Darin Ruf has people in Venezuela talking single-season HR record
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Darin Ruf has people in Venezuela talking single-season HR record
David Murphy
Darin Ruf's magical mystery tour is still going strong. The slugger is currently spreading his home run gospel in Venezuela, where he leads the winter league with 10 home runs in 120 at-bats and is fifth with a .942 OPS (.258/.368/.570 slash line).
In fact, the locals are starting to talk about the potential of Ruf breaking the single-season record of 20 home runs set by Baudilio Diaz in 1979-80. Problem is, Ruf isn't sticking around for the whole winter ball season. He's scheduled to return to the United States this week, at which point he will enjoy Thanksgiving with his family and grab some rest after a long season.
Here's an article from El Nacional in Venezuela in which Ruf says that the possibility of breaking Diaz's record probably isn't enough to convince him to return for the second half of the winter league season.
To paraphrase the article, Ruf doesn't think about the record, and while he would love to stick around long enough to pursue it, his number one goal is to play every day as a left fielder in the major leagues, and to do that he needs to get some rest after a long season.
Interestingly enough, Diaz, who went by 'Bo,' played for the Phillies from 1982-85, hitting .256/.308/.402 with 36 home runs. His best season came in 1982, when he hit .288/.333/.450 with 18 home runs in 525 at-bats. He also had an epic mustache:
HO HUM - Any idea why Gillies has only playe
S--No i was just checking stats and only 1 game today---Tyson must have started late or was not played as in his teams roster he was not even assigned a number--that was @ 2 wks ago--but he's playing now.
s and all here is a link to the winter league--IT IS A GREAT ONe--If interested save it---It gives the games for the date--BUT there is a date select link--.Just enter any date and all the games come up for that day--reaults and box scores---I was suprised--there are some other Phils prospects down there--names ive never heard before.Enjoy the link.
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/scoreboard.jsp?sid=l135&t=l_sco&lid=135— HO HUM- In my mind, I'm goin' to Venezuela.
Ain't it like a GM of mine, to hit home runs and get traded.
Well I'm going to Venezuela in my mind.
— eman - Yes, I am pulling for Ruf to make it but I just hope he doesn't turn out to be another Roger Freed or Joe Lis. I know a lot you of don't remember those 2 names but they were "can't miss" prospects similarily hyped years ago for the Phils.— skipdog
- It should become obvious to Ruben Amaro that Ruf should not be an "experiment" in LF and start shopping The Bik KKK-lutz (Howrd) to every AL GM who will take him off our hands if we eat a considerable part of the $100 mil owed on his remaining 4-year contract. Then Ruf can play 1st base (his natural position) and break up the problem at #3 and #4 in the batting order when Utley and Howard hit back-to-back. The other advantage is we save $50 milwhich we can use to fill the other needs: CF, LF or RF, 3rd base and a guy who can get the game to Papelbon in the 9th. As an example, Ryan Madsen, assuming he's healthy after Tommy John surgery, would come cheap and he's done the job before. Re the commment above by HO HUM, any player is going to et tired playing 12-months a year. Ruf needs to take a break and get ready for April.— 1republican
- I see no reason not to give this kid a chance. I mean, if Amaro can give Michael Martinez 234 plate appearances (including 48 starts) while hitting .196 in 2011, surely Ruf deserves at least that same opportunity. Also, take a look at John Mayberry, Jr.'s and Dominic Brown's minor league stats and tell me they are more impressive than Ruf's short career? But yet Amaro continues to tout them as possible starters. If Ruf isn't given an opportunity in 2013, then Amaro and Manuel need to be fired. Sign one good FA outfielder and maybe trade for a 3B, then let Ruf play as a regular for 50-60 games and see where you stand.— MrPhillie
- assuming the phillies dont somehow address 3rd base for the big picture ( which would be a very difficult thing to do given the options and limited trade possibilities), the ideal would be to start Frandsen there 4-5x a week with Galvis as spot starter and late game replacement...additionally Galvis plays SS and 2nd once a week to get Utley and Jroll off the field a bit more regularly— TheLon
- @skipdog....yes I do remember those 2 guys....all the hype in the world, International League players of the year.....both flops.....I think both have passed too, at young ages....the funny thing is the Phils haven't been "hyping" Ruf....in fact they've kinda been ignoring him until we the masses demanded some action. Now, they're "looking at him.".......this kid might be the real deal though.....if he is and if Howard can't revert to the threat he was....I say get ihm to the AL and Ruf to 1st...in the meantime he can't be any worse than Luzinski or Burrell out there...we put up with that for their power numbers, maybe we can for Ruf's too?— Mark1npt
- I can't believe Ruben hasn't acquired any retreads yet this offseason.— wo_fat
- I feel as long as we get a CF that has some legs, this kid has Leftfield locked up.— DocPhillyfan
- The key will be "Chollie" sticking with the kid(Ruf) when he struggles.— Rockfish22
- The key will be "Chollie" sticking with the kid(Ruf) when he struggles.— Rockfish22
- Dom Brown has great physical skills but has almost no baseball instincts. The first clue was when lowly Houston didn't want him.— The One Who Knows
- Zwarte- please move to another city- maybe LA. Howard/Ruf/ Utley would be awesome.....— Logical1
- Phils need a new lineup that can score runs. The only holdovers are Utley, Ruiz and Ruf. The new additions are Jedd Gyorko((3B), Ben Zobrist(SS), Cody Ross(LF), Aaron Hicks (CF), Juston Upton(RF). This lineup would make the 1993 Phil's lineup proud. Say goodbye to Howard, Rollins, Brown, Schierholtz, Nix. Ruf, Gyorko, Ross and Upton would be the power guys. Zobrist and Utley would be the elite hitters. The entire lineup would rival any in the league.for hitting ability.— fafink
- Anyone who would want to get rid of Ryan Howard is an idiot. There is no other way to say that. You can't replace Ryan Howard. There is nobody like Ryan Howard. He has some good years & most important- he has a lot of homeruns left to hit and he will do it and do it well. You don't trade Howard or let him go. Any team would love to have him. You think players like Ryan Howard are just out there falling out of trees? Anyone even considering getting rid of Ryan Howard does not know the game of baseball or the Phillies. Luckily, Ruben Amaro is not stupid like some of these 'sages" on here. Hey-here's a thought. Why not play BOTH Howard & Ruf. I just can't believe that anyone would want Ryan Howard gone. I'm sure every team in our division would love it if we got rid of Howard. You might not have noticed but when Howard returned -The Phils got a lot better and if we had just had one freaking 8th inning pitcher, well anything could have happened.— Philsfan56
