Update on last year's Jay Bruce
Posted by JohnFay at 5/29/2008 12:04 PM EDT on Cincinnati.com
Homer Bailey was last year's Jay Bruce. His debut -- a 4-3 victory over Cleveland -- was one of the electric moments of 2007. Striking out Dave Dellucci with the bases loaded and reds leading 3-2 got the loudest roar of the year.
Bailey ended going 4-2 with 5.76 ERA. The year included a return to Louisville to get things straightened out.
Bailey has been in Louisville all this year, or course. He was very good his last time out -- six innings, five hits, one run, four walks, four strikeouts. But Bailey had allowed at four runs or more in his previous four starts. Overall, he's 4-4 with a 4.05 ERA. His hits per inning -- 63 in 66 2/3 -- show his stuff is still good.
But there's been talk about him not doing what the Reds have asked. Not playing well with others and generally being a jerk.
Terry Reynolds, the Reds farm director, was in Columbus for Bailey's last outing.
"The stuff was there," Reynolds said. "He walked too many. But he pitched well. He looked good."
What about the talk of him not being with the program?
"That's not true," Reynolds said. "He's got a good working relationship with (pitching coach) Ted Power and (manager) Rick Sweet."
I think Bailey gets bad rap because he is not media friendly. I wrote about that during spring training. He could take a PR lesson from Bruce. But if Bailey can come up here and get people out, fans don't care. Some guys who are awful with the media are great players.
I think having Daryl Thompson at Louisville may help Bailey. Competition is a good thing.
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