Coste, Ruiz share the load at catcher
Phillies catcher Chris Coste started the season as Carlos Ruiz's backup behind home plate. That is no longer the case. Ruiz, who started last night against the Florida Marlins, has started 38 games this season. Coste has started 29. But since May 13, Coste has started 14 times while Ruiz has started 12.
MIAMI - Phillies catcher Chris Coste started the season as Carlos Ruiz's backup behind home plate.
That is no longer the case.
Ruiz, who started last night against the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium, has started 38 games this season. Coste has started 29. But since May 13, Coste has started 14 times while Ruiz has started 12.
There is an obvious reason for that.
Entering last night, Coste was hitting .313 with six home runs and 17 RBIs in 115 at-bats. Ruiz was hitting just .226 with two homers and 16 RBIs in 137 at-bats. Ruiz also has struggled terribly against lefthanders, hitting just .222 against them, while Coste has hit .355.
That practically has put Coste and Ruiz in a platoon situation. Since May 13, the Phillies have faced nine lefthanded pitchers. Coste has started against seven of them.
"Right now, Coste is swinging the bat better than Chooch [Ruiz]," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I still look at Chooch as our regular catcher, but at the same time, when Coste is playing good, that earns more playing time. Chooch has to improve on lefthanded pitchers. He doesn't hit lefties."
Coste said he probably was best suited playing no more than 40 to 50 percent of the time.
"If there are streaks I catch more than that, there's no question I can handle it without failing," Coste said. "If there's less than that, I can handle it without failing. But it's partially my swing. For some reason, the more I play, the more chances my timing is off. And it's partially stamina or recuperation. I think Charlie recognizes that."
Manuel has Coste catch Brett Myers regularly, while Ruiz handles Cole Hamels, who started against Florida on the mound last night.
"Even when I'm hitting well, we don't lose anything with Ruiz back there," Coste stressed. "In fact, we've probably won more games with Ruiz than me."
He's correct. The Phillies are 15-14 when Coste starts. They entered last night 24-13 when Ruiz starts.
Phillies pitchers have a 3.68 ERA when Ruiz is catching. Their ERA is 4.10 with Coste.
"He calls a good game," Coste said. "He's good defensively. Ruiz and I have talked for a couple years. We'd love to be the combination around here for many years to come, whether it's 50-50, 80-20 or whatever. I kind of find myself embracing that situation. I don't claim to ever have the desire to be a starting catcher. I don't need to be. I'm perfectly happy with things the way they are, or whatever role I find myself in."
Coste left the team before the end of last night's game to be with his wife, Marcia, who is expecting their second child. The Phillies will be shorthanded tonight, although Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz have catching experience.
Kline released
The Phillies still want to add another lefthander to their bullpen. It just won't be
Steve Kline
.
The Phils released Kline, 35, who went 0-2 with a 5.16 ERA in 20 appearances for triple-A Lehigh Valley. Lefthanders hit a robust .341 against him, which seemed to doom him. But what also might have doomed him is this: He was suspended Tuesday after he made contact with umpire Mike Estabrook on Monday.
The Phillies signed Kline to a minor-league contract in April.
The finale
Lefthander
Jamie Moyer
(6-3, 4.56 ERA) faces Marlins lefthander
Scott Olsen
(4-2, 3.72) tonight in the third game of the series.
Moyer is 8-0 with a 3.51 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins. He allowed five runs in seven innings in a win over the Marlins on June 1 at Citizens Bank Park.
Seven sign
The Phillies signed seven pitchers selected in last week's amateur draft: third-round righthander
eighth-round righthander
13th-round righthander
21st-round lefthander
24th-round lefthander
26th-round righthander
and 31st-round lefthander
Grieve is a former Germantown Academy standout. The Phillies have signed 15 of their 53 draft choices.