But that prompts the obvious question: why does the light suddenly go on after many years in the Phlliies organization? I think the obvious answer is better coaching and/or training advice directed to the specific strengths/weaknesses of the individual player -- making him the best square peg he can possibly be, rather than what is too often the Phillies approach of insisting upon pounding him into a round hole, because they don't want a square peg. In Ruf's cased, likely they drafted him as organizational filler and he was better than expected. Still, square pegs weren't the fad they were chasing at the time. It's like deciding that high FBs are the best way to pitch, because that's what the analytical guys said, but we don't have guys that throw that hard and can be relied upon not to allow an overthrown FB to end up in very hittable part of strike zone, when it doesn't sail high and wide and result in a walk. Our organization is short on those plus FB round pegs, so the square pegs we drafted to be middle relievers, despite FBs in the low 90's (or worse). In recent years of watching Reading and Allentown games, I can vouch for the fact that most of our 'prospect' pitchers at those levels simply did not have as fast a FB as their counterparts on the opposing teams. Clearly, the organization at some point did a 180 on the sort of pitchers they were seeking in the draft/international. Luckily Nola has shown more velocity than expected at the time he was drafted.
