Bruce: I'll be back
Jay Bruce took his demotion in stride and with class that has become one of his trademarks.
"I'm disappointed," he said. "My goal was to make the team. But I understand they're doing what's in the best interest of me and the team. It's not a slap in the face."
"I'll be back. When I am, I'll look back on this day and laugh."
Bruce said he'll report to Louisville tomorrow.
"I'm batting third and playing center field," he said.
Bruce didn't think the quad injury that cost him five days hurt him.
"I was as ready as I could," he said. "I played well. I thought my defense was fine. I didn't hit the ball as well as I would have liked."
Bruce hit .262 with a double and three RBI in 42 at-bats.
posted by John Fay at 3:55 PM
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Post a Comment*I have been the biggest naysayer on this board..sorry it gets worse
LF Dunn
CF Bruce
RF Griffey
3b Encarnacion
ss Gonzo or Kepp
2nd Phillips
1st Votto
Catcher ?
should have stuck with this lineup
John,
Do you have an idea of who will be on the Louisville team to start the season? That sounds like one hell of a talented team (assuming Bailey goes down there as well).
It would be easy for a player with this much hype to have an ego. Let another reason to be a fan of Bruce.
As a fan of a team, you always think there is a better way to do something. A better line-up, trade for a catcher, what players should be in the bigs and the ones that need to be in the minors, but I must admit as the clock ticks towards opening day, I am very optimistic about this team in a weak division.
What a classy kid, always seems to say the right things. I would have liked to have seen him in Cincy to start the season, but can understand the decision. I do hope though that he knocks the cover off the ball with the Bats and proves he deserves another shot this season.
Well-handled, young Mr. Bruce. We'll see you soon. Looking forward to it.
I don't see the lineup as a major source of concern. Yes, I think it is better with Bruce and Votto. Even without them I think they can be at least a .500 team if the pitching is decent. The bullpen cost them a lot of games last year turning 3-run leads into 2-run deficits in the 7th and 8th innings.
I believe how well the team does this year hinges on two things: if the two young starters live up to their potential and if the bullpen problem has truly been fixed.
John, this is off of the subject but I just read on MLB.com that the Nats released John Patterson. Do you think that the Reds would be interested in signing him to a minor league deal. He fought through injuries last year but before that he was a better pitcher than most of the 5th spot candidates. I am not saying he is ready now, but do you think that we could get him on a minor league deal and let him work himself back. It wouldn't hurt any?
Jack - Don't you think RF should be J. Hamilton?
wait...is that the batting order you would use? I hope not. naysayer doesn't cover it, I'm starting to think your actually rooting against this team.
Bruce in AAA is fine, he will get more innings & more ABs, and while it's may not help him (unless he wants it to) its not going to hurt him. If I'm an owner of a small market club, I take a look at certain guys (like patterson) to see if they can resurrect their prospect status (like phillips/hamilton have) because its worked before, and wow look at the dividends it has given us (allstar caliber 2B & young power arm).
The super 2 status is what tipped the scales, this way if we're patient we get another year of bruce when he's closer to his prime at a way cheaper price than if we go insane right now and plug him in, all because he hit a little in AAA last yr. He struck out too much in the minors, he struck out too much in ST, he needs to work on it. fans who disagree need to let it go. like he said, he'll be back.
The Bruce-inator!! I'll be back!!!
I think it's a good move. I'd rather see Bruce get into a rhythm at AAA before he comes up to the big league. If he starts the season for the Reds, he could never find that rhythm and end up riding the pines. The outfield is way too crowded as it is. Maybe a trade will open up a spot for him later on.
NV Reds enough
juts put the best darn team on the field and worry about all the extraneous stuff later
my god man dont you want to win
patterson aint no darn Phillips dude
This is a great move for the Reds. Bruce's main concern last year..... walk to strike outs. 1-11 not great for a spring of fastballs.
Votto is 6-8. Let Bruce Season at AAA. Go down there kid and improve your plate command and you ain't going anywhere when you come back...
I love Bruce and am not a fan of Patterson, but I think this was the right move. Let Bruce continue to develop and take over when Griffey gets hurt. I'm fine with it.
