then take a few meaningful hacks. But this time around I saw him do something new. After taking a couple healthy swings he measured off his stance with his bat. It appears he’s trying to set his footing one (or so) bat-length apart. I’ve never seen him do that before and I think this is a change for him… which has me wondering: Could this be the cause (or the attempt at a cure) for his recent offensive difficulties?

Scott Rolen rips one foul down the left field line in Game Three of the Dodgers series in LA. 7.23.06

He would go on to drive his second single of the night into centerfield (going 2-for-4) and settle his Batting Average at .326 on the season thus far.

Scott Rolen swings for a strike in his at-bat of the 5th inning as Aaron Miles takes a secondary lead from 3rd base. 7.23.06

In case you’ve lost count, the bases have been loaded for the second time this inning with Miles stationed at 3rd, Chris Duncan at 2nd and Albert Pujols at 3rd.

Scott Rolen grounds into an inning-ending Double Play to finish off the Cardinals’ half of the first inning in Game Three of the Dodgers series in LA. 7.23.06

This grounder wound its way through a 6-3 Double Play nabbing Albert Pujols at 2nd base and Rolen at 1st. (Leadoff runner Chris Duncan was stranded rounding 3rd.)

Scott Rolen checks his swing on an outside pitch during his first at-bat against the Dodgers in Game Three of the LA series. 7.23.06

Before grounding into a double play, Scott worked the count to 2-2 after seeing seven pitches from Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley, fouling off four of them. Billingsley threw 24 pitches to the Cardinals in that first inning.