If there is one glaring flaw in the Phillies lineup, it is certainly the catcher position. The backstops, led by Carlos Ruiz, have struggled mightily at the plate. Now, with Chris Coste and Lou Marson gone, the Phillies rely (all too much) on veteran Paul Bako as their backup. Through 102 games this season, Phillies catchers have the following stats:
2009: 397 PA, 7 HR, 32 RBI, .226 BA, .322 OBP, .362 SLG
Carlos Ruiz has proven to be a solid defensive catcher. While his offensive struggles can be more frustrating than listening to Tim McCarver mispronounce his name, Ruiz has contributed with great glove-work. He calls a great game and has a strong arm, which he has used to throw out 16/50 base stealers this season (32%). Ruiz has allowed only one passed ball and committed just three errors all season for a .994 fielding percentage. On a team with more than enough offense, Ruiz's emphasis is on defense and as such, he should be starting almost all of the Phillies' games.
Paul Bako on the other hand is an aging, mediocre catcher. While he hits lefty and has played adequate defense, there is something unnerving about him when he starts. Bako is sufficient for the occassional spot-start but should an injury befall Ruiz, I worry that the catcher's spot will be a black hole on an otherwise highly competitive team. Phillies Nation made this case about a week ago, when it suggested that Marson should replace the light-hitting Bako on the major league roster.
Here is a comparison of the Phillies' two catchers to this point in the season:
Ruiz: 65 G, 239 PA, 5 HR, 23 RBI, .223 BA, .325 OBP, .369 SLG
Bako: 18 G, 52 PA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .167 BA, .231 OBP, .208 SLG
It's hard to imagine that a team on pace to score over 800 runs this season can have such little production from one of its starting positions. However, even based on these weak numbers, it is clear that Ruiz is a better offensive option than Bako. The only distinct advantage for Bako is his lefty bat. But I ask, does which side of the plate you are striking out from really matter?
So as the season comes to a close, Phillies fans should expect, or at least hope, to see much more of Chooch in the lineup. Charlie Manuel is walking a fine line between too much rest for Ruiz and too much playing time for Bako. As Phillies' beat writer Todd Zolecki points out, "the Phillies like Paul Bako as Carlos Ruiz's backup, although Bako has been playing more lately." But with 60 games left in the season, I would hope to see Ruiz start as many as 48 of those games, to help secure a third straight division crown. The Phillies are simply a better team with him in the lineup.
2009: 397 PA, 7 HR, 32 RBI, .226 BA, .322 OBP, .362 SLG
Carlos Ruiz has proven to be a solid defensive catcher. While his offensive struggles can be more frustrating than listening to Tim McCarver mispronounce his name, Ruiz has contributed with great glove-work. He calls a great game and has a strong arm, which he has used to throw out 16/50 base stealers this season (32%). Ruiz has allowed only one passed ball and committed just three errors all season for a .994 fielding percentage. On a team with more than enough offense, Ruiz's emphasis is on defense and as such, he should be starting almost all of the Phillies' games.
Paul Bako on the other hand is an aging, mediocre catcher. While he hits lefty and has played adequate defense, there is something unnerving about him when he starts. Bako is sufficient for the occassional spot-start but should an injury befall Ruiz, I worry that the catcher's spot will be a black hole on an otherwise highly competitive team. Phillies Nation made this case about a week ago, when it suggested that Marson should replace the light-hitting Bako on the major league roster.
Here is a comparison of the Phillies' two catchers to this point in the season:
Ruiz: 65 G, 239 PA, 5 HR, 23 RBI, .223 BA, .325 OBP, .369 SLG
Bako: 18 G, 52 PA, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .167 BA, .231 OBP, .208 SLG
It's hard to imagine that a team on pace to score over 800 runs this season can have such little production from one of its starting positions. However, even based on these weak numbers, it is clear that Ruiz is a better offensive option than Bako. The only distinct advantage for Bako is his lefty bat. But I ask, does which side of the plate you are striking out from really matter?
So as the season comes to a close, Phillies fans should expect, or at least hope, to see much more of Chooch in the lineup. Charlie Manuel is walking a fine line between too much rest for Ruiz and too much playing time for Bako. As Phillies' beat writer Todd Zolecki points out, "the Phillies like Paul Bako as Carlos Ruiz's backup, although Bako has been playing more lately." But with 60 games left in the season, I would hope to see Ruiz start as many as 48 of those games, to help secure a third straight division crown. The Phillies are simply a better team with him in the lineup.
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