I just feel blessed that Baker is going to go with Cueto and Volquez over Belisle or Bailey.
can we PLEASE drop hamilton. this is not a rangers blog. I don't care if he's an allstar (and he can be barring injury) I still like the trade. We need a few #1/2 potential type pitchers for this team to be any good in GABP.
If you want to root for him just so the trade looks stupid, go buy a rangers cap.
according to you, we need to build a better team, that starts with aquiring guys out of nowhere, like keppinger. maybe patterson can contribute like kep last yr
Never said patterson was phillips, I wish you would quit putting words in peoples mouths dude.
And don't lecture me about wanting to win, your the one who's rooting against this team, just so you can say you were right to a bunch of stupid bloggers on the internet. I want bruce for an extra yr, so he can help us win for longer. We're a small market team, this is the best darn strategy.
Hey John do you have any idea where Josh Roenicke will start the year? I was actually hoping he could make the roster somehow. Hopefully he will at least be at Louisville and a short ride away from Cincy when guys like Coffey and Stanton implode again this year.
-- Redbeard
well, maybe you not rooting against the team, but it sure sounds like it.
I think eventually what will happen, is the Veteran obsession that Baker has will dwindle down. Some of the veterans won't perform to their expected standards and the Reds will have no choice but to go with the young guys.
The Reds have been predicted this year to be a competitive team in the NL central. Let's all hope that the prediction is right!
Do I have the upmost faith in Corey Patterson? No, I don't. But, he will be playing in a hitter friendly GABP, and his numbers can only get better, not worse (let's hope not). I say give him a chance! He's a veteran, has a decent amount of playing time in the Majors, and has a decent glove. Despite what a lot of people think, he can't HURT this team any worse than what last year consisted of!
We really need to quit worrying about the hitting. We have the hitting that makes a great team. The pitching is what we seriously need to worry about. You all are forgetting that Stanton is still in the bullpen while Kent Mercker is on the edge of not making the team. To me, regardless of Mercker's injury, he has always been a help to the Reds. I would much rather have a guy like that in the bullpen. As good as Roenicke pitched this spring, I would almost rather have him as well.
I don't have a problem with sending Bruce down for now. He's only had a a few hundred or so atbats at Triple A right?
Not a big fan of Patterson getting the CF nod, but I think it's good to be patient with your young stars like Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey.
The Brewers didn't start off the year with Ryan Braun last year and that worked out pretty good once he came up.
I'm understand some of the worry with Dusty though...hopefully he doesn't have some unecessary loyalty to Corey Patterson that keeps Bruce from coming up, or Norris Hopper from playing more.
I'm already tired of Baker and this team. He is going to have some old veteran team, and it sickens me. I've been a Reds fan my whole life, but I'm actually rooting against them this year. The knock on Baker is he always takes veterans over the young guys, and he ruins young pitchers. Well, Cueto and Vasquez, get ready for the second part of this to come true as well. Can you imagine how exciting it would be to see Bruce in the big leagues to start the year? Instead, more retreads, and another year of losing baseball. Yuck!!!
mark, if your rooting against the reds, your not a reds fan.
Dusty's not deaf, he's heard the criticism, he wants to turn that around here. Bruce in CF isn't going to instantly turn the team around.
I am with you Mark, Dusty is doing the same thing he did over with the Cubs. What is Dunn batting right now? You get what you get with him and that is an overpaid player! Why did we trade Hamilton if we knew we needed a CF? This organization does not have any vision. Griffey is past his prime and needs to be replaced. Dunn is slow in the outfield and will get you nowhere. I know the Dunn fans will come on here and protect, but face reality here, he is not all that.
Baker only likes veterans, yet Cueto and Volquez are likely going to make the rotation. That makes sense. It's Volquez, not Vasquez. Learn the names for crying out loud. Patterson and Baker had a horrible relationship in Chicago because Patterson was benched for his poor performance. He is by no means Baker's guy. If Patterson does get that job, it's out of desperation that someone needs to cover those gaps in Left and Right center field because Dunn and Jr. can't get there, and because Freel and Hopper aren't everyday players or very good hitters vs. RHP
I'm sick of people whining about dunns def in LF. Practially every team in the NL has poor defense in left (lee, bonds, soriano, braun are only a few, plus more in AL - matsui, manny, etc.). Theres a reason, thats the least important def position, so if you can fill in 100r 40hr 100rbis, your doing pretty good compared to a garbage role player in left for defense. Who you gonna play there?!?!? hopper? freel? bruce would be a waste of his def. what a waste of an offensive dominant position.
