BIDING TIME IN THE MINOR LEAGUES
Bruce producing, not pressing
Highly acclaimed outfielder honing hitting skills in Class AAA Louisville while the big-league Reds struggle.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey are his high-profile centerpieces, but Class AAA Louisville manager Rick Sweet does not bat an eye when he says, "I've got a team here that can go to the big leagues and play. Those (Bruce and Bailey) are just two of 10 players on this club that can go to the big leagues."
Despite what Sweet says, conversation among Reds fans centers on Bruce, who was hitting .352 with seven homers and 30 RBIs after the Bats'
Extras
5-3 victory against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, managed by former Reds manager Dave Miley.
With most of the Reds' outfielders struggling — and usual center fielder Corey Patterson hitting just .224 — Bruce is looked upon as a savior of sorts.
"You can't put that kind of pressure on yourself," Bruce said Tuesday. "I'm not going to be the guy who saves the Reds. They're not a bad team. It's capable of winning."
Under the current configuration, or another? Ten of the players on the Bats' roster have worked their way up from the Class A Dayton Dragons, including Bruce and Bailey, who is 4-3 with a 3.55 ERA after pitching Saturday.
Shortstop Paul Janish, another player with a Dragons background, was hitting .289. Catcher Ryan Hanigan — who appeared briefly with the Reds at the end of last season — is doing nicely with a .356 batting average in 13 games.
"The list goes on and on," said Sweet, also naming players who did not progress through the Dragons.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.
