Ruiz out with sore wrist
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Ruiz out with sore wrist
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO — His left wrist hurt immediately when Carlos Ruiz withstood Will Venable crashing into him in the sixth inning Thursday. The Phillies catcher batted two more times and struck out in both chances.
It was hard to grip a bat.
"That's true, but I don't make excuses," Ruiz said. "But it was definitely sore, and it was more sore this morning when I woke up."
So Ruiz will not play Friday and could very well sit Saturday, too. Charlie Manuel inserted backup catcher Brian Schneider into the lineup to rest Ruiz's sore left wrist.
Manuel said Ruiz is only available should the Phillies have an emergency need for another catcher. Ruiz tried swinging briefly before batting practice. He indicated the swelling has persisted but said there were no X-rays taken.
The manager said head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan reported it was a day-to-day injury. Ruiz also injured his left wrist in a collision at home plate in 2009 and missed nine games. The Phillies do not believe this injury to be as serious, but it's still uncertain.
Manuel paired Ruiz with Vance Worley for the first time in 14 regular-season starts Thursday. Schneider was Worley's catcher and the Phillies rode the relationship because it bred success. But Worley's confidence is self-sufficient now and Ruiz's bat is too valuable.
With a new guide, things were different. Worley said Ruiz called for his breaking balls — a slider and curveball — with more frequency early in the game. In his last start, Worley threw 22 sliders. He used it 36 times Thursday, according to Pitch F/X data. Opposing hitters swung and missed at it six times.
"He did a really good job of mixing up the pitches for me," Worley said.
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Schneider has to be one of the worst offensive backup catchers...and while his defense is alright, his throwing, I think, is average at best and his overall defense it is not so good that it makes up for his abysmal offensive contributions, especially since this team struggles to score even a run or two. Another poor off-season decision by Amaro.— MrPhillie- Yet another hole in a lineup full of holes.— shakinbake
- Wonder if he'll get off the Schneid tonight??????— Mark1npt
- This jawns happens and they never do mri or xray until after its obvious something is seriously wrong. Why not just do the xray?— PresidentSpock
- That's why Kratz should be on the team.— gentian
- I remember Schneider getting a hit last year in San Diego! Maybe he'll get one this weekend.— jtj06
- About the game...and why I am losing faith in Charlie:
1- Hamels doubles with one out and he tries to sacrifice him to 3rd with Polonco coming up.
2- Scoreless in bottom of 5th...lead off triple...then one out and Charlie doesn't bring the infield in. Rollins would have had a play at the plate but that's not the point. Charlie did not do it thinking his team could actually score 2 runs. DUMB!— gentian - The AARP Phillies are just terrible! When Bubble Gum charley sent
Thome up to pinch hit for Cole and then TOOK a 3rd strike right down
the middle....you could hear me screaming from Allyn, Washington!!!!
— Lynnwood - Somewhere in this world there is an unsigned catcher who can hit better than Schneider.— orange rhino
- Bring up Kratz, cut Schneider, Bring up Brown and dump Mayberry. Cut Orr and just pat yourself on the back. Trust in the younger guys, in the long run it will payoff.— LGbalsac
- Brian...Bowker...Schnieder. Worst player in the entire MLB.
Switch him out for Erik Kratz...who was one of the best Phillies hitters in spring training, had an awesome season last year at LV, hits for power from the right side of the plate, is a far superior defensive catcher and has a waaaaaaay stronger arm than Schneider.
Or we could just stick with Brian...Bowker...Schneider disaster.
Now, fire Chris Wheeler and the dead rat on his head!— kelprod2
