Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro on Darin Ruf: 'He's going to have to play better'
Darin Ruf has stumbled in early spring action. The message from Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was similar to the one Charlie Manuel has repeated, except a bit stronger.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro on Darin Ruf: 'He's going to have to play better'
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — With strong winds and Stephen Strasburg on the mound, Darin Ruf is absent from the Phillies lineup Wednesday. The 26-year-old first baseman turned left fielder has stumbled in early spring action. That has only complicated the outfield picture.
Ruf has been hit by a pitch as many times (three) as he has hits this spring.
The message from Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. was similar to the one Charlie Manuel has repeated, except a bit stronger.
"Ruf has struggled in the outfield and he has struggled offensively," Amaro said. "Sometimes that happens. He's a kid who is basically coming from double A. He wants to do his best to get acclimated in left field. He's trying to impress with his bat. He's probably trying to do a little too much.
"Whether he makes our club or not, that remains to be seen. He's going to have to play better than he's playing now to be on our major-league roster. There are a lot of things going on with him. We're throwing a lot of stuff at him. With some time, hopefully he'll start to relax and play the way we know he can play. He's still learning."
Ruf can be sent to the minors for more seasoning. He has never played a game at triple A. That scenario is more realistic by the day.
"We still have a close to a month to make decisions," Amaro said.
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makes sense.— NewMick314- No, Amaro's comments just put more pressure on the kid. Pressure is not what he needs. He needs coaching, but this team (with Amaro and Manuel) has proven that it has no patience with young players. They give them just enough rope to hand themselves and then they put the noose over their necks. Same thing happened with D. Brown. These two idiots, Ruin Jr. and Goober Manuel, need to go. The quicker, the better. Let that 2nd nut drop, Montgomery, and do what's best for the team.
- Ignorant Ingrate — cdedrick05
- Wonder about Ruf's eyesight. Getting hit a lot by the ball, missing balls. Just sayin'.— Claudio Vernight
- Agreed, makes sense. Unfair to rush the kid. Let's not set him up to fail.— ExiledinFla
- This makes THREE Ruf articles, just today. Enough already. Just let the kid play, see what he does.
No need to microscope it. You'd think the entire season depends on this one player.— The Truth Hurts - We want more from RAJ! He has barren minor leagues. He has a paper thin starting rotation with zero quality depth. He has limited personnel in the of with of course disabled Young. RAJ needs accountability. What a joke! He gets a pass. Ruff is not ready just like RAJ was not ready to take over as GM with a stacked team, money, and a fruitful minors. He is a joke!— wmontanez27
- We want more from RAJ! He has barren minor leagues. He has a paper thin starting rotation with zero quality depth. He has limited personnel in the of with of course disabled Young. RAJ needs accountability. What a joke! He gets a pass. Ruff is not ready just like RAJ was not ready to take over as GM with a stacked team, money, and a fruitful minors. He is a joke!— wmontanez27
- @wmontanez27: You took the wind out of my sails. I expect more out of Amaro, as well. He was supposed to strengthen the outfield, but he took the cheap way out and went with a guy (D. Young) who will end up starting the year on the DL and has been a defensive liability when he played. That was the power hitting outfielder he put his money on. Bad move. Now, he's sending signals that he intends to send Ruf down and go with the tandem of Mayberry and Nix in left. Boy, that sure is some handy "upgrading" you did there smug boy. Once again, you've come up short -- in baseball brains and talent evaluation. Not to mention that your bench, in its present form, is once again WEAK. You are a pitiful GM and, when given the keys to a powerhouse, you turned it into a s**t house in three short years. Congratulations Amaro. You've proven that you are as good a GM as you were a player. A true GM "guru". If I were you, I'd be embarrassed at my performance. But you are too smug and arrogant to admit you are a failure.
- Tell me idiot, if he is such an embarrassment as a GM can you name me all the GM's that have won more games over the last 4 years? Please go ahead you mindless dope — DogBiscuitthedope
- Ok Willie Montenez. The moves RAJ made this offseason appear to be working so far. Revere is the real deal and a catylist on the bases. Michael Young has gotten comfortable and has begun hitting like we knew he is capable of. Mike Adams so far looks like the Mike Adams who will be the 8th inning guy. Dom Brown (who has been a three year punching bag) actually is looking like a guy who will be the everyday RF come April. Lannen is looking every bit the 5th starter who will keep the team in games. DYoung's signing looks better each day while Ruf is roughing it out in LF and at the plate. Another year of seasoning, and who knows, Ruf may pan out. The rule V pick outfielder also looks to be a very insightful pick up with loads of potential. As for the gutted minor league system, obviously you don't follow the AAA/AA/A or rookie league much. The team has 3 legitimate catching prospects, a very good 2nd base prospect, three very viable starting pitching prospects, 2 very good 3B prospects, quite a few decent bullpen pieces, and some very good outfield prospects. If this is gutted, I'd hate to see stocked. All a team can hope for is a few guys developing from their minor leagues to make it to the MLB level. RAJ has done a very good job trading prospects for MLB talent (although the salary level has been high). I'd like someone to list all the MLB players currently playing come April who were traded for Lee, Halladay, Oswalt, and Pense. I'm sure, based on the "gutting", there will be a list of 8 . Remember, prospects are just that. If another team values one of your minor leaguers more than you (and you know the truth), its a good idea to move them.— drhoffman
- no way he starts,or should the season with the phils...the kid is a work in progress both in the field and at the plate...with a full season at AAA,he should be ready if and when the big team calls him up,either in september or in 2014...it would be a huge mistake to rush him when it's pretty obvious he's not quite ready yet...i still think RAJ has a deal for an outfielder on his radar... but if delmon young ever gets healthy that may preclude the necessity of getting another o.f....— jabac
- Has Ruben spent his time in the Israeli military yet? If not, get him on a plane— Friend to All
- I think they are impressed with the Rule 5 kid, Inciarte, and are trying to figure out a way to keep him. I'm not a fan of stashing a rule 5 guy on the bench if you are a contender and Rule 5's are far from a sure thing.— bird11
