About time.
That’s all you can say.
Who knows what finally prompted the Cincinnati Reds to finally call up minor league phenom, i.e. hope of the franchise, Jay Bruce. Perhaps they tired of waiting on Ken Griffey, Jr. to finally hit his 600th home run, so they could activate the launch sequence that would propel Junior back to Seattle. Perhaps it was that dreadful 0-for-8 day at the plate turned in by the hapless Corey Patterson during Sunday’s grueling 18-inning loss at San Diego.
The last Red to go 0-for-8 in a game? Eddie Milner in 1983.
Jay Bruce is not Eddie Milner. Let’s hope not anyway. The discovery process starts today. After hitting .364 with 10 homers and 37 RBI in just 49 games at Louisville, the 21-year-old Bruce gets the call-up to the majors today. Finally. And suddenly there’s a reason to be interested in the Reds. Not to mention hopeful.
Asked if Bruce, the 12th player taken in the 2005 draft will play every day, General Manager Walt Jocketty told the Cincinnati Enquirer, “I hope so.”
Presumably, Bruce will play center field, between Griffey in right and Adam Dunn in left. Presumably, this is only until the Reds figure out what to do with their two highly-paid corner outfielders. Thought was Dunn might be packing his bags once the June 15 no-trade clause in his contract expires. But Dunner has been on a tear. Griffey is now the one on shakier ground. Or maybe, with no other acceptable option in center, Bruce stays put.
But if Bruce is to play every day, Jocketty might have to lean a bit on manager Dusty Baker. Dusty loves his veterans. He loves his guys. Why else would he continue to play Patterson despite the fact the Cubs reject is hitting just .201? Patterson has one hit in his last 34 at-bats. He doesn’t take enough pitches to be a lead-off hitter, yet Baker insists on putting him at the top of the order. Right now, Patterson is a $3 million bust.
Bruce won't be a bust. He was Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year last year. He can hit for average and power, plus steal bases. He had eight steals in 49 games at Louisville.
He’s not too young either. Johnny Bench was 19 when he made his Reds’ debut. Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays’ budding star, is 22. Arizona’s Juston Upton, the No. 1 pick in the ’05 draft, is 21. Boston pitcher Jon Lester, who threw a no-hitter two weeks back, is 24. Milwaukee power hitter Ryan Braun is 24. On the current Reds, Johnny Cueto is 22. Edinson Volquez is 24.
There will be growing pains. But there's no time like the present to get those out of the way. These Reds aren't going anywhere. They're not going to win anything. And Jocketty told the Enquirer that the reports were Bruce has been ready to make the jump to the majors for awhile.
Finally, he’s here.
About time.
As a Cub fan, I know how infuriating Dusty can be by not playing his best lineup, in favor of an old lineup. It appears different this time around, however, as Reds upper management seem OK telling Dusty how it is going to be, not letting him dictate terms,like the Cubs let him do.
I agree with you Mr. Clay. Jay Bruce should have been brought up a month ago. But you touched on Dusty Baker a little and here is my take on him. I love the passion he has for the game. I, and I’m sure his players do as well, love the way he takes up for his players. But I’m concerned not only with the Corey Patterson issue, I’m concerned with the amount of innings he is allowing his starting pitchers throw. Look at what happened to his best two starters in Chicago. Ruined arms…. Do you have a take on any of this??
I think you’re right to worry about Dusty’s handling of pitchers. He needs to be careful with both Cueto and Volquez. Two of the better arms the Reds have had in a long time. So far, I think he’s done ok in that regard. But don’t want him to fall back into bad habits.
I think the Reds may have been waiting for Bruce to improve his plate discipline. That’s not to say improve his batting average, because only Ted Williams wouldn’t be happy with a .360+ BA. I’m speaking more about the fact that his OBP (.390) is close to his BA (.360).
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Bruce will not hit .360. So, it may be a bit of a roller coaster for this kid if he doesn’t start to get his walks up.
You’re probably right about plate discipline. So it’s encouraging he drew a walk first time up tonight. Then singled.
What a show by Bruce last night. What could have been, a outfield duo of Jay Bruce and Josh Hamilton. But, we did get Volquez in the Hamilton trade.
Going back to a concern that is growing by the week. Cueto threw 115 pitches just to get through five innings. In the 18 inning game against the Padres Dusty allowed Harrang and Volguez to pitch. I just keep thinking about how good Prior and Woods “was” before they threw out their arms…