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Game 28: Ruiz moves up

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9 comments

Game 28: Ruiz moves up

POSTED: Saturday, May 5, 2012, 12:41 PM

Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer

(John Bazemore/AP)

WASHINGTON — Carlos Ruiz has started 553 major-league games and only once has he ever hit higher than sixth.

On Saturday, he is batting fifth in Charlie Manuel's batting order for the first time in his career. He hit second once, in 2008, behind leadoff batter Jayson Werth. Ah, memories.

But this move was a long time coming. Manuel often says he does not want to mess with Ruiz's mind by batting him higher even with increased success. Ruiz forced his hand. His .610 slugging percentage leads all National League catchers and is almost 200 points better than any other Phillies regular.

He's been the only one hitting the ball with pop on a consistent basis. He already has five home runs, one off his entire total from 2011 and halfway to a new career high.

The full lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Placido Polanco 5
3. Shane Victorino 8
4. Hunter Pence 9
5. Carlos Ruiz 2
6. Ty Wigginton 3
7. John Mayberry Jr. 7
8. Freddy Galvis 4
9. Vance Worley 1

Also notable is Mayberry, who is starting for the first time since April 23.

Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.

9 comments

Comments (9)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:49 PM, 05/05/2012

I like this RH lineup

— WFChamps

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:53 PM, 05/05/2012

Chooch is on pace for a career year. Love the guy.

— s

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:52 PM, 05/05/2012

The Phillies are dead, Long live the new king (Nationals)

— eaglesman1

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:48 AM, 05/06/2012

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME RAJ DID NOT SEE THE HOLES IN THIS OLD LINEUP AT THE END OF LAST SEASON!!!! jay ROLL IS COOKED--PP IS OVER THE HILL-- MIDDLE BULL PEN STINKS--AND YOU HAVE TWO MAJOR STARS NOT WITH YOU UNTIL WHEN--MAYBE LATE JULY--AND THEY WILL NOT BE AN INSTANT SUCCESS--we are headed for mediocrity this season THANKS RUBEN--WHAT A WASTE OF PITCHING--!!

— carmen2

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:00 PM, 05/06/2012

It's going to be tough to keep him away from the AS game this year. Although, he's still behind Molina, McCann and Posey in people's eyes.

— EL Zorro

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:03 AM, 05/07/2012

Ruiz should be hitting ahead of Wiggington and Mayberry (and Lance Nix). Who are these guys? How many World Series rings do they have? There's no rule in baseball that your catcher has to bat seventh or eighth. Sure when Chase and Ryan come back, you move him down. But Chooch should be batting fifth behind Hunter now.

— schmolik