REDS CONNECTION
Bruce will be up soon, and he'll stick
COMMENT: How good do you think Jay Bruce will be in the Major Leagues?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Hal McCoy is back from his weekend in New York. After having plane trouble, he's happy to be back on Ohio soil for the entire week.
Extras
Q Isn't it time for the Jay Bruce Era to begin, time to trade Griffey and Dunn even if it's only a salary dump? The money is better spent in so many other areas. — Steve, Carmel, Ind.
A I don't necessarily agree that it is dump salary time in early May. And Dusty Baker told me that Bruce will be here soon and he is a man of his word. When the Reds deem that he is ready, he'll be here. As Bruce himself said, "When I get there, I want to stay." If the Reds rid themselves of Dunn and Griffey right now, what would the talk show folks have left to scream about?
Q I know Norris Hopper is on the disabled list but I never heard Marty Brennaman say anything about him getting injured. I assume the Reds put him on the DL to keep from releasing someone else and having to eat a contract. — Meeks, Dayton
A It wasn't an injury that happened on any one play. It was a gradual thing and his arm kept hurting and getting worse. A team can't put a player on the DL who isn't injured. If the Reds tried that, Hopper's agent would be camped on the commissioner's doorstep screaming foul. Major league teams don't cheat, do they?
Comments
By terry
May 13, 2008 4:15 AM | Link to this
You guys are dreaming if you think the Reds will get top quality players, i.e. Clement, for Griffey. As for Dunn, I’ll bet they could have gotten more than Volquez for him.
By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
May 12, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
Hey, someone is impostering me. Classy, but cheap. Flattering, but lazy.
By smack5099
May 12, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this
For what it’s worth, Redlegs, TTO stands for Three True Outcomes, not Three Total Option. The concept’s the same, though.
By BOB DUERSTOCK
May 12, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this
YES TRADE GRIFFEY!!!!Trouble is I don,t think He will go!!!!I think the reds are stuck with him!!!!
By Mr Redlegs
May 12, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Don’t get all hopped up on Jay hitting long shots off of Damien Moss. The guy’s a career AAA player, even worse than Tom Shearn. That said, the kid looks promising and hopefully we can get a good C for Griffey (Jeff Clement?) and insert Jay into the lineup. People should stop complaining about his K rate, too. Dunn Ks a lot, but he’s a TTO player (three total option, K, walk, HR) while Jay is a complete hitter. He can strike out a few times, I won’t be worried as long as he keeps hitting.
By Larry
May 12, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Changes I would like to see: Trade Griffey, Dunn, and Arroyo.Release Belisle, Fogg, Patterson and Ross. There surely are some young pitchers in our system who can do better than what we currently are throwing out there! Dunn is a liability in the outfield and does anyone have any confidence that he has any chance against left handed pitching! We need people who will at least put the ball in play and make the defense work!
By Davius
May 12, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
We will never know how good he is until he gets here. His minor league numbers are good, BUT ,he still Strikes Out a lot. The fans kill Dunn for striking out, will they be more tolerant of Bruce?
By Wayne Lackey
May 12, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Been a Reds fan over 50 years. I would hate to see Griffey go. Yet it is time for the young men to come up Janish,Bruce,Dickerson, Thompson,Bailey and some others I can’t recall right now. The team they have now is not getting the job done. At least give the young guys the experience. This year is a wask already, 8 games out, 5 teams to leap over, it would be awful tough, not impossible but hard. Trades? Who can Reds trade that will bring back top prospects or ready major leaguers?
By MAC
May 12, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Good news/info on Bruce and Janish. Can either of these guys bat leadoff? Freel has been productive lately, but when will the injury occur and as mentioned, he isn’t getting any younger. I like Hopper a lot, but is he going to make it back? The Reds really need a quality Lead-Off hitter and a few more players who have a good hitting approach like Keppinger, Hatty, and even Votto. Send Griffey to Seattle and package him w/ enough to bring Clement or Bedard back to Cincy! Smallball & quality SP
By Jack Beggs
May 12, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
When is Jeff Keppinger going to get the credit he deserves? Someone, who shall be nameless, called him a journeyman earlier in the season. That was and is totally incorrect. He hits 300 plus; 400 plus with runners in scoring position. He is one of the most patient Reds at the plate and actually makes opposing pitchers pitch. And he NEVER makes fielding errors. I think he may have 0 or 1 so far this year. He makes every play and some tough ones too. I would like to know where his poor fielding reputation came from? It is sure time to refute it.
By Jack Beggs
May 12, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
When is Jeff Keppinger going to get the credit he deserves? Someone, who shall be nameless, called him a “journeyman” earlier in the season. That was and is totally incorrect. He hits 300 plus; 400 plus with runners in scoring position. He is one of the most patient Reds at the plate and actually makes opposing pitchers pitch. And he NEVER makes fielding errors. I think he may have 0 or 1 so far this year. He makes every play and some tough ones too. I would like to know where his poor fielding reputation came from? It is sure time to refute it.
By Virgil Clausen
May 12, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Hal,
I saw the Bats play Friday, Bruce didn’t play but did bat for Lehr. Lehr looked good but the one who stood out to me also was Janish, had three hits including double and triple and looked very good in the field.
By Michael
May 12, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
How many more years do you think Freel has left? He’s about washed up isn’t he?
By Chad Leonard
May 12, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Hi Hal,
I just a wonderful weekend taking my family to Lousiville to watch the Bats. I saw Jay Bruce up close. The kid sure has a good looking swing…He hit a 3 run shot to left field off Damien Moss for the Richmond Braves. He made all the plays in Left field…He looks ready when the open a spot. He also gave my 8 year son an autograph…which made his day. He was very polite…a class act.
Another player that looked ready is Paul Janish…Hitting line drives everywhere.