Fangraphs: Jay Bruce's Oddity

[nate]

Link.

Interesting!

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of his game is on the basepaths. No, he’s not much of a basestealer. In 2006 he stole 19 bases in 117 games. Since then, he’s stolen 30 in nearly 500 games spanning multiple levels. That’s not the surprising part. Instead it’s Bruce’s ability to take the extra base. Baseball-Reference tracks this measure and the definition of what constitutes and extra base is pretty simple: it’s any advancement where the lead runner isn’t forced by the player behind him. Say Bruce is on first base when a single is hit into right field, if Bruce takes second and third during the run of play, he’s credited with an extra base taken.

[REDblooded]

Interesting article... and yet another example of how valuable he is to the team already purely in regards to doing the "little things" that matter but don't show up on the traditional stat sheet...

[Mario-Rijo]

Interesting article... and yet another example of how valuable he is to the team already purely in regards to doing the "little things" that matter but don't show up on the traditional stat sheet...

And when he finally gets it all figured out at the plate, watch out! That is why I am still of the opinion of signing him to a LTC ASAP.

[_Sir_Charles_]

And when he finally gets it all figured out at the plate, watch out! That is why I am still of the opinion of signing him to a LTC ASAP.

Same here. He may be scuffling a bit right now, but there is simply no doubting his abilities. He's gonna be a MONSTER.

[RedEye]

This article is an example of why I really love statistical analysis--despite the fact that it runs rather contrary to my natural tendencies. In this case, I think we're seeing stats come darn close to capturing a quality of Bruce's game that would have been filed as an "intangible" beforehand.

[Ghosts of 1990]

And when he finally gets it all figured out at the plate, watch out! That is why I am still of the opinion of signing him to a LTC ASAP.

I wish I knew you'd be right.

I am starting to wonder if he's ever more then average. He is reminding me every day more and more of Austin Kearns.

My eyes just tell me a few things. He's fairly one dimensional at the plate; he's limited in his possibilities at the plate--where as a Votto or Phillips can fight off tough pitches to earn pitches to hit; Bruce seems to be a simple approach for an opposing pitcher. Basically, he is the easiest out in our lineup right now other then the pitcher.

[REDblooded]

I wish I knew you'd be right.

I am starting to wonder if he's ever more then average. He is reminding me every day more and more of Austin Kearns.

My eyes just tell me a few things. He's fairly one dimensional at the plate; he's limited in his possibilities at the plate--where as a Votto or Phillips can fight off tough pitches to earn pitches to hit; Bruce seems to be a simple approach for an opposing pitcher. Basically, he is the easiest out in our lineup right now other then the pitcher.

He's 23... change your name please.

[Redlegs]

He's 23... change your name please.

Absolutely. Bruce and Stubbs need to be trotted out there day in and day out. Let them play every day and it'll pay big dividends. This club is being built for the long haul. Remember that.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Bruce just needs a hot streak. It's coming. And don't forget he had a 3-run jack robbed on Friday with a nice catch from Fowler. I agree that his plate discipline is less-than-desirable right now, but like others have mentioned, he's only 23 and is a hell of a talent. A lot more natural power than someone like Kearns. The ball just jumps off Bruce's bat. He just needs to acquire more plate discipline and he will be fine. Plus, I love that he's an excellent defensive RF.

[Ghosts of 1990]

He's 23... change your name please.

Some see what I'm saying and some don't. There's nothing i'd love more then to be wrong about Bruce now.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Some see what I'm saying and some don't. There's nothing i'd love more then to be wrong about Bruce now.

I feel you bro. You have attached your name to Jay Bruce, he's probably your favorite player and you're a little frustrated right now. I'm frustrated with him too, but he'll snap out of it.

[westofyou]

The Reds have had only 19 players 23 or younger who qualified for the batting title in the last 110 years, Bruce is one of them, calling him one dimensional at this point is a tad bit premature.

