Welcome Back Chooch; Phillies Activate Carlos Ruiz

The Phillies reinstated catcher Carlos Ruiz from suspension today, Humberto Quintero was DFA’d to make room on the Phillies’ active roster.

It's been a major blow to the Phillies, who have come to rely on the veteran catcher's improved offensive production and handling of the pitching staff and threw out a career-best 34 percent of attempted basestealers in 2012.

Ruiz missed the first 25 games of the season while serving a 25-game Adderall suspension.  Phillies catchers ranked second-to-last in the NL in batting average and walks, and dead-last in on-base percentage.

Erik Kratz got a majority of the starts in place of Ruiz, hit .191 with 16 strikeouts and four double plays.  Meanwhile, Ruiz hit .325 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in 114 games last year.

During the spring, Ruiz hit just .231 with one home runs and six RBI IN 11 games.

Many feel that Ruiz will just return to form and should hit somewhere in the middle of the Phillies line-up - I'm not-so-sure.

Ruiz had a career year last season, his 68 RBI were 14 better then his previous high, and his 16 home runs nearly doubled his high of nine that he had in 2007.  Even his .325 average was .023 points higher then his former career higj.

If Ruiz can come back, handle the pitching staff and give you .265, 10 home runs and 45 RBI, I think we should be happy.  However, those numbers hardly represent middle-of-the-order production.

Also of note, last week, Ruiz underwent a second set of X-rays on his left wrist which came back negative after he was hit by a pitch last Friday in an extended spring training game.  Remember Ruiz has been banged up over the past few years, its something else to keep an eye on.