Charlie Manuel wants to see Darin Ruf. Will it happen in September?
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.
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."
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Rosenberg has options left so expect him in AAA next year. Some of these guys are doing nothing more than showing they aren't part of next year's answer. I still believe they need to pick up 1-2 solid bullpen arms in the offseason. It's as important as getting hitters.— s- The old business about age of a prospect comes to be nonsense when a prospect is knocking on the door to the big leagues. It matters at the lower levels of the minors when a 25 year old might be up against a 20 year with considerable development before him. But there is no entry age into the big leagues which is why a Maury Wills can break in when he is 29 or a less renown Chris Coste can break in when he's 32. At the level where Ruf and Tyler Cloyd are at currently, age does not matter one little bit. They're not ready to retire. If they can approach their minor league performance on the big stage that is all that matters. And guess what? The same is true for anyone else of any age playing in the high minors playing under the watchful eye of big league scouts. If Ruben is up to the demands of his job, he will bring up players that have shown potential in the high minors and work with Charlie to see that they get playing time, at least as platoon players. When you've got your hopes currently pinned on guys like B.J. Rosenberg in tight situations, you clearly are looking towards the future because the present doesn't look so great.— Claudio Vernight
- Ruf will get his chance to play the outfield in winter ball, and to play in he bigs if he keeps hitting. The people on here who are dogging Howard are just plain stupid. Howard was, and probably will be again after his injury fully heals, the best RBI man in the game. You win games by scoring the most runs. It isn't rocket science. Howard needs to play first, so Ruf needs to play the outfield if he wants to play for the Phillies. Maybe, if Howard starts out like a house on fire next season, there might be a market for him. Nobody will trade for him while he isn't 100% healthy. I wold like to see Ruf continue to mash, work his way into the bigs and hit behind Howard someday. Go Phillies.— Paul SoTX
- If Ruf is so good at playing first base...then play Howard in LF....he blows at first.— akuzowsky3
