Darin Ruf has people in Venezuela talking single-season HR record
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Darin Ruf has people in Venezuela talking single-season HR record
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Darin Ruf's magical mystery tour is still going strong. The slugger is currently spreading his home run gospel in Venezuela, where he leads the winter league with 10 home runs in 120 at-bats and is fifth with a .942 OPS (.258/.368/.570 slash line).
In fact, the locals are starting to talk about the potential of Ruf breaking the single-season record of 20 home runs set by Baudilio Diaz in 1979-80. Problem is, Ruf isn't sticking around for the whole winter ball season. He's scheduled to return to the United States this week, at which point he will enjoy Thanksgiving with his family and grab some rest after a long season.
Here's an article from El Nacional in Venezuela in which Ruf says that the possibility of breaking Diaz's record probably isn't enough to convince him to return for the second half of the winter league season.
To paraphrase the article, Ruf doesn't think about the record, and while he would love to stick around long enough to pursue it, his number one goal is to play every day as a left fielder in the major leagues, and to do that he needs to get some rest after a long season.
Interestingly enough, Diaz, who went by 'Bo,' played for the Phillies from 1982-85, hitting .256/.308/.402 with 36 home runs. His best season came in 1982, when he hit .288/.333/.450 with 18 home runs in 525 at-bats. He also had an epic mustache:
Left Fielder, check. Move on...— spittooncj- no. play him at first. give away howard to anyone who wants to pay his salary... maybe the dodgers would take him... — zwarte piet
- zwarte piet..... You are right on the mark..... GENUIS...... If only worked for Philly..... — Kcsplash
- Rubens A. Moron, Jr. is currently trying to think of ways to deny this kid a fair shot to break camp with the Phils as their starting LF. He'll no doubt use the "I'm not comfortable with him as a left-fielder yet" argument. This from a team that has featured Luzinski, Burrell, Incaviglia and Pierre in its corner spot over the years.
For whatever reason, Ruf just doesn't do it for the genius GM, just as most unheralded kids don't. For Amaro, there needs to be some legacy there, some birthright that makes him feel good about players he acquires. Bringing this kid up and getting productivity out of him doesn't turn Amaro on.— advantasux - I agree. Amaro mwould rather add an older veteran to play the outfield. Amaro still has money to spend,and instead of saving it until the all star break,when we may need it,he won't stop shopping Til it's gone. Ruf will probably start the season in Lehigh Valley. The current organization seems to forget that the Phillies developed their Championship team around players they developed. Amaro lacks insight in my opinion,but it could be his GM ego that is speaking when he casts doubt on a hot player from the system,if he buys a player that does well,he thinks it will prove how smart he is. I am upset with the fact that this needs to be a problem,it should have been stated that Ruf will be the starting left fielder next season. Amaro and Charlie will mess with this kids head,and cause an adverse reaction.Last,but not least,I think Ruf would give the fans something to cheer about. IMO. — papyrus876
- Slot him in fifth and move on and find a third baseman. Freddie does not have the power to put in the lineup at 3rd base.— Earl J
- Didn't Diaz die installing a satellite dish or something?
- And Andrew Bynum was holding the ladder. — JBP
- If this Phillies team is going to win another championship, it MUST get lucky with a player (king of like Werth). Maybe Ruf is that player.
If I am Amaro, I'm starting Ruf in LF and signing/trading for two defensive OF's (Fowler and Victorino). Next I am trading Dom Brown, Worley, and one of the minor league SP's to San Diego for Chase Headley.
My lineup: Rollins, Utley, Headley, Howard, Ruiz, Ruf, Fowler, Victornio.— nick417 - I haveta think PHILLIES as the eagles have me sick to my stomach.
I am dreaming of a power hitting solid defensive 3rd baseman and a half way solid defensive LF that can hit with consistency. I am not a Dominick Brown fan, he seems to have a "lazy" attitude.— DonnaRae - You have team leader Jimmy Rollins to thank for Dom's attitude. — coloradoeagle
- If he stays healthy and the Phils play him every day, Ruf will be the 2013 Rookie of the Year.— onthebucks
- Love to see Ruf in LF next season.— sfrankln25
- Ruf will get a shot, but he better hit in the Spring and do a decent job defensively, or he will be back in AAA. If I were the GM, I would move Rollins to 3B and play Galvis at SS. This would be the best defensive pairing in the Majors and if you have invested so much in your pitching, you better put some good defenders behind them. In my opinion, they do need a CF, another bullepen guy, like Soria, and another young starter, in case Halladay and Lee futher deteriorate next season. I am thinking Edwin Jackson or A. Sanchez, on a big bucks long term deal.— Paul SoTX