Creds1 and Mark as a fellow reds fan I ask you politely to please go to bed. Mark he did not ruin any young pitchers. Prior and Wood both had arm trouble before he got there and every scout was worried about their mechanics. And how contradictory is it to say, Dusty only plays veterans, cueto and volquez are going to be in the rotation? Those are two rookies right in the middle of the rotation. Creds1 this organization has no vision? You mean the fact that they finally understand that pitching wins championships and not homeruns? And I dont need to make your Dunn comment sound any more ignorant because nvreds already did that. The point is the reds pitching staff is greatly improved in the pen and rotation. The record will reflect that in 08.
Just wanted to followup on a few deals Krivsky has been criticized for over the last couple of seasons. David Ross for Bobby Basham. Basham gave up 26 hits in 8+ innings at double A last season. Very high ERA as well. Zach Ward for Lohse got him railroaded. Ward was 5-17 with a 4+ ERA at high A ball last season. Lohse didn't pan out long term, but we got Maloney in return who could be argued as a better prospect than Ward at this point and is a lefty. We rented Lohse without a net prospect loss. Krivsky is catching slack about Hamilton tearing it up for the Rangers. I would do this trade again in a heartbeat. We need PITCHING and are starting to get it. If your not excited about Cueto/Volquez/Bailey over the next 5-7 years, your not a Reds fan. Looking at some of these minor league guys: Roenicke, Viola, Thompson from the Nationals trade. We've got some young depth as well. I'm just saying, give Krivsky the benefit of the doubt. He knows talent,and apparently knows the difference between a real prospect and a minor league numbers guy. Everyone was hyped on Ward and Basham and it turns out we didn't lose much there. Not to mention Phillips etc. We are building a winner and this is as good as I've felt heading into a season in a long time. Settle down and tip your cap, Krivsky is getting it done.
Sincerely, Wayne Krivsky's son. Ha Ha!
Umm...nobody said not to play Dunn in left. Simply that Patterson is a fast guy and can help cover that left-center field gap.
R - wasn't talking to you
I agree with what u said
Jay Bruce, I just want to appologize to you on behalf of all of us. Your best chance to play is if you get traded.....oh wait, we won't do that, it would cost the team money.
I hope you can get traded so you have a chance in this league.
Good Luck Buddy, you are going to need it.
Patterson is my pick for NL MVP......what a joke
Until (or unless) Patterson actually FAILS, then maybe all this talk needs to stop. Right now he's doing fine.
Jay Bruce will undoubtedly be back this summer or late summer - especially if Griffey gets hurt.
If the Patterson experiment works out, then we're looking at Patterson at CF, and Bruce in RF, and maybe Hopper in LF if Dunner goes away.
I like our setup, until I'm proven wrong.
Have some faith, baby.
firefly is not apologizing for me Jay. You will be here soon enough. Work on the pitch selection and hitting the curve at AAA.
The 1 walk 11 Strikeouts for a guy who has a rep of being a power strikeout guy is something that you can improve on. Nasty breaking stuff in the bigs.
Umm...nobody said not to play Dunn in left. Simply that Patterson is a fast guy and can help cover that left-center field gap.
Which is why Patterson will be in CF. Quit griping about Dunn, dude. Just admit it...you were doing it.
If the Patterson experiment works out, then we're looking at Patterson at CF, and Bruce in RF, and maybe Hopper in LF if Dunner goes away.
Then we're looking at the least offensive outfield in the majors!
No offense, but we need Dunn's production or an equal make-up in player depth to pick-up for the offensive loss. People continue to dog Dunn, but don't realize that the offense would be hurting without him!
And by the way, Mark and creds1...if you have little faith in the Reds, then what are you doing here? Why are you worried about the Reds then? If you're rooting against them, then don't post here! I would rather read John Fay post another blog on the UFC than hear that crap!
Geez...where do these people come from??
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