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.

 

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

 

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

Looks like we are right back on track. He's rebounded nicely. Really nice last two months.

Pretty awesome stat I just saw from Joel Luckhaupt on Twitter.

 

Bruce is currently sitting at 980 career hits and 199 career HRs.

 

Once he gets to 1,000 hits and 200 HRs he will have done so in fewer PAs than everyone else in Reds history except for Frank Robinson, George Foster, and Johnny Bench. That's not bad company at all. In addition, he'll be one of only 6 Reds to ever amass those numbers. Like him or not, Bruce is going to go down as statistically one of the greatest Reds ever.

The Reds, as usual, are still straddling the fence. By doing so, they've left us all to wonder what their direction is. IMO, they didn't want to trade Bruce or Chapman because the owner is a fan of both and think they draw fans. It's the same reason he wanted to keep Votto and Phillips (and Bailey). If I'm the agent for Frazier I'm demanding a meeting with the produce king to get my over inflated long term team killing deal.

 

I was shocked the owner allowed Walt to trade Leake and Cueto. It must have taken some kind of statement from their agents that they wouldn't resign for Bob to pull the trigger. It must have killed him.

The Reds, as usual, are still straddling the fence. By doing so, they've left us all to wonder what their direction is. IMO, they didn't want to trade Bruce or Chapman because the owner is a fan of both and think they draw fans. It's the same reason he wanted to keep Votto and Phillips (and Bailey). If I'm the agent for Frazier I'm demanding a meeting with the produce king to get my over inflated long term team killing deal.

 

I was shocked the owner allowed Walt to trade Leake and Cueto. It must have taken some kind of statement from their agents that they wouldn't resign for Bob to pull the trigger. It must have killed him.

I'd guess they will both be shopped this off season. Bruce has a pretty reasonable contract and power hitters are extremely hard to come by these days.

Bruce doesn't have to go next year, he still has a few years of control left. Chapman has to though, there is no need for him anymore on this team, and his value could be huge this winter.

Looks like we are right back on track. He's rebounded nicely. Really nice last two months.

 

No doubt about it...could be putting up his best offensive season yet

And now Bruce is batting .233/.307/.440

Bruce would be the first guy that Greg Vaughn or Kevin Mitchell beat up in the locker room.

 

He's soft.

Bruce would be the first guy that Greg Vaughn or Kevin Mitchell beat up in the locker room.

 

He's soft.

 

VERY! Free to a good home.

Bruce would be the first guy that Greg Vaughn or Kevin Mitchell beat up in the locker room.

 

He's soft.

 

 

Why would either one beat up a teammate?

Will be moved in the winter meetings I think to be honest, hard guy not to like, just so inconsistent as a hitter, hate to see him go but it is time to move on, time for Frazier to go to the outfield, something has to happen with Hamilton also, so they are in a difficult spot with outfielders

Will be moved in the winter meetings I think to be honest, hard guy not to like, just so inconsistent as a hitter, hate to see him go but it is time to move on, time for Frazier to go to the outfield, something has to happen with Hamilton also, so they are in a difficult spot with outfielders

 

Jesse Winker will get every chance to win a spot in the OF come March.

Jesse Winker will get every chance to win a spot in the OF come March.

 

Billy Hamilton 2.0? Winker is not ready at all.

Still not sure why no one is talking Meso to LF. If his bat truly has turned the corner, would be best to rest those legs as much as possible. That keeps Frazier at third. Winker to RF. Loser of the SS/2B decision (which should be Suarez) to CF.

 

Defense may not be great but you'd hit the ball occasionally.

Still not sure why no one is talking Meso to LF. If his bat truly has turned the corner, would be best to rest those legs as much as possible. That keeps Frazier at third. Winker to RF. Loser of the SS/2B decision (which should be Suarez) to CF.

 

Defense may not be great but you'd hit the ball occasionally.

 

1. you are assuming he will be able to run at all after the surgery.

2. He will have taken almost a whole year off of baseball, I doubt the bat will be on fire when he returns.