Darin Ruf not in Monday's lineup
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Darin Ruf not in Monday's lineup
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
The most ballyhooed 26-year-old double-A first baseman in Phillies history is not in Charlie Manuel's lineup Monday.
Darin Ruf was added to the roster following Sunday's doubleheader. Manuel said Ruf could start Monday against Marlins lefty Wade LeBlanc. Instead, Ty Wigginton is manning left field.
Ruf played only 29 games in left this season, his first career action there. He mashed 38 home runs for double-A Reading.
His time this September could be limited. The Phillies plan for Ruf to play outfield during winter ball in Venezuela.
The lineup:
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. John Mayberry Jr. 8
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Ty Wigginton 7
6. Domonic Brown 9
7. Erik Kratz 2
8. Michael Martinez 5
9. Kyle Kendrick 1
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Comments (39)
Ruf not in lineup.
Of course he isn't. That would give him a chance to get off to a good start. Instead, let him pinch hit because he HASN'T pinch hit before ... bring him in to bat against a tough right handed closer with the game on the line. (sarcasm).
All makes typical 2012 Phillies sense.— zubzub
Yes, this would be the perfect time to start him against a lefty, however....maybe he's tired from the playoffs and travel to get to the ballpark rested? Maybe they're supporting Wiggy since he did have a big game yesterday for them in making the comeback? In any event I think we'll see him soon enough and hopefully plenty. Atleast he'll be at the ballpark and not sitting home in Reading, which is just the kind of move I expected out of this organization.— Mark1npt- oh well, a missed opportunity right off the bat, a not-so-great lefty going for the Fish and a chance for Ruf to break in with the best situation possible.
Once again, Manuel favored the veteran. What a shock, huh?
Meanwhile, his little man-crush Martinez gets to start his 5th game in a row and his 11th in the past 3 weeks. What a joke! What an embarrassment how Manuel finds a way to keep this guy happy. Can you imagine what the other guys think?
All this love given Martinez has even me no longer focusing on what a joke it is that Poppins continues to lead off.— advantasux - hey, Charlie, let me guess how you'll handle this...how about Ruf debuting against Josh Johnson Wednesday night?
That would be so par for the course for this dunce. So happy he's coming back in 2013. So happy he'll need to announce his retirement at some point in order for Amaro to move on from him. As @Mark and @24sDad have pointed out in recent weeks about this organization, it simply isn't Montgomery's way to change management personnel; he is much too civilized for that.— advantasux - What are you waiting for Manuel? You DO know that he's in the clubhouse, don't you? Wake up. You don't bring him up just to pinch hit. He's got to PLAY. I can't wait until you are replaced. You have a habit of poisoning the confidence level of rookies.— ghost of callison
- Lol....Josh Johnson...why not? Then when he K's 4 times Rube can say "see, he isn't ready for the Majors." You gotta figure this would have been the best of times to start him. Charlie obviously values MMart's D at 3rd over Wiggy's who we all agree has no business being over there. With a groundball pitcher like KK, it's important we have a good infield D out there...which leads me to beg why is Howard starting? His D is terrible and there's a lefty pitching. Ruf should be on 1st base tonight, nowhere else. What a waste. Just like this season.— Mark1npt
- Any lineup with Michael Martinez in it instantly depresses me.— jklinger
- Not to be negative, BUT Howard played a doubleheader yesterday and took a very bad slide into second in the second game, came up gimpy. Ruf is a first baseman. Let him play tonight against the lefty in place of Howard. As for Michael Martinez, that unbelievably gutless tag play at third base, even more than his atrocious hitting, should have earned him a bus ticket out of town. Bring up Asche if Frandsen cannot play! No more Martinez.— chuckw
- as I (and many) continually point out, there is a ridiculous preference for tried-and-not so true veterans on this team, and a very obvious bias against giving any newcomer a chance to succeed. It took injuries to Chooch and Polly to even take a look at Kratz and Frandsen. Manuel's need to always ingratiate himself with the veterans on the team always results in those vets always having their way. So, rather than risk hurting Wigginton's feelings (before any defend him the guy is barely hitting .230), Rug takes a seat on the bench. Charlie will make sure the kid cools off before giving him his shot.
On this team, being an incumbent means everything. Whether it's Poppins leading off all season, or Victorino throwing a tantrum to get what he wanted, or Thome used against tough lefties back in April even with right-handed hitters available to hit, Manuel's policy is to always favor his guys and hold none to account.
Even in the case of Bastardo and his poor performance this year versus the very successful stint turned in by Jeremy Horst to date, it makes no difference. Manuel never is apt to disappoint the guys with him the longest.
Ruf will be the latest casualty of this stupidity!— advantasux - Why is anyone surprised? It's the way Charlie works. His thinking? "Eh, just eh want to easy 'em in , and stuff lite 'at. No pressure. Eh, when we is eliminated, he' gets his swings, maybe...and stuff like 'at".— gentian
- Advantasux is moron— smiggs13
I know Ruf has been swingin' the bat good, you know, like, hittin' for power, and you know, like, that's good. But at the same time, I feel like Wigginton has been swingin' the bat good, and that's good. I feel like Wigginton needs to keep hittin' and that's good, but at the same time I have to find some at-bats for Ruf, cause you know, like, he's been swingin' the bat good. And that's good.— 1980- Man, you've got him down. I felt like I was reading an actual quote from Manuel. How this man continues as manager is amazing. You've got to dumb yourself down to understand the man.
- I'm not getting into all that. That stays in-house. That's on me. I take responsibility for that, but I'm not getting into all that. It's up to me to fix this thing, that's on me, but I'm not getting into all that. — 1980
- Great except you left out a couple "And Stuffs" And a few "And Stuff Like Thats". Yeah and maybe Ruf is tired from traveling all the way from Trenton like someone mentioned. Just let the kid sit until he gets stale from no live game speed pitching and stick him in there to pinch hit. Don't even start about MM in the line up. This is not arm chair managing for you Charlie apologists either it is common sense stuff that anybody that played Legion ball knows. Yesterday Ruf could have spelled Howard of played left for Wiggy, BUT NO, Wiggy hit a solo Sunday and the Piece plays ,One leg and all, post the double header. Stupid or arrogant or both.
— DUDESKINS
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
Matt Gelb
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