Darin Ruf Working Hard to Convince You He is an Outfielder Again
Look at all the good Darin Ruf is doing down there at triple-A.
Darin Ruf walks with the bases loaded to give Lehigh Valley a 1-0 lead. T3 in DUrham. Ruf with 21 RBI's.
— Phuture Phillies (@PhuturePhilz) May 11, 2013
Lehigh Valley lost to Louisville 6-3. Zach Miner (4IP, 4ER) took the L. Cody Asche & Darin Ruf w/ 2 hits apiece, including a HR each. #MiLB
— Jay Floyd (@PhoulBallz) May 9, 2013
But it was never his offense or walking with the bases loaded abilities that were in question, all the time. It was the Phillies’ awesome plan turn him into an outfielder that seemed to put a snag in things.
Well, according to director of turning players into positions that they don’t play Joe Jordan, everything’s going fine, so shut up, please. Why, just look at the value of Ruf’s rookie card, skyrocketing.
“The left-field play has been very good. It’s not a concern for me. It’s not a concern at all.”–Joe Jordan, via Bob Brookover in the Inquirer
March 17, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Darin Ruf (18) catches a fly ball during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
And what better way to convince people of things than to repeat them unnecessarily? When I want to trick someone into my many lies, I hauntingly repeat myself, over and over again, at times rocking back and forth and letting my eyes roll back into my head.
Ruf didn’t make the Phillies out of training camp this year, in large part due to chilling inadequacies in his defensive game. His development since then has seemed to go raucously well, but the Phillies already have a Delmon Young on the roster, who seems weirdly capable in the right field thus far.
Not sure what sort of offensive punch the Phillies would need to call up Ruf without an injury, but nonetheless, it’s good to see any player become more well-rounded, especially if they are able to contribute in one facet of the game already.