Comments on: Randy Ruiz

By: Fire Gardy » Good Bye Randy Ruiz

Fire Gardy » Good Bye Randy Ruiz — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:21:12 +0000

[...] while we were talking about how excited we were about Randy Ruiz, Gardenhire was crossing his name off the roster. Ruiz has been cut, along with Randy Keisler, [...]

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:24:11 +0000

I think Gil Meche is a good pitcher, i was just trying to think of someone in the division who was closer to being an average pitcher than CC, Verlander, Etc. Ted Lilly also turned out to be pretty good down the stretch for the cubs.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:09:46 +0000

Oh certainly. If Kubel proves he can hit lefties, he should be given every chance against them; and I think he should be given the chance to prove it, but I don't know if he'll get it.

I don't think Meche is left handed, but he's not as bad as you think. Just because the Royals went totally overboard doesn't alter his skills as a pitcher. And judging by the way the market's looking ... I think I'd rather have Meche than Ted Lilly or Carlos Silva (no offense Big Chief), who signed similar contracts. Just like with A-Rod, I think it's unfair to base your opinion of the person or player upon the contract that some idiot GM saw fit to offer them.

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:11:51 +0000

That is another very possible option. I’d like to see how Kubel hits lefties before we do a full on platoon. I would like Monroe or Ruiz take the really tough lefties, but if it is some mediocre lefty (is Gil Meche lefthanded) I’d say let Kubel get his swings in.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:02:08 +0000

Or if Lamb gets hurt and Buscher becomes the starter. I think you're right that Ruiz won't make the roster out of camp, but he's hopefully the first guy on speed dial from Wild Bill's office in case anything happens.

Ultimately, while I want Kubel to get as many ABs as possible, a Kubel/Ruiz DH platoon would work really well. I can't find splits for Ruiz, but I'm guessing he's a big lefty-masher. If we play our cards right, we could get 40+ HRs from the DH position. That's a definite upgrade from ... 2 or whatever we had last year.

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:57:20 +0000

I think they will, they almost have to. I just don’t think he will make the opening day ML roster. Morneau isn’t going to miss any games, (didn’t he play like 155 last year, and at one point had to leave a game with a broken nose?), and we already have a DH and a backup DH (Kubel and Monroe) so I think we need Buscher in there so we have someone to play a position. Unless the team bucks tradition and carries 11 pitchers, which i doubt. But I bet Ruiz makes it up when Monroe gets hurt or (god forbid) Kubel’s knees start bugging him.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:50:21 +0000

I think the Cust analogy works perfectly.

Cust was an aging former-prospect who'd never been given a shot at the big leagues despite posting intriguingly high power numbers throughout the minor leagues (especially recently).

Ruiz is in precisely the same spot in his career.

The Twins were repeatedly willing to use Matt Lecroy in the "all-bat/no-glove/good-guy" role. (Much to my chagrin, admittedly.) Why not give Ruiz a shot?

By: Texas

Texas — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:25:39 +0000

"funfuriating" perhaps?

Ruiz intrigues me as well. I don't think the Cust analogy can work though because the A's don't mind having someone with no glove who can hit the crap out of the ball. The Twins on the other hand go out of their way to not have players who are mashers.

By: sirsean

sirsean — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:32:48 +0000

That's a fact.

I'm guessing there'll be plenty of ways he fails to do that this season. Should be some mix of "fun" and "infuriating."

By: FunBobby

FunBobby — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:16:42 +0000

It SHOULD be strong, it really comes down to Gardy maximizing the talent/potential we have.