Frandsen returns, Ruf sits (again).
Kevin Frandsen is slated to make his first start for the Phillies in nine days.
Frandsen returns, Ruf sits (again).
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
What’s the common thread in the Phillies current season-high seven-game wining streak?
Michael Martinez has started all seven of those games at third base. (Thanks to Mike Spohn from the Pottstown Mercury for pointing that out this morning).
But Charlie Manuel is tossing that trend aside in Houston tonight; Kevin Frandsen is making his first start in nine days.
Embattled with a stress fracture in his left shin, Frandsen has made two pinch hit appearances since his last start (on Sept. 4 in Cincinnati).
While Frandsen returns to the lineup, Darin Ruf is still awaiting his first appearances in a big league game, let alone first major league start. Ruf joined the Phillies Monday.
I thought there was a decent chance he got a start in one of the Phillies four games at Minute Maid Park this weekend, in part because it’s a fairly short left field here. (Heck, Carlos Lee used to play left regularly here).
But I’m not so sure when Ruf will get his first call. Here is what Manuel had to say about the rookie slugger before his team left Philly on Wednesday.
Q: Are you waiting for a loss-pressure situation for Ruf?
Manuel: I was thinking about hitting him the other night with the bases loaded if you want to know the truth. I look at that sometimes and think, ‘Ah, that ain’t good.’ Then I think, ‘I would want to hit there. What the hell, I ain’t got nothing to lose.’ I’d want to go up there and get my cuts in.
Q: Why haven’t you used him yet?
Manuel: Because I haven’t see him that much and I want him to get comfortable around our guys.
Q: Is it tougher to use him now that you’re in the thick of the playoff race?
Manuel: Yeah, definitely. At the same time, over in Houston I’ll look and see who’s pitching and I might try to get him in a game over in Houston. I will try to get him in a game if I think it’s OK. I’m definitely not scared to play him. It’s no big deal, he’ll play.
Q: You think his first appearance will come as a pinch hitter?
Manuel: Yeah, there comes a time when you look and say, ‘We need a double or a home run.’ The kid just hit (39 home runs) altogether counting the playoffs. I still think he’s got (40) in him.
PHILLIES at Houston
- Jimmy Rollins, SS
- Juan Pierre, LF
- Chase Utley, 2B
- Ryan Howard, 1B
- John Mayberry Jr., CF
- Domonic Brown, RF
- Kevin Frandsen, 3B
- Erik Kratz, C
- Tyler Cloyd, P
Why is the media so infatuated with a kid who has never hit pitching above Double-A? How many prospects have we seen over the years who the Phils glowed over, only to have the media say, "Yeah, but he's only got XXX at bats in Triple-A"? Domonic Brown, anyone?— Shawshank- Ruf is the second pro baseball player ever to hit 20 HRs in one month and that just happened, so he's pretty hot. That's why the media is infatuated with him. Of course the genius Charlie is going to let him cool off while he gets to know the guys before he gives him a bat. With the dregs they've been relying on, I'd have started him the first day.— jtj06
- Give the kid a shot at first base. Can't be worse than were seeing now.— Basebum
