Friday Morning Roundup, and Darin Ruf Breaks Ryan Howard’s Home Run Record in the Minors

(Courtesy: Reading Eagle)

And he did it with a monster August.

Coming into the month, Reading Phillies slugger Darin Ruf had 18 homers spanning April to July.

Last night, he hit his 20th home run in the month of August alone, which was what he needed to surpass Ryan Howard's record in a Reading uniform. With 38 homers in total, Ruf is Reading's new home run king.

Even before he broke the record, he caught the eye of Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

Via Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly:

“Ruf’s had a big year,” said Manuel, who has always had a thing for hitters. “He’s had an extraordinary year. Ruf is something that pops out at you. He’s trying to hit his way to the big leagues. That’s the way it used to be. You had to do something to get to the big leagues. Evidentally, Ruf is an old throwback.”

“I want to see him whether it’s at the end of the year or spring training. I’m looking forward to seeing him. I saw him on TV and it looked like he’s got a good swing. He’s strong.

 

He may just get a chance to get to the big leagues in September with this news from yesterday.

 

Ruf has already been named the MVP of the Eastern League and their rookie of the year. As Corey Seidman of CSN Philly mentions, it's worth noting that Ruf is also fighting for the Triple Crown with 38 homers, 102 RBI, and .321 batting average. The Reading Phillies have four games left in the regular season.

 

A Thursday recap and a Friday preview:

Jeffrey Lurie said that Andy Reid's job is on the line this year. I think he's full of shit. 

Jimmy Rollins was benched yesterday for not hustling. No one anywhere blinked.

The NHL dickishly released their National TV schedule for the… upcoming… season.

The Eagles will cut 22 players from their roster by 9:00 pm tonight.

My Temple Owls will play Kyle's Villanova Wildcats in the Mayor's Cup tonight at Lincoln Financial Field tonight. Spoiler Alert: Temple wins.

Drinker's West is having an NHL '12 tournament on Tuesday, September 11th at 8:00 pm. And to answer some questions, you do have to be 21 and you're playing solo.

Happy Friday, folks! More to come.

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16 Responses

  1. RAJ signed nose 2 years too early when they knew he was going to be a free agent in the same class as Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. RAJ then decided to wait on Hamels when anyone looking ahead would have seen he was going to be the top pitching free agent this year. RAJ has shown he can make the big signing but not sure if that’s such a good thing. Oh, and the J-Roll signing was a joke. Anyone can bat .235 and play SS.

  2. So with the Phillies season coming to an end pretty damn soon I am starting to think of the Lineup position wise for next year. Let me know if you agree or think these moves could happen. Obviously Chooch stays behind the plate. 1st base belongs to Howard. 2nd would be Galvis or Frandsen. Think Frandsen has great foot work and could master the position in spring training. Unfourtanetly Jimmy comes back at SS. 3rd base can be picked up by Utley. He just needs to work on his foot work. He’s incredibly optomistic about it. Just scares me with his throw accuracy. Outfield I would love to see Brown in Left, Pay Bourne this off season and start him at center as well as batting leadoff. In right put this kid Ruff in. He is having a tremendous year and is not getting any younger. He is a long ball threat and can bat behind Howard. All these moves save the orgnization money to buy a bullpen that needs work. The reds will be unloading at the end of the year. No way are they keeping 3 potential closers on the roster. The lineup would be 1) Bourne, 2) Rollins, 3) Utley, 4) Howard, 5) Ruff, 6) Ruiz, 7) Frandsen 8) Brown. Think that is a stable lineup with power and contact. These young kids will only get better. I personally like it. Let me know what you think.

  3. Jim… A few things.
    1. Utleys footwork is not the issue. He struggles with throws from 2nd some times. I love the guy and hecanbe optimistic all ye wants but 3rd is a LONG shot at this point.
    2. I like Frandsen a lot… as a utility man. He’s not an every player. I’d love if next season he could take over for the pathetic Michael Martnez.
    3. I personally don’t want born. You never wanna pay big bucks to a guy in his 30s who’s game revolves around his legs. Not to mention he’s another lefty.
    4. If I had to go with the players in your line up I’d switch Brown and Frandsen.
    5. There’s no way Ruf ever plays RF. He just started working on LF recently. He’s not fast at all. They can hide him in left like so many others (Burrell, Ibanez, Luzenski, Incaviglia ect) but not right.

  4. “Let me know what you think.”
    I think if you’re talking about putting a minor leaguer in the 5 hole next year you are clueless.

  5. Blood Fountain – you should reference guys like Inccy on this site where half the fans are post-2007 fanboys.

  6. I see potential in a lot of these kids. I also noted I was concerned about Utleys arm as well. I’m a worried about Galvis, broken back and substance enhancers. Seriously…. Ok so my plan is not full proof, but its an idea. I think Frandsen can become an everyday player. Ruf can hide in Rf. His bat will make up for his lack of defense. Hell can he play 3rd base? Just thinking of potential solutions to these problems. Don’t go thinking the Phillies are going to go out and buy a huge market position player this off season when they have 100+ invested in 4 players. Some of these young players will be everyday starters next year whether we like it or not. There position is the problem. Money will be spent on a bullpen this off season.

  7. SMH…. Jim. You can’t “hide in RF.”. So again, Ruf will never be playing RF….everrr
    Also, Amaro is on record as saying the Phillies have the money for one or two “impact” bats.

  8. The only number that concerns me about Darin Ruf is this one: 26, as in, his age.
    Not to sound like a skeptic, but if this kid was all that, wouldn’t he have already made it to the show by now? And where do the Phils put him? He’s blocked at first base by Ryan Howard (a.k.a. the Big Whiff), and from what I’ve heard, he’s less than graceful in the outfield. Third base? Please, I don’t want any experiments at that position which has been a black hole since last season, I want someone established there, not some kid making it up as he goes along.
    As for Ruf breaking Howard’s record, that’s all well and good, but that doesn’t mean it’ll equate to success in the majors.

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