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Thread: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

  1. #31
    nothing more than a fan Always Red's Avatar
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Quote Originally Posted by KoryMac5 View Post
    I feel like I have read this thread before.
    It's as regular as the spring rain in the midwest.

    Barry Larkin was a notoriously slow starter, regularly entering May while still below the Mendoza line.

    Worked out OK for Lark.
    sorry we're boring


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  3. #32
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    After the way he finished last season it is fair to be disappointed with Bruce's start. I am sure many of us (myself included) were expecting him to shoot out of the gate.
    "Today was the byproduct of us thinking we can come back from anything." - Joey Votto after blowing a 10-1 lead and holding on for the 12-11 win on 8/25/2010.

  4. #33
    Member Ron Madden's Avatar
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Bruce entered Saturdays game with 10K's in 26 AB's he was still hitting .269.

    7 of the 16 balls he has put in play have been hits.

    I'd say he's not picking up the spin on the pitch as well as he'd like to. I believe he'll be fine.

    .
    Last edited by Ron Madden; 04-10-2011 at 02:04 AM.

  5. #34
    Moderator The Operator's Avatar
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    The Reds are 6-2, 2.5 up on Milwaukee and 4 up on St. Louis. They have the 3rd best run differential in all of baseball.

    I think it's a little early to panic about anything. Enjoy the hot start.
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  6. #35
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ghosts of 1990 View Post
    It's the elephant in the room I feel like. He's off to another really slow start and in general just having awful at-bats. This was supposed to be the year.

    I guess I don't have direct criticism for Jay Bruce. I just wish he had to watch a season of himself at the plate. It's a roller coaster of frustration, ups and downs, and confusion.
    You're not the only one growing increasingly concerned by each at-bat. He looked absolutely clueless tonight - a trait that is becoming the norm for him in the months prior to August.

  7. #36
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    As good as Jay was during the final push of the 2010 season, it is very discouraging to see him struggle now. As a Reds fan, one can only hope that his troubles with pitch recognition is a temporary diversion. The kid is at a cross roads, even if he is already the best defensive right fielder in the game.

  8. #37
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    For me, the better question is, when will Bruce start having better at bats? I still see him being badly fooled on off speed pitches, which gets him into bad counts, which leads him to either a.) striking out or b.) grounding right into the 2B.

  9. #38
    Member Homer Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    I'm starting to feel like this is schtick. Right? It's hard to get internet humor, but this isn't serious is it?

  10. #39
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ghosts of 1990 View Post
    I actually love Jay Bruce. I think he's a great kid and he's easy to root for. If he didn't have serious talent, I wouldn't get frustrated with his performance. I just wish he had confidence in his own game.
    You don't know that he lacks that confidence in his own game. I've seen some of the best players in the game, including Reds, get off to slow starts, and not just the first week but the first month.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ghosts of 1990 View Post
    He hasn't had a single decent at-bat yet
    That's not true. He's had more bad ABs then good ones, but it's only been 29 ABs. But he has had some good ABs.

    No one denies his "struggles" over the last couple of years; but don't fall into the trap of prejudicing yourself what he may do in 2011 - especially after only 8 games - because of those couple of previous years. He just turned 24.

    Also - last night he, as well as the rest of this lineup, faced one heck of a pitching performance by the D'Back's Hudson. The guy 3 hit us, and pitched a gem.

    But having said that.... I do believe Bruce still has problems with breaking stuff, and that his swing is too long. He needs to learn to adjust better, shorten up, in certain situations. It was interesting, watching last night's game, and after Bruce K'd in the later innings with runners on, that Janish did just that (choked up) and got an RBI hit. Cowboy also talked about that.
    "In my day you had musicians who experimented with drugs. Now it's druggies experimenting with music" - Alfred G Clark (circa 1972)

  11. #40
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    I haven't read this whole thread because it's pretty silly. There are two things I'd like to say though:

    1) I'm not worried about Jay Bruce. He'll be just fine. He's just a little streaky.
    2) I don't believe he'll come close to being as good as Joey Votto. Bruce may be more talented and he's still young, but my eyes are telling me he'll never reach the level Votto is at right now. I'm not upset or disappointed in this, but there are those who think Bruce will get to Votto's level. I don't see it happening.
    "....the two players I liked watching the most were Barry Larkin and Eric Davis. I was suitably entertained by their effortless skill that I didn't need them crashing into walls like a squirrel on a coke binge." - dsmith421

  12. #41
    Mr.Redlegs is my homeboy Eric_the_Red's Avatar
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?





