2009 Attendance Record: 3-5 2010 Attendance Record: 2-9 2015 Attendance Record: 2-0
2011 Attendance Record: 3-4 2012 Attendance Record: 3-4
2013 Attendance Record: 5-2 2014 Attendance Record: 3-1
Word. Wasn't it Edwin Encarnacion that was always going to break out before? Then, he didn't. Same with Bruce and Volquez. They'll be fine whether they break out or not. I personally don't expect to see any more from either player. If it happens, then halalujah, but if not, they'll do. Bruce's main problem is the curveball and Volquez's is consistency. Someone said in another thread that Volky probably doesn't know where the ball is going when he releases it. That's a little extreme, but that's partially true. When he finally gets his rhythm going, he settles down.
Either way, it appears this won't be the year either player "breaks out." Or maybe they will. Too soon to tell.
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"You only have to bat a thousand in two things; flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go 4-for-5."
-Beano Cook
I don't think we have to worry about him being a Kearns. His attitude alone I think will help prevent that.
Honestly, I think your plight comes down to the fact that you picked a streaky hitter to be your favorite player. Bruce does have otherwordly talent, but he may never be the consistent slump-less type like Votto. Dunn was my favorite player for years and his slumps drove me insane. Only thing was I couldn't post on the ORG at the time so I didn't have to deal with the grief you do. :
Luckily for me, Votto is my current favorite and he's, well.. ya know, perfect. Much easier on my blood pressure. My doctor even told me I could go off of my anxiety meds.
The thing about Bruce is - he doesn't have to be a Joey Votto to be a value to this team. His defense alone make him an above average player. One of the stat-gurus will have to come in with the exact figure, but I believe Bruce was good for 3 wins last year. Maybe more.
The reason Edwin was such a pile of suck was because not only was he anemic for long periods of time at the plate, he was awful, just awful in the field. Bruce doesn't have that problem.
Why WAR is so very flawed. Bruce's UZRs the last three years are -2.4, 9.3 and 20.2. Braun's last 4: -27.7, 2.8, -13.4, -9.8.
So your hitting WAR is generally consistent from year to year and your fielding is basically a crapshoot. How one can use a single season value versus another is mindboggling.
Criticized by some. Loved by others. Basically the same as other players throughout the league.
But I'm not sure that the Reds are really missing the guy at this point. And most posters would have to agree, especially now that defensive metrics are more en vogue and maybe his value wasn't as some thought way back in '08.
Dunn is going to hit 500 clean home runs; he's going into the Hall of Fame. Hate him or not, you can't knock that this day in age.
2009 Attendance Record: 3-5 2010 Attendance Record: 2-9 2015 Attendance Record: 2-0
2011 Attendance Record: 3-4 2012 Attendance Record: 3-4
2013 Attendance Record: 5-2 2014 Attendance Record: 3-1
Jim Thome will be his test case. Thome is Dunn with more contact and I've not heard a whisper of steroid allegations against him; I think he'll have only slightly more luck than Edgar Martinez.
If I were a betting man, I'd say Dunner is going to need to push 600 to have any chance.
Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.
Last edited by BuckeyeRedleg; 04-10-2011 at 11:58 PM.
To answer the simple question the thread asks: when Bruce stops trying to pull everything. He's pulling off the ball and until he stops; expect him to be inconsistent.
The best hitters hit the ball where it's pitched and hit very hard. Good hitters hit the ball where it is pitched and consistently back through the box. Average hitters have major flaws but pounce on mistake pitches. Jay is the latter at this point in his career.
What I see Bruce doing is the same thing he was doing during his epic slumps of last year. Not recognizing the breaking pitch and just waiving at it. He then is unable to catch up to a mediocre fastball because he is looking for a breaking ball. He is a mess at the plate right now. Jeff Brantly (courtesy of Mark Grace) made mention of how his right shoulder is flying open and he is pulling off every ball. Until he learns to stay with the pitch and drive it to left center I have a feeling he will be prone to these slumps.
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