Ruiz, Carlos

Quick observation on split stats and pre- and post all-star stats. A number of people will look at the Phillies' lineup, and will have (like this reviewer) used Ruiz for those glorious Aug. and Sept months where at the very least he was not an absolute negative as some NL catchers are and get visions of something that just isn't so. They will cringe at his .255 but then look at the splits and say that his .276 post all-star isn't that bad and then point at three of his five months as a starting catcher over .300 as "proof" that it's now Ruiz time.

1. Even the worst player has some good months. For a catcher we're talking about 60-65 Abs.
2. .276 in a half a season is proof of what exactly?

What you have is a 31 year old veteran (his previous reported birthdate was pushed back from Jan. 1980 to Jan. 1979) back-up catcher. He didn't hit an .800 OPS until his second try at double-A Reading when he was 25 years old (pretty old for that circuit). His only other minor league achievement is a .300 & .505 SLP in triple-A Scranton in 2006 as a 27 year old - again, second time through and old for the circuit. Yes he hit .300+ in three of his five months as the starter, but the other two he hit in the .170's.

Yes, a good lineup and a good park, but this one is a reach even if you pay next to nothing.