Darin Ruf has been on the Phillies roster the entire 2015 so far and the team has not had to use their final contract option for Ruf. But, the team did today in favor of outfielder Domonic Brown. The move stunned some Phillies fans. For those keeping track, Brown was hitting just .257 at Lehigh Valley, hardly numbers that scream "promotion".
The Phillies themselves reported the move:
Following today's game, #Phillies optioned OF Darin Ruf to @IronPigs and will recall OF Domonic Brown for tomorrow's game.
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 13, 2015
There are some clear consequences to this move:
1) The Phillies lose their only backup first baseman
Okay, so the Phillies have and can throw Chase Utley at first base. But what can Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg do if the wishes to give Ryan Howard a day off against a tough left-hander? The best that will do is give Cesar Hernandez or Andres Blanco and shift either Utley or even Maikel Franco to first base. But, shifting Franco to first weakens the defense at third base. Would Hernandez or Blanco's bat be the type of bat you would want in the lineup since?
2) The Phillies outfield and lineup is once again very lefthanded
Darin Ruf played a little bit in the outfield. But, Sandberg has been giving plenty outfield starts to Jeff Francoeur, mostly for balance. With Brown on the roster, Sandberg probably will be forced to use him. The end result might be fewer starts for Odubel Herrera, with Francoeur playing left field and Brown in right around Ben Revere in center.
The only right-handed bats in the lineup would be Maikel Franco, whoever is catching, and switch-hitter Freddy Galvis. The rest of the lineup will be six left-handed hitters.
3) The Phillies waste a Darin Ruf option that could come in handy later
The Phillies presumably (though they seem to be taking their time) will be selling off veterans and adding young talent. Maybe in 2016 they could use someone like Ruf who could be shuffled back and forth between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia. Now they cannot do that, as this is Ruf's final option year. The Phillies will have to lose Ruf altogether or keep him on their big league roster all season.
Why now?
Brown had a three-game stretch earlier this week in which he went 8 for 14 with two home runs. Maybe the Phillies are hoping some of that offense will carry into the big league club. However, Brown did go hitless in his last eight at bats in the two games sense that stretch. Brown has little offense to show for at Lehigh Valley other than those three days. Then again, Brown's entire career in the majors is defined by a six-week stretch in 2013.
Did Ruf deserve this?
Probably. Ruf's bat speed does not seem to be what it was when belted many home runs for the Phillies. The Phillies are not really playing him much, either. Once Cody Asche rejoined the Phillies, Ruf lost left field as an option. Ryan Howard had a hot stretch, and the team has started Ruf at first base sparingly recently (even though Howard's cooled off and has a batting average about that of Ruf's). Ruf is batting .238 in 2015 with an OPS of .668.
Why Darin Ruf needs to be on the roster and when he should play
Ryan Howard is hitting .167 against left-handed pitching. Darin Ruf is hitting .400 against left-handed pitching. It seems to me (and probably everyone else) that there is a solution here. Had the Phillies platooned the two of them, both players and the team would see a clear benefit. Instead, the team exposed Howard's major weakness and Ruf was used much too much against right-handed pitching. That is poor managing.
