Phillies Notes: Team must use rest of season to evaluate roster

DETROIT - When the cloud that is Wednesday's trade deadline passes, reality says the Phillies must play the balance of the season. Fifty-seven games remain after Sunday, and they will be used to evaluate everyone.

So, while moments like the fifth inning of Sunday's 12-4 loss to the Tigers are irrelevant in the bigger picture, there is meaning. Chase Utley was intentionally walked with a runner on third and two outs. Darin Ruf, batting cleanup for the first time in his career, smacked a 1-2 fastball up the middle for a run-scoring single.

Ruf reached base for the 26th consecutive game dating from last season. He is hitting .310 with a .920 OPS in 17 games. He is but one player about which the Phillies must learn more.

Another could be Cody Asche, the 23-year-old third baseman enjoying a quality season at triple-A Lehigh Valley. His promotion is probable once the Phillies trade Michael Young to a contender, a near-certain move.

Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown has said the final two months of 2012, when the Phillies handed him an everyday job under no pretenses, were integral in boosting his confidence. He blossomed into an all-star in 2013.

No one is predicting that for Ruf or Asche, but both could be contributors in some way next season. When Ryan Howard underwent knee surgery and Ruf was recalled, manager Charlie Manuel labeled it an important time for the 27-year-old first baseman/outfielder. Ruf committed an error in the gory sixth inning Sunday.

"He doesn't have that swing he had last year," Manuel said. "He had a tremendous year last year. When he got sent out and he was working on a new position, that might have something to do with his hitting. He shows you in batting practice. Every now and then in the game when he hits the ball hard, he shows you that he's got it. It's just a matter of getting consistent. I still like him as a hitter."

Delmon Young, hitless in his last 13 at-bats, did not start Sunday. Young has accumulated 263 plate appearances in 2013. He will receive a $150,000 bonus if he reaches 300. . . . That paved the way for Steve Susdorf's first career start. Susdorf notched his first major-league hit with a double in the fourth inning. He later dropped a fly ball in left field.