Lunch Break: Darin Ruf playing himself off the Phils
Posted by Corey Seidman, Wed, March 06, 2013 03:15 PM | Comments: 20
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Darin Ruf is hitting .130 this spring and seemingly every time he comes to the plate, he faces an 0-2 or 1-2 count. The man we had such high expectations for has fallen out of favor because of his inability to hit through 10 games, but more so because of his poor defense in left field. Ruben Amaro admitted Wednesday that Ruf will need to improve to make the team.
I joined Rhea Hughes this morning on CSNPhilly.com’s “Lunch Break” to discuss Ruf’s diminishing chances of making the team. We also looked at the most optimal Phillies lineups (Chase Utley batting second) and argued that the Phillies shouldn’t have let Ryan Howard play in the WBC even if he was selected.
Oh, and we delved into the Phillies National Female Co-host Search, as well.
Posts: 0 wbramh
It may be slightly premature to say bye-bye to Darin Ruf but John Mayberry is rapidly closing in on the Left field spot.
If Charlie is right and Ruf is pressing at the plate because of the added pressure of learning how to play left field then maybe he should remove that pressure now and groom him exclusively as pinch hitter and (maybe) DH during inter-league play.
Once the fielding pressure is removed, If he still can’t hit the pitching then maybe he’s not up to the grade.
And let’s face it, Ruf is not a natural outfielder. He might improve with time but he’s not going to become the third Upton brother.
Any thoughts?
Posted: 03:49 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 Arc
One of Amaros worst mistakes has been his mismanagement of filling the left field position. I believe it is the single most costly mistake to the success of this 2009-2012 team.
Ruff was never a viable fill, he was the hope of the desperate.
Posted: 04:01 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 schmenkman
Not to beat a dead horse, but it apparently needs another whack: 2009-2012 included 1 WS team, and 2 others with the best record in baseball. Also, LF was certainly not an issue in 2009.
Posted: 04:11 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 2599 Chuck A.
Thanks for saying this. I was going to bring it up( especially the 2009 thing) but you beat me to it. But…you know…some people just like to constantly bash Amaro so I’m really not surprised.
Posted: 04:44 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 Arc
The mind state of ” at least we got something rather than nothing” maybe rationally sound, but I believe because of those two moves we actually suffered. Doing well doesnt mean you couldnt have done better.
Yes, LF wasnt an issue in 09, but what about from 2010-present?
Amaro obviously believes the horse has a couple more nays left in it. So do I , but only so I can beat it to death.
Posted: 05:23 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 Blaine Baxter
Ruf was never a true prospect, despite the local hype. Whether his future is being minor league inventory or a having a career in Japan, it’s certainly not at the Major League level.
Posted: 04:28 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 Betasigmadeltashag
I am not sure 10 games in spring training at a new position is enough to judge. The kid did play some games in the majors and looked better then he has this spring. Until D Young is healthy enough to play I think Ruff will get some playing time early on. He had decent at bats last year. I am not saying he is a starter in the majors, but in April there are going to be at bats for him and maybe he shows something. I still think the kid can hit
Posted: 04:59 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
The best record in baseball thing is very disappointing.
The 2011 team is an all time historical pitching staff.
The management of the team and the lineup is pathetic.
2013 can be 0-162
It will not be close to the disappointment of the 2011 line ups failure.
Posted: 06:37 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 schmenkman
2011: one very disappointing week preceded by six very fun and enjoyable months. Almost every team, in almost every year of its existence, would kill for a season like that.
Posted: 07:18 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 Arc
Yeah! the best record in baseball thing is very annoying to me. Its like saying a guy is the fastest runner in the Olympics and that guy fails to metal. its like being the smartest kid in your graduating class, and not being able to get a scholarship to college. Its like having a Bugatti with an empty tank. Maybe they should have took some of those games and rested Halliday and Lee. they needed it.
Posted: 10:08 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 G7
I believe Halladay lost 1-0 in game 5..rest?
Posted: 05:24 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 0 G7
Come clean Arc..not a phillies fan are you? Mets, Braves, Nats?
Posted: 06:56 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 0 hk
Arc,
While I often agree with your premises about the errors of the GM’s ways, your inability to understand the relative meaninglessness of things that happen in small sample sizes makes your arguments next to useless. The Phils won 102 games in 2011 while the Cardinals won 90. If they played that 5 game series 100 times, the Phils would probably have won 55 of them. When something with a probability of ~45% to occur actually occurs, no one should be surprised. How many times has the team with the most wins during the regular season won it all? Last year’s World Series participants were tied for 4th and tied for 11th in all of baseball in regular season wins.
The point is, if you are looking to criticize RAJ’s leadership, 2011 is not the year to choose to make your case. That year, the Phils were the best team in baseball, but lost because of the randomness of having a small sample size series determine which team moves onto the next round.
Posted: 07:26 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 0 Bart Shart
I think that Ruf should be shopped for some younger talent. He will get some looks from American League teams looking for a DH/first baseman. The Phils really do not have any place for the guy. Ruf deserves a shot, someplace. And the Phils could use some infield talent. Just a thought.
Posted: 09:15 PM on March 6, 2013
Posts: 0 wbramh
If Ruf doesn’t keep his batting average over .100 the only thing another club would give us in trade is one of their hot dog vendors. One that brings the mustard if we’re lucky.
I do wish the kid well.
He didn’t deserve the expectation-crazy “Babe Ruf” hype hung around his neck by the media nor should he be forced to battle windmills in left field when he’s got more than enough pressure on him.
Posted: 08:28 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 0 JMills
People need to leave Ruf alone. Apparently Mayberry misplayed a fly ball yesterday to. I give Ruf a lot of credit, he played a long season last year plus winter ball where he played well unlike Brown did a couple years ago. Ruf also looks like he lost 15 pounds to improve his mobility.
Posted: 09:06 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 0 hk
If you’re a Ruf fan, it’s not “people” leaving him alone that you have to worry about. It’s the GM, who seems inclined to determine his AAA vs. MLB fate off of 30 or 40 ST plate appearances. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with Ruf starting the season in AAA to get more time in LF and to be available if needed later in the season.
Posted: 09:59 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 2599 Chuck A.
MiniMart is hitting .250 and Ruf .130 ….
Posted: 10:29 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 0 Ken Bland
Wonder if Mini might have had some Lady Luck fal lhis way. With Furcal out for the year with TJ surgery, they have multiple options (within, Theriot, get back with the Rox on Tulo), but another option would be Bettancourt, who has an opt out. If that were of appeal to the Crads, or Yuni gets a break elsewhere, Mini gains a step up on the org depth chart. I know we’re all excited about that.
Posted: 11:20 AM on March 7, 2013
Posts: 2599 Chuck A.
Not as excited as I am about that chick you have as your avatar today.
Posted: 11:26 AM on March 7, 2013