Why no Bruce??

[Matt700wlw]

Pete Mackanin's response to the Bruce question was..."He's what, 20 years old? There is your answer".



That's the best you can do?

[flyer85]

My gut feeling is they don't wait to lock down a spot on the 40 man roster by calling him up.

[RedsManRick]

Do you take at bats from Hamilton, Griffey, or Dunn to work him in? The only argument I can see is to expose him to the lifestyle, but I'm not sure that merits starting his clock. Besides, what do you really learn from 50 at bats? I'm only in favor of bringing guys up if they're clearly past due, are going to play every day, or increase your likelihood of making the playoffs. Bruce is 0-3 in that regard.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by flyer85

My gut feeling is they don't wait to lock down a spot on the 40 man roster by calling him up.

which makes total sense going into the off season. Bruce will have his chance to win a spot in spring training IMO, no sense creating roster inflexibility for now....

[fearofpopvol1]

I'm fine with keeping him down if that's what they choose to do. He is only 20 and really didn't spend much time at AAA. I'm sure he'll be fine, but he'll be up next season.

[GAC]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Do you take at bats from Hamilton, Griffey, or Dunn to work him in? The only argument I can see is to expose him to the lifestyle, but I'm not sure that merits starting his clock. Besides, what do you really learn from 50 at bats? I'm only in favor of bringing guys up if they're clearly past due, are going to play every day, or increase your likelihood of making the playoffs. Bruce is 0-3 in that regard.

Exactly!

"I talked to Jay last Tuesday night," Krivsky said. "I brought him into [Louisville manager] Rick Sweet's office. We had a great talk. He fully understands our position in terms of the ability to get at-bats here, or the lack thereof."

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

Who doesn't play in the OF so that this 20 yr old can? Hasn't he been playing RF for the Bats? Who's gonna tell Jr he's benched and give justification?

Why are we in such a mode of trying to rush our youngsters through the system?

[redsmetz]

I'm glad to see the very measured responses to this question. Matt, why the huge dissatisfaction with Mackanin's answer. It feels like there's nothing that he or Krivsky can say or do that doesn't rub you the wrong way.

I'll just repeat what most everyone else said. Why on earth would we needlessly start Bruce's clock? Why bring him up when we've got three outfielders in place now. I'm not fan of bringing kids up to let them sit and absorb the ML experience. He'll have that soon enough. My guess he's here sometime next year and that's early enough.

[Matt700wlw]

Originally Posted by redsmetz

I'm glad to see the very measured responses to this question. Matt, why the huge dissatisfaction with Mackanin's answer. It feels like there's nothing that he or Krivsky can say or do that doesn't rub you the wrong way.

I'll just repeat what most everyone else said. Why on earth would we needlessly start Bruce's clock? Why bring him up when we've got three outfielders in place now. I'm not fan of bringing kids up to let them sit and absorb the ML experience. He'll have that soon enough. My guess he's here sometime next year and that's early enough.

It's just a dumb answer. That's all.

It makes it sounds like there's an age requirement to be a big league ball player.



Krivsky's answer is better...although I don't completely buy it, it at least has some substance.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by redsmetz

I'm glad to see the very measured responses to this question. Matt, why the huge dissatisfaction with Mackanin's answer. It feels like there's nothing that he or Krivsky can say or do that doesn't rub you the wrong way.

I'll just repeat what most everyone else said. Why on earth would we needlessly start Bruce's clock? Why bring him up when we've got three outfielders in place now. I'm not fan of bringing kids up to let them sit and absorb the ML experience. He'll have that soon enough. My guess he's here sometime next year and that's early enough.

Not only are you starting his clock but you are burning options and he is taking the spot of someone else on the 40 man that you may need to protect over the winter.

Mackanin's answer is a dumb one though.

[RedsManRick]

Originally Posted by Matt700wlw

It's just a dumb answer. That's all.

It makes it sounds like there's an age requirement to be a big league ball player.

Krivsky's answer is better...

Fair point. That it's justified isn't the point. Why be so flip?

[KronoRed]

Why the rush to bring him up from people is a better question.

[osuceltic]

Why are we in such a mode of trying to rush our youngsters through the system?

It's only rushing him if he isn't ready.

I understand all the reasons for not bringing him up and don't disagree. But there's a pretty compelling reason to bring him up: If you find out he's ready, it can influence your offseason decisions regarding Dunn and Junior. And this franchise faces HUGE decisions on those two players.

They have to address the pitching staff. To do that, they're going to have to trade some legitimate talent. If you have a guy banging down the door in the minors at a given position, it makes it easier to decide who to trade for pitching.

Now ... They may very well feel they know all they need to know about Jay Bruce. That's fine. But this is a huge offseason ...

[Matt700wlw]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Fair point. That it's justified isn't the point. Why be so flip?

I think I'm just worn out....this team will do that.



I could find him some at bats.....maybe not a ton, but some.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by Matt700wlw

I think I'm just worn out....this team will do that.

Perhaps I might suggest not being so caught up in the parsing of the detailed minutia that surrounds the everyday operation of the team?

When you dig through the garbage looking for trash don't be surprised that's what you find.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by GAC

Exactly!

"I talked to Jay last Tuesday night," Krivsky said. "I brought him into [Louisville manager] Rick Sweet's office. We had a great talk. He fully understands our position in terms of the ability to get at-bats here, or the lack thereof."

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

Who doesn't play in the OF so that this 20 yr old can? Hasn't he been playing RF for the Bats? Who's gonna tell Jr he's benched and give justification?

Why are we in such a mode of trying to rush our youngsters through the system?

Jay has actually spent a majority of his time in Louisville as a centerfielder (81.3% of his AAA at bats came with him as a centerfielder).