Ruiz relaxes - and produces for Phils

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Carlos Ruiz says he is relaxed, and he says it over and over again. These days, it's hard not to believe him.

There are few expectations offensively for the Phillies catcher, because he is so valuable for the team when he's behind the plate. The pitching staff raves about Ruiz's ability to call a game and manage the staff. So do his coaches.

"That's the first priority," Ruiz said.

The second priority is going particularly well, too. With 15 games remaining, it's not a stretch to think Ruiz could lead the Phillies in both batting average and on-base percentage this season.

"I told myself, when I'm hitting, I can help the team with my offense," Ruiz said. "I feel good. I feel relaxed."

Ruiz is batting .299. (The team leader is Placido Polanco at an even .300.) If Ruiz cracks .300, he would be the first Phillies starting catcher to do so since Mike Lieberthal hit .313 in 2003 and .300 in 1999. The only other catcher to do it since 1951 is Smoky Burgess, who hit .368 in 1954.

Since 1971, only three catchers have led the Phillies in batting average: Lieberthal (2003), Bo Diaz (1982), and Tim McCarver (1971).

Even more impressive is Ruiz's .401 on-base percentage. Yes, it is aided by 12 intentional walks, which are tops on the Phillies, because he has spent most of the season batting eighth.

But consider this: No National League starting catcher has had an on-base percentage better than .400 in 10 years. The last to do it was Jason Kendall (.412) for Pittsburgh in 2000.

"I don't want to put a lot of pressure on myself," Ruiz said. "There's catching, then there's offense - where you try to do your best. Just relax. That's what I'm doing right now."

There's that word again, relax. If anything, hitting eighth and seventh has taught Ruiz how to be patient, manager Charlie Manuel said, which has helped Ruiz mature as a hitter.

"I think what's really helped his hitting is his walking," Manuel said. "He really started to see the ball better. He saw more pitches. He's gotten used to hitting there. Hitting eighth is not easy. But every now and then, I let him hit 3-0 if a pitcher thinks he can sneak something by him."

Long gone are the days when Manuel would have Ruiz bunting.

"I think that's when I started to feel better at the plate," Ruiz said. "There were a lot of situations where I could have bunted and he gave me a chance to hit. That makes me feel more relaxed."

Ruiz has been even better batting seventh, with a .348 average in 155 at-bats. He is hitting .253 in 166 at-bats when batting eighth. Ruiz admitted that there always will be drawbacks to hitting eighth.

"Sometimes it's hard because when you have the pitcher behind you, you're not going to get a good pitch to hit," Ruiz said. "If they give you one, you have to be ready."

The catcher has learned to take advantage of that. Should Ruiz finish first on the team in on-base percentage, it will run counter to the norm for a player hitting eighth. Typically, high-on-base guys are best used at the top of the lineup. The more runners on base for the middle of the order, the more chances there are for runs.

But Manuel smiled when asked whether he ever had considered moving Ruiz up in the order. Won't happen, the manager said.

That's not to say Ruiz isn't a good fit lower in the order. Manuel said he looks first at Ruiz's defensive skills. They are the most important to the team.

"That might be even a greater achievement than his hitting," Manuel said. "To put them together, that makes it a big-time season."