    When will Bruce start hitting?
    When he starts hitting.

    Let's wait for maybe 100 ABs before we cut him.
    2013 Record at games attended: 0-1

  13. #42
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Quote Originally Posted by Patrick Bateman View Post
    He certainly hasn't had the quality of at-bats he was having late last season, which makes me wonder if he will improve over last season.

    Regardless he will start hitting back to his normal levels as this is of course a stupid sample size to work with. The question is will he improve over last season? Maybe not if his pitch selection does not improve.
    Good post and I think its the actual point of the thread. Bruce will, in all likelihood, go through some hot streaks and more cold streaks, All players do. I'm sure when the season winds down, he'll have pretty decent numbers. The issue is really whether he is ready to step forward and become an elite player. I think its OK to question that with the approach that he is showing so far. IMO, for the Reds to perform at the level we want (championship contender), Bruce needs to become that elite player. Its the most likely spot for this tesm to step it up a notch from last season. If Bruce is simply status quo to 2010, that doesn't bode well for this teams championship hopes.

    I don't have any problems with this thread. The wording may be a bit overly dramatic, but the underlying point is valid. Its possible that the player Bruce became in the last couple months of 2010 was simply a hot streak and not a permanent maturation. If so, its a problem for this team as currently constructed IMO.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

  14. #43
    Back from my hiatus Mario-Rijo's Avatar
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Jay isn't struggling from a lack of confidence, he is struggling because as usual Jay Bruce is pressing to make something happen. I mean if what pitchers keep throwing him doesn't tell you something then you aren't paying attention. Jay Bruce would beat the ever living stuffing out of those breaking pitches if he was patient, think about it. Teams know he is swinging too soon and they will take advantage of it until he quits it. Getting that contract put even more pressure on him, so just as soon as he gets to rock bottom he will start hitting again because he will finally figure out that he needs to quit worrying about outside pressure and play the game. Heck he even said in an interview in spring training (30 in 30) that he was putting pressure on himself, problem was he wasn't even aware he was saying it.

    (Talking about coming off a good year and getting that big contract)
    Vasgersian - ..........how that status now may change your preparation if at all going into the new year?

    Bruce - "Ya know what mentally it might change a little bit but physically I'm still ya know, coming out here with the same ya know approach the same goals......"etc.

    The answer to that question should be "not at all!". Clearly this is Jay Bruce, a guy who always feels he has something to prove, when he lets that go and starts just playing ball he will fine. But his play is gonna come and go until the time that he "gets it". That time is different for everyone but most young players struggle with it.

    I should add he'll get there much sooner the less fans give him a hard time about it. Once the people in the media and the impatient fans get started it's gonna be tougher.
    Last edited by Mario-Rijo; 04-10-2011 at 08:37 AM.
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  15. #44
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Season starting slumps are always glaring, just like 5-0 looked more impressive than just a five game winning streak because a team is "undefeated."

    Slumping hitters look clueless at the plate for a week, hit at 'em balls for a few days as they are coming out of it, then balls are flying all over the place for hits for a week. Been watching the game for close to 40 years now, and this is just the way the game works for major league hitters, even moreso for sluggers. Bruce is one of those, so hang tight.
    "Rounding 3rd and heading for home, good night everybody"

  16. #45
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    Re: So when is Bruce going to start hitting?

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    Good post and I think its the actual point of the thread. Bruce will, in all likelihood, go through some hot streaks and more cold streaks, All players do. I'm sure when the season winds down, he'll have pretty decent numbers. The issue is really whether he is ready to step forward and become an elite player. I think its OK to question that with the approach that he is showing so far. IMO, for the Reds to perform at the level we want (championship contender), Bruce needs to become that elite player. Its the most likely spot for this tesm to step it up a notch from last season. If Bruce is simply status quo to 2010, that doesn't bode well for this teams championship hopes.

    I don't have any problems with this thread. The wording may be a bit overly dramatic, but the underlying point is valid. Its possible that the player Bruce became in the last couple months of 2010 was simply a hot streak and not a permanent maturation. If so, its a problem for this team as currently constructed IMO.
    I agree with this 100%.


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