Happy Birthday Jose Bautista and Randy Ruiz

by Tom Dakers on Oct 19, 2009 3:30 PM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays Birthdays

Two guys that each finished the season very nicely.

Randy Ruiz turns 32 today. In the 33 games he got called into after being called up in August Randy hit .313/.385/.635 with 10 homers and 17 RBI. It would have been nice if Cito would have got him into more games so we could have some idea if he could have continued hitting that well with enough at bats to be a worthwhile sample. But we did see enough of him to know that he could fill the Kevin Millar role better than Kevin Millar did. At 32 he is clearly past the prospect stage of life but he might be able to do a nice job as a part timer or platoon partner for Lyle Overbay. You can't help but cheer for someone that has spent 11 seasons in the minors with just a handful major league at bats.

Jose Bautista turns 29 today. He was having a pretty forgetable season until September 1st, then hit .257/.339/.606 with 10 homers the rest of the way. Since he isn't under contract for next season, Alex Anthoupolos' job is to figure if the last month of the season is the real Jose or if the 5 preceeding months is a more accurate view of his talent level. My worry is that, if he is re-signed, Cito will give him the full time job in RF next year.

Happy birthday to them both.

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jobau could surprise with regular playing time. pop and defence. sign him to 2/3.5MM.

by Andy Mc on Oct 19, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions

emphatic NOOOOOOOOOOOO

if the Jays sign JoBau, they are not competitive … nice job in Sep Jose, I hope it lands you a gig with another team

but my expectations for the Jays will fall precipitously if they have room in the lineup for him. Like I have said, Jose does lots of things ok to good: he is ok fielder, good arm, ok hitter — but not very good or great at any of them.

As they say in Fantasy Football, Jose may be a good flex play for a bye week situation, but you do not want him as a starter.

In contrast, Ruiz has proven to be one of, if not the best bats off the bench, the Jays had available this year. He is at least very good and I would argue great … certainly his numbers were great.

by aagoodfella on Oct 19, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

If Ruiz was “at least very good” he wouldn’t be a career minor leaguer at the age of 31/32. Sorry.

Bautista? A good bench player on a good team. I would be happy to see the team keep him and rotate him around the field a bit.

by Jevant on Oct 20, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

that is ridiculous logic … sorry to be so abrupt (as your mom would say, “if everyone else jumped off a cliff, does that mean you should do it too?”)

look at his development .. he takes 1 to 2 seasons at each level to master it

he has mastered AAA and is now succeeding at MLB -

by aagoodfella on Oct 20, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I posted a message earlier this year which showed his progress like clockwork .. I cannot find it, but here are his stats

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/randy-ruiz.shtml

by aagoodfella on Oct 20, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Taking to 32 before making the majors isn't progress like clockwork....

no matter how it goes. 11 years in the minors is a non prospect. Might be mean to say for guys that are are in the minors but if you aren’t up to the Majors by 25 or 26 you aren’t going to have a major league career of much value. To think he’s suddenly going to show more power in the majors than he showed in the PCL is beyond hopeful.

I’ll cheer for the guy but I know there is a ceiling on what to expect. I’d like him to have a shot at Kevin Millar’s role but hoping for more is just not realistic. To put it in perspective he is a year older than Jason Bay. He’s a year older than Vernon Wells.

by Tom Dakers on Oct 20, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

3 to 4 years of power hitting near 300 and slugging near 500 sounds like a decent prospect to me

by aagoodfella on Oct 20, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

you aren't a prospect at all at 32........

oh well, have to stop with these useless arguments. The term prospect suggests a player’s abilities will grow, There has never been a 32 year old prospect, at least since the color line broke. An old guy beating on pitchers a decade younger than him in the minors might put up good numbers but it means little by that point. The guys a decade younger will improve. The guy 32 won’t.

by Tom Dakers on Oct 20, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions