Bruce will be in the Durham series

[GOYA]

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=cin

DENVER -- Don't expect Jay Bruce to roam the Wrigley Field outfield this weekend.

The Reds' plan is for their right fielder to remain on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville for at least the entire first round of the best-of-five International League playoffs.

Manager Dusty Baker spoke on the phone Tuesday with Bruce, who has been on the disabled list with a fractured right wrist since July 11.

"He said he was swinging better," Baker said. "He stole a couple of bases. His legs were feeling fine. His wrist was a little tight in the beginning, but once it loosens up, it's fine. Last night [vs. Indianapolis], he said he faced some guy throwing 95-96 mph. The first at-bat, he was a little bit tardy, and then he caught up and got a base hit. He said that was the first real high-octane fastball test that he had."

Bruce played in Louisville's final five regular-season games and batted .278 (5-for-18). The Bats commence postseason play on Wednesday. After Tuesday, the Reds have five games remaining on the road trip -- two with the Rockies and three vs. the Cubs.

In other injury news, reliever Micah Owings will rejoin the Reds in Chicago on Friday and work out. While batting vs. the Braves in the 12th inning on Sunday, Owings was hit by a pitch and suffered a perforated eardrum that prevented him from flying. After seeing a doctor on Tuesday, he was cleared to take a plane to meet the club.

1B Alonso
2B Frazier
SS Valaika
3B Francisco
RF Bruce
CF Heisey
LF Dorn
C Denove

[Kingspoint]

That's a powerful lineup.

[Scrap Irony]

Bruce may need some help judging the ball. He's taken some seriously strange routes since he came back. Cost the Bats the game yesterday.

[11larkin11]

Oh my. I would, no lie, much rather see that AAA team than the one in the majors. And I'm enjoying watching this major league team right now. GOYA, did you say milb.tv would be free for the playoffs?

[GOYA]

It was last year. I haven't seen anything about it this year.

[GOYA]

With their BA and OPS with the Bats:

Heisey - - .278 .789
Frazier - - .302 .839
Alonso - - .295 .829 (Carolina)
Francisco .359 .982
Bruce - - -.278 .628
Dorn - - - .275 .793
Valaika - -.299 .745 (Aug & Sept)
Denove - -.307 .737

I was thinking that would be my batting order but all the lefties are grouped at 3-4-5-6.

And BTW, the games at Durham will be DH games. So add Bankston to the mix. Ordinarily, if the Bulls played at the Bats, it would be a DH game too but I'm pretty sure I heard that the Bulls pitchers will bat in Louisville for the playoffs.

[GIDP]

That team could score 10 runs every night.

[Kc61]

Speculation -- Dusty and the Reds org wanted Bruce in these playoffs for more than injury reasons. Bruce had a tough year in the NL and probably could use the exposure to the AAA playoffs.

With this kind of offense at AAA, and with the Reds with a substandard offense, there are a lot of important decisions to be made as to trades, promotions, positions for minor leaguers.

As for a lineup, if you want to mix the lefties and righties, it might be something like this (DH games) --

Heisey
Bruce
Frazier
Francisco
Bankston
Alonso (first time at AAA)
Dorn
Valaika
Denove

[Degenerate39]

I'm in love with that line up