April 27, 201511 yr IMO, his stubborness is one of his problems. I think it's also a macho thing with him, refusing to use the shifts to his favor. I also think, like when the toothpick was here, either the inmates are running things or the the front office. This manager sure doesn't seem to be. If Bruce WOULD EVER decide to go to left field, it's going to take a little work and time and he has to LISTEN to what is being said to him by a hitting instructor. He'll never be sent to Louisville, or removed from the lineup very long because of his salary. He certainly needs a wake-up call or attitude adjustment. Hell, if I struck out that much I'd be taking it out on objects in the damn dugout. I think his attitude is "I'm a major leaguer. I did everything I needed to do to get here. Why do I need to change now?" Honestly, I think things need a shakeup. Do you blow this team up? Maybe. But something has to be done. I'd rather watch a bunch of minor leaguers busting their rears every day than watching what is going on with this current team now. I know it will NEVER happen but if I was King of major league baseball, no one gets more than a one year contract. I wouldn't care if you hit 100 home runs a year while walking on water. I agree with your post Old Dog. They will never send Bruce out but I would argue that they are paying the salary either way, why not send a message to the rest of the team. Do what the team needs or we have a team in Louisville that is fun to play for. He could try and yank balls out all day down there.
April 27, 201511 yr A month from now this team will be 14 games out and fighting with the Brew Crew to stay out of the basement. Absolutely. There has to be more sense of urgency. This is MLB. I hate the stance that it is a marathon and not a sprint. I am sure players like Bruce care to an extent but if he does not understand hitting by now with his experience, move on and give someone else a chance to get hot.
April 28, 201511 yr Another reason to dislike the guy. Just when you're ready to kick him to the curb, he actually plays a good game.
April 28, 201511 yr Jay Bruce has one off year, and fans are ready to run him out of town. Bruce will be fine. He's not going to hit .300, but he'll finish between .250-260 and hit 25-30 HR, with 85-100 RBI.
April 28, 201511 yr Jay Bruce has one off year, and fans are ready to run him out of town. Bruce will be fine. He's not going to hit .300, but he'll finish between .250-260 and hit 25-30 HR, with 85-100 RBI. Bruce put up 3 pretty good years prior to last year.
April 28, 201511 yr Bruce put up 3 pretty good years prior to last year. Yes he did. He'll be fine. Yes he looks absolutely awful at times, but I'll keep him on my team.
April 28, 201511 yr Yes he did. He'll be fine. Yes he looks absolutely awful at times, but I'll keep him on my team. He'll get hot. You just have to endure his huge inconsistency at the plate.
April 28, 201511 yr Bruce put up 3 pretty good years prior to last year. Which he wasn't healthy. It's hard for me to believe a guy right in the middle of his prime will have a huge drop off for no reason if he is healthy after having 3-4 pretty solid seasons.
April 28, 201511 yr Which he wasn't healthy. It's hard for me to believe a guy right in the middle of his prime will have a huge drop off for no reason if he is healthy after having 3-4 pretty solid seasons. I agree. I think he'll be ok. Not sure the same can be said for the LFer
April 28, 201511 yr Which he wasn't healthy. It's hard for me to believe a guy right in the middle of his prime will have a huge drop off for no reason if he is healthy after having 3-4 pretty solid seasons. I see what you are saying here, but Bruce has been a guy who's peripherals statistically have been on a decline since 2010 for the most part. Since 2010 which by the stat wRC+ was his most successful season as he was 24% better than league average, his walks have went down and strikeouts have gone up every season since, bottoming him out at 21% BELOW league average as a hitter last year. Looking at is batted ball mix, Jay was clearly hurt last year as he had a GB/FB rate of 1.33 (compared to a 0.93 career mark) which he hasn't had one that high since his rookie season, seems like he couldn't get any lift on the ball and rolled over a lot of pitches. Of course, more balls in the air = more home runs. Early in this season he is showing a return back to the high fly ball tendencies with a 0.88 GB/FB average, showing the power could very well return to the regular 30 hr plateau. Basically, he's kind out showing a reverse career path as I guess advanced scouts have figured out the holes in his swing and the rise of shifting will hurt a pull hitter. But we'll see what happens this season
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