Rupp gets more playing time and Ruiz supports him

NEW YORK - Carlos Ruiz has seen his recent playing time diminish as Cameron Rupp has gotten hot, but it hasn't affected the attitude of the veteran Phillies catcher. Ruiz, who was not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the New York Yankees, said he is thinking of the team first.

No one has benefited more than Rupp, who was in the starting lineup for the third straight day and the fifth game in the last seven.

"He has been awesome," Rupp said of Ruiz before the game at Yankee Stadium. "He has been a huge help for me."

Ruiz, 36, is signed through next year and is earning $8.5 million this season. He entered Tuesday batting .227 with no home runs in 163 at-bats.

"We are a team and stick together, and we are like a family," Ruiz said. "We have won some games with him behind home plate. He is swinging the bat well, and I am real happy with that. And with his catching, it is fun to watch."

This isn't just lip service, Rupp said.

"Chooch has been great," he said. "We still talk about hitters and pitchers and how we get guys out. Even when we are hitting, he talks about what they are pitching."

Ruiz has a simple reason for being supportive of Rupp: He is returning Mike Lieberthal's favor. In 2006, Ruiz saw his first big-league action, appearing in 27 games for the Phillies. That also happened to be Lieberthal's final season with the team.

"When I came to the big leagues, I remember I had a lot of help from Mike Lieberthal," Ruiz said. "That is the way I am dealing with it now."

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Rupp has earned the extra playing time with his recent performance. In his last eight starts before Tuesday, Rupp batted .379.

Rupp, 26, entered Tuesday hitting .265. In the fourth inning, he hit his first career home run, a two-run shot off Yankees starter CC Sabathia.

Rupp also has been far superior in throwing out baserunners. He has thrown out 9 of 20 base-stealers, while Ruiz has thrown out 7 of 31.

"The way he has played, he has earned the right to be in the lineup," Sandberg said.

The Phillies manager said "it is a good possibility" that Ruiz will be in the lineup to catch Cole Hamels in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.

When asked if he was open to being traded, Ruiz said, "For me, I am happy to wear the Phillies uniform. It's been a big part for me for a long time and has meant a lot to me."

Still, he understands there is little he can control if a trade occurs. "I don't know what is coming from the front office, and it is a business," Ruiz said. "My job is to keep working."

Ruiz said he is healthy, and the next step is to gain more consistency. "They are giving me a little break, working in the cage and get my swing back," Ruiz said. "At some point I will be able to help them once again and put up some numbers."

@sjnard