Charlie Manuel wants to see Darin Ruf. Will it happen in September?
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Charlie Manuel wants to see Darin Ruf. Will it happen in September?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
If you can hit the ball really far, it will not take long for Charlie Manuel to notice. If you can hit the ball really far and with great frequency, Manuel will do more than notice. If you can do all of this while the Phillies flounder, Manuel will start thinking big things.
Such is the case with Darin Ruf, the 26-year-old slugging first baseman at double-A Reading. Manuel has watched recent video of Ruf's assault on the Eastern League.
The Phillies manager is interested.
"He's had an extraordinary year," Manuel said. "Ruf is someone who pops out at you. Ruf is trying to hit his way to the big leagues. That's what it used to be like. You had to do something to get to the big leagues. Evidently, Ruf is an old throwback."
Manuel said he wants to see Ruf, whether it be now or in spring training. He has yet to discuss the idea with his boss, Ruben Amaro Jr., but made it sound like he will stump for Ruf's candidacy. Rosters expand Saturday.
Ruf has swatted 36 home runs in 2012 with 18 in August alone. On Monday, he broke Greg Luzinski's 1970 mark for most total bases ever in a Reading season. His 36 home runs are more than any player in all of affiliated minor-league baseball.
Of course, the decision to promote Ruf is not Manuel's. Some scouts are skeptical whether Ruf has a true position in the majors. He is blocked at first base by Ryan Howard. He has played 33 career games in left field, with 23 of them coming in 2012.
His work there is limited and not pristine.
The Phillies plan for Ruf to play the outfield in winter ball. He will likely be added to the 40-man roster during the offseason if not summoned in September. That would guarantee a spring audition.
"He's on the radar screen," Amaro said Monday. "It really depends on whether he can get playing time. It is something we'll continue to talk about."
The Phillies are already committed to playing time for two corner outfielders in Domonic Brown and Nate Schierholtz while evaluating for next season. The only true center fielder on the roster is John Mayberry Jr. That could affect plans.
Manuel said playing Ruf in the outfield during a major-league game could be a risk. Then again, he's enamored with the power potential.
"If a guy can hit," Manuel said, "his defense gets a little bit better."
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
- Pierre went in the game tonight for Brown as a defensive replacement. If Ruf stands on the warning track and merely fields the ball after it lands and can throw the ball into second - and hits .285 with power - he's better than anything else on the roster.
Ruin Tomorrow Junior is a double agent.
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Ryan Howard absolutely needs to go to the American League as a DH. The Phillies need to make it happen by picking up some of Howard's salary in a trade. Time to see if Ruf can replace Howard.— Carlos2- Only the lame phillies would have a problem getting a guy with 36 hr in their lineup. Ruf should have been playing here weeks ago. RAJ has no plan for the future unless the guy is over 30.— jmb53
- Make that 37 now! — bearsfriend
- Big Piece probably a better fielder than Ruf, who sounds like manos piedras no matter where he plays. Big hitter at AA no glove sounds like AL kind of guy. Include in trade somehow?— Eephus
- Those of us who want to see Ruf up here have Charlie on our side now, so maybe we will get lucky. Lots of focus on the kid's defense for a franchise that has run guys like the Bull, Inky and Pat the bat out there. LF has always been a position where they stick the big bat; if he makes routine plays , he's fine.— drbob1
- #37 tonite. I love all the know nothings writing this guy off as an old man, a little more than 1 year older than Howard when he set the record. Hitting .320, a ton of doubles. They have probably never even been to Reading.— wo_fat
- Ruf ties Howard's minor league record and Howard hits his 11th grand slam. This doesn't have to be a Ruf versus Howard discussion.— s
- Maybe it does. Howard has struck out 61 times in 151 ABs. That is worse than his usual rate which is pathetic. I like Howard, but I will take a kid who can play defense and strike out half as much ... and oh yeah, hit for power for $470K. !!!!
Eat $10 Mill on Howard's contract and move him to the AL for a prospect. The White Sox gave Adam Dunn $15 Mill per year for 3 years.— zubzub - Here's a scenario: Assume Ruf is a definite for spring training now. For this year, maybe let him play out his record season in the minors, including the playoffs. It looks like the latest the Eastern League playoffs could go is maybe a little past mid-September. Call Ruf up when his minor league season is done. At that point the Phillies should be out of it for good. Rest Howard and let Ruf play some familiar 1B. If he looks good maybe put him in LF a few times. Then ship him off to Venezuela to play more LF.— s
- Rosenberg is a quitter!!! BA-BOOM ( sound of fireworks).. OK , now that they've lost to one of the worst teams in baseball, let's get all the minor leaguers up here to get a look.— drbob1
- Rosenberg is a quitter!!! BA-BOOM ( sound of fireworks).. OK , now that they've lost to one of the worst teams in baseball, let's get all the minor leaguers up here to get a look.— drbob1
- Another Reading guy to watch is Justin Friend. Unhittable closer, 23 saves, 0 blown saves, 0.25 era.— wo_fat
- Absolutely, they should bring him up. He certainly won't be as bad as that piece of garbage called Rosenberg. Amaro should be fired for keeping a blind eye on this joke of a bullpen. Absolutely the worst bunch I have ever seen. Glad to see Howard hit a slam. Now we have to watch him strike out 20 times before the next one.— eaglesman1
- Rosenberg is a double A guy and has no business being in the majors. Not his fault Manuel's got no business putting him in and also had no business having bastardo pitching to a righty bad loss we could have gotten the wild card lead to less than 10 games. Thanks _Charlie another loss on your head— rtiannelli
