Ruiz's return not guaranteed
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Ruiz's return not guaranteed
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ATLANTA — Every other day, Carlos Ruiz tests the partially torn muscle in his right foot by running. "Nice and easy," Ruiz said Saturday after catching a Kyle Kendrick bullpen session. There is but one month to play in a lost season and Ruiz remains steadfast in his goal of returning.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is not so convinced it's the best idea.
"I hope we can activate him," Amaro said. "Really, it depends on what the risk is."
The GM made his stance clear in a Friday conversation with Ruiz. It's not that the Phillies do not want Ruiz, arguably the team's MVP in 2012, back in the lineup. Instead, they value caution.
"I got his point," Ruiz said. "At the same time, I feel like I have to try. I have to try until the last day. It's not like I'm going to give up. But yeah, I got his point. We'll see. He said there is no pressure to come back. Try to be 100 percent and that's what we're doing right now."
When the tear was originally discovered Aug. 3, Ruiz was expected to miss four to six weeks. The team has suggested an early September return is possible. He would have to be activated without any game action because the organization's minor-league affiliates will be finished playing before Ruiz could go for a rehab.
Even while running with regular rest, Ruiz said he still experiences pain in the foot. If he feels something, he usually stops.
"I don't try to push it too much," Ruiz said.
That's why Amaro is hedging on a return.
"It's a risk-reward assessment," Amaro said. "I know he wants to play. I know he was uspet when it happened. I know he's worked hard to be in the position to be activated. But we'll see."
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Maybe Chooch should be an EMERGENCY backup. Listen, no one was more heartbroken than me when he went down. He IS the MVP. Does anyone want to envision Chooch blocking home like Kratz did with Jones? Didn't think so. Chooch should only come back unless/until he is 100%.— dwp66- Shut him down for the rest of the season, I've had that injury and it can take up to nine month's to a year to heal. It comes back so easily by even just walking, he is an athlete 30yrs. younger then me so he should be ok but I have seen people his age struggle with this injury, rest is the bestthing he has nothing to prove.— angrywhtguy
- JONES SHOULD HAVE BEEN EJECTED FOR GOING TO THE HEAD---THATS A CHEAP SHOT!!!— carmen2
- This comment has been deleted.— Phillysportsfan#1
- I figured eventually someone would inject a little common sense into another thread of trigger-happy fickle fans ready to anoint a 3-week body of work the "future" after Ruiz did nothing but put up league MVP numbers for over half a season. Kratz has been awesome, there's no debate there. But Chooch is the man, and you have to at least let him come back as the starter and see if he can replicate what he did for most of this season. Having a backup catcher that can do what Kratz appears to be able to do can only make them better. Ruiz can get more days off without really risking much offensively. Kratz also can fulfill a right-handed bat with power off the bench too. — Momjeanz
- Claudio....Valle is totally overmatched by AAA pitching. Cannot hit breaking/offspeed stuff and is a K machine. Need to do some homework before posting, little guy !— NewMick314
- @lonewolf10 needs a saliva test and lifetime ban on this site...it's patently obvious he either knows nothing about sports or is just using the site to display his ignorance...ruiz was an all star for the nl this year and while he is having a breakout offensive year,his real value is behind the plate and handling the pitching staff...along with papelbon,he is the team's mvp this year and to suggest releasing or moving him elsewhere is ludicrous...it's about time to permanently ban lonewolf as his posts never make any sense and to continue to give this loser a forum to post his nonsense reflects badly on philly.com as a respected site for philly sports...please filter him OUT!!!!!— jabac
- i wholeheartedly agree. I mean, what's next? Is he gonna tell us that it's safe to stick a fork into an electrical outlet? I wouldn't be surprised. That has about as much truth and logic to it as anything else he says. — Momjeanz
- The Phils don't lose a thing with Kratz in there, and you have to wonder from seeing the way he plays , how could it be that we haven't seen him prior to this. Brian Schneider is now unnecessary to bring back. Chooch will have a spot; for sure the best defensive catcher in baseball and no slouch at the plate. Disciplined at the plate, but no where near the explosive HR power that Kratz is. The Phillies have the two best catchers in baseball, a terrible dilemma to have.
— fingerskevin - Phils should bring up Sebastian Valle once the AAA season is over. He and Kratz can handle the load and Valle, unlike Lerud, will have a role next year.— Claudio Vernight
- Makes no sense to bring him back this season. If the Phillies are going to contend again next season they will need every bit of offense they can muster up. An injury like this can linger and linger without total rest. Yeah, he'll have the offseason but if he wastes all the offseason trying to get this healed thenhe'll be behind come February and March. Let's face it. Chooch is a George Costanza fatbody ready to happen and he's not getting any younger.— Sewellmatt
- Look, we all love kratz but some of you should stop posting. It's cringe worthy. Chooch is the catcher period and some of you give "challenged" folk a bad name!— Drumphil
- I like where Dobie is going and want to take it a step further. Kratz has been absolutely amazing at the dish and the Chhoch to third case has merit. Drag is that Frandsen has been just as good as Kratz.— vafan
- Anyone see the movie God Bless America? Reading the message boards makes we want to find out some of these posters real names and go God Bless America on them. No redeeming value to society.— th
- wait...someone else has actually watched that movie..epic. — bumblebee_4tuna
- All I know is Kratz did something Ruiz never has done in a game. He threw out the leader in steals at 3rd to end a threat, he took that shot from Chipper Jones that might be one of the worst collisions in Phillies history, AND tied a game in the 9th with his home run off Craig Kimbrel on an 0-2 pitch. Remember that 3 run home run with 2 outs in the 8th vs. the Cards a couple of weeks back that tied the game at 7. Imagine if the Phils didn't win that game. They'd be 10 back with 29 left. As it is, 8 back with 29 left. Why can't we???— Dobie Gillis
- Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- NO! Do not let Ruiz anywhere near Erik Kratz. Kratz is the future time for Ruiz get lost and kick rocks.— lonewolf 10
- Que? So the Phillies don't need two catchers? And Ruiz's numbers aren't better than Kratz's? Why don't you go back to Eagles articles and dispense your stupidity there. — logicandreason
- yeah what is wrong with you? hahaha. Kratz isn't the "future" anything unfortunately. Kratz is only about 15 months younger than Chooch, and as a catcher, 32 is even older than it already sounds. I wish it weren't the case and that Kratz was 23 instead of 32, but it's not. And what planet are you from suggesting Ruiz should get lost and kick rocks?! Not only was he leading the team in most offensive categories and having a career year across the board, and not only was he tops among most catchers in baseball in most offensive categories, he was at or near the top in offensive categories in all of BASEBALL! I mean, if you're not going to make sense, how bout keepin it shut clown. — Momjeanz
- yeah what is wrong with you? hahaha. Kratz isn't the "future" anything unfortunately. Kratz is only about 15 months younger than Chooch, and as a catcher, 32 is even older than it already sounds. I wish it weren't the case and that Kratz was 23 instead of 32, but it's not. And what planet are you from suggesting Ruiz should get lost and kick rocks?! Not only was he leading the team in most offensive categories and having a career year across the board, and not only was he tops among most catchers in baseball in most offensive categories, he was at or near the top in offensive categories in all of BASEBALL! I mean, if you're not going to make sense, how bout keepin it shut clown. — Momjeanz
