Jay Bruce--the pressure mounts with every move

[Ghosts of 1990]

Reading threads and posts on this site, on other message boards, and just from people from our fan base Its pretty obvious that there is being a lot of pressure put on this kid and it's probably ruined him (to a degree)

I've watched a lot of baseball over my lifetime and in recent memory, NO PLAYER on any team I've watched has hit as many balls hard and been robbed of a hit or a rocket right at people. It's happened already three times this year to Jay.

He feels a bit snakebit with this along with the injury this past season. Seems like the entire town and fan base is expecting too much too soon; or are they?

I admit, doubts are starting to creep in on him. And I think he can feel it and its affecting his play.

Just read this thread for example: http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/...6691023&lid=31

It's unreal. He's under a microscope like an NFL QB. People are judging his games (first two games this season) like they do an NFL QB on the hotseat.

One guy in the ORG even suggested that Jocketty start shopping the kid.

Not sure what to make of it but the end result could be Bruce never realizing his potential here or at all.

Just once I wish that OUR guy and not the Braun's, the Longorias, the Uptons, the Heywards would all turn out special. Why does that happen?

[GIDP]

He should just start bunting for base hits.

[bgwilly31]

Yeah i know its sad that the (He's young) Apologists are just now coming to realize the kids got serious issues. Instead they chose to try to ignore them the entire year last year. And just say "hes young quit freaking out."

For some reason jay refuses to just go back to the basics.

Hunker down, crowd the plate, choke up, shorten your swing, patience, and put the bat on the ball. Thats what you do to get on slumps and ive yet to see him do any of those things.

[BLEEDS]

Its pretty obvious that there is being a lot of pressure put on this kid and it's probably ruined him (to a degree)

I admit, doubts are starting to creep in on him. And I think he can feel it and its affecting his play.

Really?!?!

I think you're reading WAAAAAY too much into this.
Jay Bruce isn't that "fragile" emotionally.

He looked great after he came back from his injury.
Two games against Carpenter and Wainwright aren't good guages of anything.

I think he'll be fine.

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[mlh1981]

Makes you also wonder about the coaching some of these guys are getting in the minor leagues.......

[Ghosts of 1990]

Makes you also wonder about the coaching some of these guys are getting in the minor leagues.......

NO NO NO. I think at that level they're fine.

Every hitter we have regresses underneath Jacoby with the exception of Votto. Brooke Jacoby is junk.

[cbowen2112]

I think as soon as we get a real hitting coach or if Dusty would take over that category he would be fine. Seriously looks like we have the worst hitting coach in the MLB.

When Dusty talked with him while he was healing last year, it looked to have a lasting effect on the last part of his season.

[lidspinner]

Ive seen JB try to turn to many outside sliders into RF homers to think he is ready.....I love the fella, but he is in dire need of a hitting coach who can "coach" him.....he will be fine though....it takes time

[gedred69]

The single thing I see, is the same thing that kept Dunn from reaching his potential. For God's sake, shorten the swing, quit trying to hit it out of the park, get the hits, and some of them will be HRs!! Remember Paul O'Neil? He fell out of favor here, because "Louie", thought he should hit more HRs. After being traded, a smart Manager told to just hit the ball. He won a Batting title and the bombastic Steinbrenner dubbed him the Heart and Soul of that great team that won,---how many WS titles? I hope Bruce doesn't have to go somewhere else to realize his potential.

[Orodle]

we are 3 games into the season....

[Vottomatic]

Jay Bruce may end up being fine, but fine might be .270, 25 HR's. I wouldn't be upset if they packaged him in a trade that brought a top pitcher. We got other OFers who can step in.

Again, he may end up being fine, but I don't expect him to be the superstar that everyone projects. And his value may be highest right now since he's still "young".

[mdccclxix]

I've liked his discipline so far on close pitches out of the zone. That will help over the season.

It seems, though, like he'll have to feast on bad starting pitching or middle relievers. There's no question he can pound the ball, but not when he wants necessarily. He'll likely be a streaky hitter. That's just my observation.

The young guy just needs to get in a groove, which has rarely been seen.

This chart is impossible to read, but it's sorted by OPS vs opposing pitchers with 8 PA's vs Bruce. Right now, Jay isn't hitting elite pitching very well. Especially not LHP.

PA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS ▾ SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG missYr
Felipe Paulino 9 8 3 1 0 2 4 1 1 .375 .444 1.250 1.694 0 0 0 0 0
Joel Pineiro 12 12 4 1 0 2 5 0 0 .333 .333 .917 1.250 0 0 0 0 0
Manny Parra 14 11 3 1 0 1 2 3 2 .273 .429 .636 1.065 0 0 0 0 0
Todd Wellemeyer 8 6 1 0 0 1 1 2 2 .167 .375 .667 1.042 0 0 0 0 0
Carlos Zambrano 12 10 3 0 0 1 2 2 1 .300 .417 .600 1.017 0 0 0 0 0
Brian Moehler 9 9 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 .444 .444 .556 1.000 0 0 0 0 0
Kyle Lohse 10 9 2 0 0 1 3 1 4 .222 .300 .556 .856 0 0 0 0 0
Jeff Karstens 8 7 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 .143 .250 .571 .821 0 0 0 0 0
Ian Snell 12 10 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .300 .417 .300 .717 0 0 0 0 0
Chris Carpenter 10 10 2 0 1 0 1 0 2 .200 .200 .400 .600 0 0 0 0 0
Roy Oswalt 24 23 6 1 0 0 0 1 1 .261 .292 .304 .596 0 0 1 0 0
Paul Maholm 9 9 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 .111 .111 .444 .556 0 0 0 0 2
Cole Hamels 9 9 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 .111 .111 .444 .556 0 0 0 0 0
Ted Lilly 8 6 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 .167 .375 .167 .542 0 0 0 0 0
David Bush 8 7 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 .143 .250 .286 .536 0 0 0 0 0
CC Sabathia 10 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .222 .300 .222 .522 0 0 0 1 0
Jake Peavy 8 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250 .250 .250 .500 0 0 0 0 0
Braden Looper 18 17 2 0 0 1 1 1 6 .118 .167 .294 .461 0 0 0 0 0
Brad Thompson 10 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .100 .100 .100 .200 0 0 0 0 0
Wandy Rodriguez 15 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 .067 .067 .067 .133 0 0 0 0 0

The career is young, we'll see what happens. I don't understand the people who think he's a lock to become an All Star, but that's okay. If he's good until he's 30, he'll have been worth it.

As for his HR ability, I think it's crucial to his projected value that he hits 35+ HR because he's going to strike out a lot.

[Krawhitham]

we are 3 games into the season....

and all of last season

[BLEEDS]

and all of last season

He stunk it up early, but after the wrist injury, he was lights out.

He'll be fine.

Carpenter and Wainwright and Penny are tough to start your season against.

He hit some HARD balls, right at people. So, at least for now, I'm buying into the unlucky BAPIP (though I didn't for most of last season).

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[BLEEDS]

Jay Bruce may end up being fine, but fine might be .270, 25 HR's. I wouldn't be upset if they packaged him in a trade that brought a top pitcher. We got other OFers who can step in.

Again, he may end up being fine, but I don't expect him to be the superstar that everyone projects. And his value may be highest right now since he's still "young".

MORE pitchers?!?

We already have enough for TWO major league lineups as-is! We need to package one or more of them for SS/C/LF.

Jay Bruce ain't going nowhere folks, our FO isn't dumb enough to sell low on the former #1 prospect. Remember those that wanted Homer Bailey traded?

Kid is still developing, and cheap, no way we're trading him.

PEACE

-BLEEDS