Bruce Not Mighty

A week ago, the Reds left Cincinnati for a 7 game trip to Milwaukee and Saint Louis.  Jay Bruce confidently predicted, “We’re coming home in first place!”.  He was feeling good, fresh off a two home run game. Unfortunately, the Reds finished the trip 2-5 (mostly due to a sweep by the Brewers).  The trip wasn’t a disaster because they are only 2.5 games back of division leading Milwaukee, but have the back-end of the rotation setup for the Cubs.

How did the Reds lose 5 of 7 games?  The bottom line is that they didn’t hit (surprise).  More specifically, Jay Bruce didn’t hit.  The Reds scored 2 runs or fewer in 4 of the 7 games (all losses).  For the trip, Jay Bruce was 1 for 24, with 0 RBIs and 1 run scored.  He took 3 walks and struck out 8 times. 

Bruce is now hitting .216.  His on base % is .294 and he is slugging just .474.  To begin with Jay, until you learn to hit…KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! 

This leads me to a bigger issue I have with Reds fans who still hate on Adam Dunn, and laud the new ‘youthful exuberance’ of the Reds.  People like this love Bruce and hate on Dunner, and while I realize that Bruce is infinitely cheaper than Dunn, Dunn is still a bargain at $10 million per.  For the record, Dunn is hitting .269 with a .399 OB%, and slugging .571.  He also has 16 HRs and 42 RBIs.  Bruce does have 14 HR, but with only 30 RBIs.  All the people that hated Dunn had better start hating Bruce.  He’s Dunn-lite.  Personally, I like Bruce.  I just resent the way Dunn was spat on by Reds fans who have embraced his less talented clone.  By the way, it does no good to save money on Dunn just to waste it on Willy Taveras.

Fortunately, the Brewers fell apart against the Marlins, and the Reds have a series with the Nationals next week, so despite this hiccup, they’ll probably hang around the race anyway (especially if they can take 2 of 3 with the Cubs).  Still, with Votto and Volquez on the DL, the Reds need big time production from Bruce’s bat, not his mouth.

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Patches on practice jerseys?  Classy. Ugh.  The times we live in.

Chis Carter has no idea what he’s talking about. Indy’s window is closed because the window only lasts 3-5 years but Philly’s and New England’s are open?  He gives absolutely no reason why the Colts are not contenders, he just says they aren’t.  Ok…

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