Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Ruf on the big diamond

A fan favorite is in the making for the Philadelphia Phillies with Darin Ruf.  Can he force the brain trust to take him north next April?

 

WELCOME, NEWCOMERS:

I will publish after every battle that is not washed out.  I will have many summer-long highlights of puzzle pieces, especially important after drubbings and defeats. If you were directed here by a feed and this review does not mention yesterday’s contest, please go to the Phillies page for my most recent coverage. (Early morning readers may arrive before the latest post.) Scroll down to Tal’s Handy Links at the bottom. Thank you.

 

Check out:  Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Center of attention

(Fielding A Free Agent Bat:  A related article)

 

CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT:    2-0 Triumph

TYPE	PLAYER	REASON
The Crystal Champagne Toast	Kyle Kendrick	Four-Star Performance
The Penthouse	Darin Ruf Kyle Kendrick John Mayberry Jr. Jeremy Horst	Smoked A 2-RBI Triple To Open A 2-0 Lead In The 2nd During His 1 For 2 Night With An IBB Nursing A 2-Run Advantage, Punched Out Werth With A Runner At 3rd To End The 5th, & Escaped A Harper-At-3rd One-Out Jam In The 6th Fired 7 Scoreless, 4-Hit Innings Made A Superb Catch Of A Blooper In A Critical Spot During The 8th Ended The 8th-Inning Threat With A Called K On The 4-Hole Stick
House Call	Jimmy Rollins	Has A Calf Issue

 

 

 

NITECAP INSIGHT

 

 

 

 

Out Of Leftfield:

 

Coming down the line from Reading, we heard him or maybe that was one of his record-setting homeruns. However, he was quick to point out that Ryan Howard did it in less games–many. Last night, in a playoff atmosphere against the Nats, he crushed a 2-RBI triple to back a stellar performance from Kyle Kendrick. The fan in me dares to dream about a middle of the order for 2013:  Chase “The Man” Utley, the Rynosaur, Chooch Ruiz and “Babe” Ruf. That stated, the main objective in my articles is a baseball man’s view of the action and roster decisions.

I like Ruf but he has a huge mountain to climb in Clearwater. Ergo, he will earn it, if he is part of the opening-day 25. But even before January, Rube Amaro will move methodically for a veteran set-up hurler, and a right-handed power bat in that exact order. When you consider his trading options, he has minor leaguers but his only surplus is young relievers. However, he will monitor Darin’s numbers in winter ball closely and have to be wowed during March.

The kid at first base?  Firstly, the biggest reason to become a Phillie is their championship core 4: Jimmy Rollins, Utley, Howard and Cole Hamels. That’s the biggest attraction to draw experienced talent for any franchise, like the Yankees of:  Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada. They are the face, heart and soul of their organization, which also means that Utley’s time here may not be over so quickly. In other words, Ruf could give Howard an occasional rest at first, but there is no way a major move will be made.

Amaro will do everything he can to locate right-handed lumber–maybe centerfield?–because he must plug in someone he can definitely count on. Along the warning-track corners, LF Juan Pierre and RF Dom Brown have the best shot to open the season with the team. John Mayberry Jr. is a good platoon option with Magic Juan, and Big John is a solid defensive replacement.  And remember, the league catches up with these new heroes when they find their holes–like Mayberry, Antonio Bastardo, Vance Worley and Mike Stutes.

Rube needs a right-side stick and all factors will be considered.  Regardless, he will enter camp with “Babe” in left for Triple-A Lehigh Valley to get experience there. There will be no rush and they will want Ruf to be in the lineup every day. The young upstart will have an ample opportunity to impress the GM before that, but chances are he’ll a need minimum of 2 months at Lehigh Valley. He certainly has given the faithful a large dose of hope and anticipation for 2013.

 

 

PRECAP PITCH

 

 

 

B.J. Rosenberg:

 

This is his first MLB start because Tyler Cloyd was shut down with arm fatigue.  He allowed only 1 free pass to Washington over 3 innings on 42 bullets Wednesday night at the Bank.  Against the Nats in Philly for 2 relief stints, his line is:  3.1 frames, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk and 4 K’s.

 

	STARTER	RECORD	TM	STARTER	RECORD	DAY & TIME
3	LHP Cliff Lee	06-08, 3.12 ERA	@ Nats	RHP Edwin Jackson	09-11, 4.13 ERA	Wednesday, Day

 

 

 

Gio Gonzalez:

 

This will probably be a tune-up appearance, which means 5 innings or less.  He is 9-4 with a 2.38 home ERA, which is 0.93 lower in Washington.  He has worked 6.1 frames plus in 13 of 32 efforts with 4 debacles.  Against the Phils for 4 outings at both parks (3 away), his ledger reads:  3-1, a 2.52 ERA, 25 complete, 18 hits, 7 all-earned runs, 9 BB and 29 whiffs.

 

 

DELIVERY = PITCHER’S 2012	DEFINITION OF SEASON
Over The Top	Excellent
3-Quarter Sidearm	Good
Sidearm	Above Average
Short Arm	Approximately Average
Submarine	Below Average

 

 

Starters’ photos, not described otherwise, are in the 1st inning.

 

Quality number of the pitcher:  1 – 5

Slot on his club:  1 – 5

Ranking is 1 to 5 & 15 for the less adventurous.

*** = Approximately equal to after plus-and-minus computation

 

HURLER	B.J. Rosenberg	Gio Gonzalez
NUMBER	A Five	A Two
CLUB SLOT	Five	One
FOR 2012	1st Start	Over The Top
'12 RANKING	-- of 5 Categories	1st of 5 Categories
LAST START	1st Start	Changeup
LAST HIGH OR LOW	-- of 15 Categories	8th of 15 Categories

 

 

	PITCH	INN	ER - R- H		PITCH	INN	ER
1	Gyroball	9 (CG)	0 - 0 - 3	10	Screwball	6	4
2	Fastball	9 (CG)	0 - 0	11	Knuckleball	5	3
3	Cutter	9 (CG)	3	12	Forkball	0 - 4.2	Monstrosity
4	Split Finger	7	2	13	Eephus Pitch	0 - 2.2	Disaster
5	Curveball	7	3	14	*Palm Ball	Ejected
6	Sinker	6.1	3	15	*Spit Ball	**Ejected+
7	Slider	6	2		*Breaking Ball	Injured
8	Changeup	6	3		*Fosh	Rain Interrupted
9	Slurve	5	2		*Knuckle Curve	Pitch Count
	** = Suspended				* = A 2nd Pitch Also

 

 

Baseball-Fix Monday Schedule:

Events will dictate the number from 1 to 4 each for November and December. January to mid-February will be every other week, and it will be weekly after that until the season begins.

 

LINK-UP BELOW:

Check out my previous publications (Fielding A Free Agent Bat) and the 120 storylines–so far–for 2012 on the Phillies page, where there is an excerpt photo.