CINCINNATI REDS
SEASON
MODERN (1900-)
AGE <= 23
EXTRA BASE HITS vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
OBA displayed only--not a sorting criteria
SLG displayed only--not a sorting criteria
AGE displayed only--not a sorting criteria

RUNS CREATED/GAME             YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE     EBH      OBA      SLG      AGE    
1    Sam Crawford             1901     3.81     8.94     5.13       25     .378     .524       21   
2    Sam Crawford             1902     3.60     8.02     4.42       20     .386     .461       22   
3    Frank Robinson           1959     3.20     8.13     4.93       28     .391     .583       23   
4    Frank Robinson           1956     2.68     7.43     4.75       26     .379     .558       20   
5    Frank Robinson           1957     2.62     7.44     4.82       18     .376     .529       21   
6    Vada Pinson              1961     2.36     7.28     4.93       13     .379     .504       22   
7    Vada Pinson              1959     2.29     7.22     4.93       28     .371     .509       20   
8    Johnny Bench             1970     2.24     7.14     4.89       38     .345     .587       22   
9    Johnny Bench             1969     1.80     6.20     4.40       15     .353     .487       21   
10   Doc Hoblitzell           1909     1.77     5.78     4.01       12     .364     .418       20   
11   Adam Dunn                2002     1.68     6.70     5.02        8     .400     .454       22   
12   Grady Hatton             1946     1.60     6.17     4.57        7     .369     .422       23   
13   Bobby Tolan              1969     1.44     5.84     4.40       13     .347     .474       23   
14   Frank Robinson           1958     1.41     6.32     4.91       17     .350     .504       22   
15   Vada Pinson              1960     1.07     5.68     4.60       20     .339     .472       21   
16   Vada Pinson              1962     0.97     5.81     4.84       16     .341     .477       23   
17   Tony Cuccinello          1931     0.94     5.99     5.05        8     .374     .431       23   
18   Johnny Bench             1968     0.57     4.32     3.74       23     .311     .433       20   
19   Dan Driessen             1974     0.50     4.93     4.43        5     .347     .400       22   
20   Doc Hoblitzell           1911     0.42     5.21     4.79        2     .342     .415       22   
21   Doc Hoblitzell           1910     0.26     4.64     4.38        6     .332     .380       21   
22   Doc Hoblitzell           1912     0.23     5.26     5.03        8     .352     .405       23   
23   Pete Rose                1963     0.16     4.26     4.10       -3     .334     .371       22   
24   Les Scarsella            1936     -.01     5.18     5.19       -1     .335     .412       22   
25   Tony Cuccinello          1930     -.11     6.28     6.39       -5     .380     .451       22   
26   Leo Cardenas             1962     -.24     4.60     4.84        1     .341     .411       23   
27   Harry Craft              1938     -.35     4.51     4.86        7     .305     .418       23   
28   Johnny Bench             1971     -.38     3.89     4.27        9     .299     .423       23   
29   Mike Mowrey              1907     -.53     3.64     4.17        1     .308     .321       23   
30   Pete Rose                1964     -.79     3.54     4.32      -18     .319     .326       23   
31   Roy McMillan             1952    -1.06     3.60     4.65        1     .306     .350       22   
32   Alex Kampouris           1935    -1.52     3.68     5.20       -3     .295     .361       22   
33   Harry Steinfeldt         1900    -2.03     3.73     5.76        4     .292     .341       22   
34   Roy McMillan             1953    -2.46     2.93     5.40      -25     .290     .302       23

[wheels]

Of course, we all knew Bruce would be the guy singled out to be a malingerer, or a bust eventually.

His middle name should be DavisDunn.

Me? What's not to like about watching a 23 year old with moon shot power, a cannon for an arm, and an obvious love of the game?
It's going to be a super gas when he gets all of the kinks worked out.

We can the say we knew him when as he cashes in with some other team.

Enjoy him while we can.

[BCubb2003]

This is when you sign a player to a long-term contract, not when everyone knows he's good, like Votto. It's when not even the player is sure about it and needs the security. Of course, you have to be able to afford the risk. You can't turn around years later and say that you were one piece away but the Bruce and Stubbs contracts had your hands tied.

[Ghosts of 1990]

Just to pass along something I was sent in a message, someone at the game last night says he believes Bruce is hurt, as he spent a good portion of the game talking to the trainer last evening during the game. That explains why he might be out of the lineup today against a RHP