Frandsen returns, Ruf sits (again).
Kevin Frandsen is slated to make his first start for the Phillies in nine days.
Frandsen returns, Ruf sits (again).
Ryan Lawrence
What’s the common thread in the Phillies current season-high seven-game wining streak?
Michael Martinez has started all seven of those games at third base. (Thanks to Mike Spohn from the Pottstown Mercury for pointing that out this morning).
But Charlie Manuel is tossing that trend aside in Houston tonight; Kevin Frandsen is making his first start in nine days.
Embattled with a stress fracture in his left shin, Frandsen has made two pinch hit appearances since his last start (on Sept. 4 in Cincinnati).
While Frandsen returns to the lineup, Darin Ruf is still awaiting his first appearances in a big league game, let alone first major league start. Ruf joined the Phillies Monday.
I thought there was a decent chance he got a start in one of the Phillies four games at Minute Maid Park this weekend, in part because it’s a fairly short left field here. (Heck, Carlos Lee used to play left regularly here).
But I’m not so sure when Ruf will get his first call. Here is what Manuel had to say about the rookie slugger before his team left Philly on Wednesday.
Q: Are you waiting for a loss-pressure situation for Ruf?
Manuel: I was thinking about hitting him the other night with the bases loaded if you want to know the truth. I look at that sometimes and think, ‘Ah, that ain’t good.’ Then I think, ‘I would want to hit there. What the hell, I ain’t got nothing to lose.’ I’d want to go up there and get my cuts in.
Q: Why haven’t you used him yet?
Manuel: Because I haven’t see him that much and I want him to get comfortable around our guys.
Q: Is it tougher to use him now that you’re in the thick of the playoff race?
Manuel: Yeah, definitely. At the same time, over in Houston I’ll look and see who’s pitching and I might try to get him in a game over in Houston. I will try to get him in a game if I think it’s OK. I’m definitely not scared to play him. It’s no big deal, he’ll play.
Q: You think his first appearance will come as a pinch hitter?
Manuel: Yeah, there comes a time when you look and say, ‘We need a double or a home run.’ The kid just hit (39 home runs) altogether counting the playoffs. I still think he’s got (40) in him.
PHILLIES at Houston
- Jimmy Rollins, SS
- Juan Pierre, LF
- Chase Utley, 2B
- Ryan Howard, 1B
- John Mayberry Jr., CF
- Domonic Brown, RF
- Kevin Frandsen, 3B
- Erik Kratz, C
- Tyler Cloyd, P
Don't you writers have enough to worry about (WILD CARD) without worrying about this kid? It's not a story anymore.— hayes9- "I look at that sometimes and think, ‘Ah, that ain’t good.’ Then I think, ‘I would want to hit there. What the hell, I ain’t got nothing to lose.’"...Brookover "...Manuel said it was only about a week ago that he realized he had this wild-card thing all wrong. He kept looking at Atlanta.... and forgot that the second team in the order was the one the Phillies were really chasing..." uplifting to hear the genius thought processes...
— warbiscuit - He was also asked why Aumont wasn't used earlier and he said it was because Moronbiscuit told me he was worthless garbage. — DogBiscuitthedope
- Glad to see Charlie sticking more with the basics of this lineup. For too long it was toally different every day -- Brown 2nd, 6th, everybody everywhere...
If it ain't broke...
Phils win 7-4
— WFChamps - more genius comments when he lost a game in August by bringing in Lindblom to give up a grandslam in another dramatic come-from-ahead loss: "When we first got him, we wanted him to be able to pitch in the seventh or eighth inning," Manuel said. "We like his arm and everything. So we definitely have to give him a chance to pitch..."— warbiscuit
- Was that around the time you condoned Rollins lack of hustle because all the vets checked out on the manager? Yeah dopeytool has all the answers. Moron — DogBiscuitthedope
- great to see Frandsen return to his rightful spot, the team's third baseman in Polanco's absence. In my book, if the guy is healthy now, it would be nice to see him out there night after night. It would be nice if the Martinez thing is over with now but I know it isn't...Manuel's fascination with his little boy knows no bounds. The best Frandsen can hope for going forward is to play every other night.
What's that you say, he's hitting .336 so of course he'll be out there every night? Yeah, just watch. When it comes to playing favorites, there is no one like our manager.
