What should we do with Darin Ruf when he returns

[Omar 382]

What should the Phillies do when Darin Ruf returns?

"If the Phillies wanted Ruf that badly, it would make sense logistically to replace John Mayberry , with Ruf taking over as the backup first baseman, and Tony Gwynn Jr. able to provide depth in center field. But assuming Ruf needs time to acclimate and it's not until a couple weeks later that he's even got his timing down consistently - while dancing around re-aggravating that oblique - do the Phillies really have space for another .210-.230 hitter getting at-bats, whose ceiling is .250-.260 once he gets straightened out?

The answer is yes; of course they do, because they don't have many options already, and if this team considered itself "above" starting a .250 hitter, there would be a couple blank spots on the lineup card. In all likelihood, Ruf could come up and maybe knock a timely homer from the bench, but mostly he'll just be another lukewarm replacement for an already unimpressive reserve.

 

[Omar 382]

DISCLAIMER: The viewpoints in the posted material do not reflect my personal opinions

 

[Omar 382]

The bench should be Nieves, Revere, Hernandez, Gwynn, and JMJ with Ruf in right field and Byrd in center field.

 

[Retroram52]

I thought Gwynn was headed to the minors?

 

[Cedrique]

Justin Klugh seems like a fucking tool. His obsession with batting average makes me believe he is about 12 years old

 

[Omar 382]

Yeah, I really didn't read the article thoroughly until after I posted it. I just wanted an update on Ruf and his impact when he gets back.

 

[Cedrique]

I guess he also didn't notice that Mayberry has all of 12 plate appearances as backup 1B.

 

[Omar 382]

I guess he also didn't notice that Mayberry has all of 12 plate appearances as backup 1B.

He will be playing even less there now with Ruf returning. I still want him on the roster (by default) but he will mostly be playing the outfield. Hopefully he can pick it up so we can have two reliable right hander power bats possibly on the bench (because I doubt Ruf starts). Only 35 PA so far, but he has a .562 OPS.

 

[Omar 382]

That philly.com and another Philadelphia-based beat writer (can't think of his name) are generally retarded. I find whoever writes for nj.com and Chris Branch from the News Journal a lot more reliable and interesting.

 

[jvett77]

I thought Gwynn was headed to the minors?

To make room for Ruf, Gwynn would have to go down.

 

[Omar 382]

To make room for Ruf, Gwynn would have to go down.

I believe Brignac will/should go down.

 

[jvett77]

I believe Brignac will/should go down.

He probably would go down since Hernandez supposedly can play third.

 

[northeastphillyguy]

To make room for Ruf, Gwynn would have to go down.

There was a time that I cared about these things but now I am losing interest. Ruf should have been the starting right fielder last year but Amaro blocked him with Delmon. I think at this point Ruf has been treated like a stepchild by Amaro. Gwynn is not the future on this team but Ruf still has a longshot chance. Byrd has earned the right to be the starting right fielder but a certain guy in left field is hurting us. Maybe Ruf could see some time there and at 1st base.