Toronto Blue Jays batter Randy Ruiz hits a home run in front of New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada (L) and umpire Joe West (C) in the second inning of their MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, August 12, 2009. REUTERS/Ray StubblebineRAY STUBBLEBINE/Reuters
In the baseball career Randy Ruiz has fashioned for himself thus far, patience has been a virtue.
It will be a character trait the 32-year-old will have to fall back on consistently this season, as his playing time will likely be restricted to mostly spot duty for the Toronto Blue Jays under manager.
Although veteran Toronto manager Cito Gaston believes Ruiz has the capabilities to hit 20 to 25 home runs and drive in close to 100 runs, he concedes it will be a challenge for him to find openings for Ruiz to play.
"It's going to be tough," said Gaston, whose Blue Jays played the Texas Rangers last night. "I mean, if he can play a couple of times a week, that's not enough, but it might be what happens.
"At this point in time, we just don't have any space for him."
For Ruiz, who will provide back-up at first base for Lyle Overbay and as the designated hitter when Adam Lind needs a breather, he wouldn't even care if he was the Blue Jays substitute bat-boy.
After logging close to 1,100 games at the minor-league level (he was the rookie of the year in the International League at the rather advanced age of 30), Ruiz is going to enjoy the major-league ride as long as it lasts.
"I'm here, I'm happy," Ruiz said yesterday. "I made an opening day lineup. It's what I've dreamed about since I was a little kid."
Gaston is loath to employ a pinch hitter at the best of times, saying it can "destroy" a hitter's confidence. And he certainly wasn't about to start fiddling with his batting order in Toronto's first game of the regular season last Monday, when such an opportunity presented itself late in the game.
In the eighth inning, after Vernon Wells had singled to give Toronto a 4-3 lead over the Rangers, the bases were loaded with one out for Overbay, a left-handed hitter.
Texas manager Ron Washington, knowing Overbay struggles mightily against lefties, brought southpaw reliever Darren Oliver into the game.
Rather than bring in Ruiz (who hit .279 against lefties after the being promoted from Triple-A last August), Gaston stuck to his guns. Overbay struck out looking.
Gaston said one or two games into the regular-season schedule is far too early for him to be contemplating pinch-hitters.
"Let me tell you this right now: Overbay is going to play against left-handers, so why would I pinch hit for him?" the manager said. "So the end of that."
Gaston said he is committed to both Overbay and young outfielder Travis Snider, who has also experienced difficulties against left-handers, for the time being.
"Those two guys, they're going to play against left-handers," Gaston said. "And if it turns out they're not able to put some number up later on in the year, maybe you might have to do something. But right now, no."