As it pertain to Darrin Ruf, I just knew the Phils would wait until the kid either cooled off or they would bench him and force him to come off the bench pinch-hitting at best. The kid is in a no win situation. Most managers would have found a way for the kid to get in there for one night in the terribly slumping Howard's place (here comes the chorus..."what are you nuts?"), or in place of Wigginton earlier in the week, but that isn't the way it is with this team. Kids simply never get a shot.
The only two afforded a chance - Frandsen and Kratz - were done simply because injuries mandated that it happen. Both of them are lucky if they're even playing for a bench spot next year. Odds are at least one of them will never see CBP next April.
Meanwhile, you can make book on Michael Martinez...his job next April is as guaranteed as is Hamels' and Utley's.— advantasux - Charlie talked to Kendrick when he was lost and tossing cutter after cutter. Charlie sat Jimmy down to make a point that everyone needs to hustle. Charlie is respected in the clubhouse as evidenced by Howard backing him when talking about the Rollins benching. You may not like him, but the guy is the most successful manager the Phillies have ever had, and the players play for him.— Paul SoTX
- @Paul, the points I raised were in support of well-deserving minor leaguers finally getting a shot, specifically Kevin Frandsen, whom is one of the main reason the Phils find themselves contending right now. Along with Kratz, he kick-started this team in the right direction. Then he went down with an injury and next thing you know, Amaro is out there suggesting and even supporting Chase Utley's move to 3rd.
In other words, that fast, Frandsen can be forgotten on this team.
My post wasn't anything more than my wish that guys like Frandsen and Kratz get a fair shot to play now and next season; this manager and GM have a commitment to all veterans, while kids and upstart minor leaguers are often shunted to the side. Funny that a guy like Michael Martinez doesn't have to worry about this but Frandsen does and will next year.
I'll never understand it but it's the way it is with Amaro and Manuel and I wish it weren't.— advantasux - Let's face it: CHOLLY IS AN IDIOT. He'll keep playing The Big KKK-lutz at 1st base even though he's good for 2 strikeouts and 1 double play per game. Ruf has been getting the shaft since he was called up.— 1republican
- hey dogbiscuitthedope: how's Ben Francisco doing whom you said was one of most talented outfielders in baseball? how's Millard Filmore doing? oh yeah, how many championships has Ruben Amaro won? why did you commit all those crimes in Finland? how about your brother Dontrelle Willis who was going to be a lefty specialist? was that really you in the grassy knoll while faking the moon landing?
when Ron Paul is inaugurated as president on Febr. 30, did he promise to make you Chief Propaganda Officer?— warbiscuit - 5:51 PM, 09/13/2012 "hey dogbiscuithedope if you spend all your efforts by spewing lies, misinformation and insults, do you really think that will persuade the other few million Phillie fans that Chollie Manuel is really a brain-surgeon and that Ruben Amaro really did a tip-top job signing Howard for $125 million, and signing Ibanez, Polanco, Blanton, Baez, Gload, Schneider, Qualls, Thome, etc and making big trades to rent, e.g., Pence? did you ever read Animal Farm -- did you realize that the pigs were spouting propaganda and that repeating lies and nonsense doesn't make it so? and that's why Ron Paul won't be president"— warbiscuit
- Phils are on a roll despite having a 25 million dollar hole in the middle of the lineup. What could it possibly hurt to give this kid a start at first base.— blaqjaq
- A rest would do RH some good. Give the kid a start!
— Eagle_1960 - More important question I don't see answered on this site:
Why is a rookie starting with three days rest especially now that the team is back in the race?— VicM - Why is the media so infatuated with a kid who has never hit pitching above Double-A? How many prospects have we seen over the years who the Phils glowed over, only to have the media say, "Yeah, but he's only got XXX at bats in Triple-A"? Domonic Brown, anyone?— Shawshank
- Ruf is the second pro baseball player ever to hit 20 HRs in one month and that just happened, so he's pretty hot. That's why the media is infatuated with him. Of course the genius Charlie is going to let him cool off while he gets to know the guys before he gives him a bat. With the dregs they've been relying on, I'd have started him the first day.— jtj06
- Give the kid a shot at first base. Can't be worse than were seeing now.— Basebum
