Jay Bruce #1 on BA Hotsheet and Francisco in the team photo

[fearofpopvol1]

Is Francisco good defensively? I still like Frazier the best of that group, though his defense is bad.

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

And another Reds related question:

Q: Ron from Mobile AL asks:
Do you guys really think the only reason Bruce is still in AAA because of his walk total? Or is it more likely that it is because of the glut of LH OF on the Reds roster? I just cant see Bruce getting everyday starts over Dunn or Griffey, and Bakers love fest with Corey Patterson has many Reds fans pretty disgruntled. If you were Walt Jockety ... what would you do?

A: Matt Eddy: You have a point in that being a powerful lefty bat is probably working against Bruce right now because of the presence of Dunn, Griffey and Votto (and others).

Matt Eddy: Griffey really can't hit his 600th homer soon enough, can he? Once he does, the Reds have to strongly consider trading him. And Dunn, too, if they can find the right trading partner. If not, let him walk and take the draft picks. Either way, Bruce could be in Cincy by June.

I think this individual has the best handle on what is transpiring when he points to the left handed players on the roster vs others supporting the company line comments that suggest that a batter with a .364 batting average, .395 on base percentage along with a .669 slugging percentage and a 1.064 OPS might need additional plate work before he deserves an opportunity. Especially while it is a real possibility that none of the current Reds can hit as well as Bruce or handle the bat at the plate to his level of achievement, and apparently have greater problems with plate discipline or bat control than a Jay Bruce does.

The latter doesn’t fly in the face of the current Reds while five of their roster players with major league tenure are sporting inferior numbers. Jay Bruce is compelled to work on patience, not patience at the plate, but patience in waiting until upper management wakes up and stops spin doctoring their propaganda regarding Bruce’s development when the six left handed bats, their contracts and a manager that has a track record for favoring age or veteran type players over the younger, has the much higher probability of being the culprit that keeps Bruce down.

Six of the thirteen position players bat left handed, even Valetin bats better from the left side, while we frequently see Baker speak of how tough it is to construct the lineups with the left hander’s. Too bad for us fans that the manager and staff over estimated Patterson and under estimated the younger Jay Bruce. I just hope that Jocketty doesn’t eventually use Bruce for a trading chip, because you know he probably won’t be able to get much for the others that he has available and of course we don’t want him to trade any decent pitching. When Texas came calling, they chose Hamilton, and chose to leave the rest of the Reds horses back in the barn and in the stable, and we are seeing why. Could you imagine the cry’s of injustice over the oversight if Bako wasn’t having a career year at the age of 35?

Six of the thirteen:
Bako
Hatteberg
Votto
Dunn
Griffey
Patterson

[RedlegJake]

I'll be absolutely stunned if Jocketty trades Jay Bruce. With Hal reporting that Seattle sources don't see Junior's salary as a problem I think some kind of Junior to Seattle deal gets done once the 600 homers are done. Probably not alot coming back but it'll open Bruce a spot. The guy I do see getting traded is Homer Bailey. With Thompson right behind him, and Cueto and Volquez already up, Homer may be seen as an expendable chip and end up in a deal. Jocketty has made some Krusty-esque deals before and I expect another one this summer.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by RedlegJake

I'll be absolutely stunned if Jocketty trades Jay Bruce. With Hal reporting that Seattle sources don't see Junior's salary as a problem I think some kind of Junior to Seattle deal gets done once the 600 homers are done. Probably not alot coming back but it'll open Bruce a spot. The guy I do see getting traded is Homer Bailey. With Thompson right behind him, and Cueto and Volquez already up, Homer may be seen as an expendable chip and end up in a deal. Jocketty has made some Krusty-esque deals before and I expect another one this summer.

While I could see Bailey being traded one day, I don't think any day this year is that day. Why trade a young, high ceiling player in a lost season? Unless we go 2007 Rockies and win 20 straight or something, we aren't winning this thing and likely aren't sniffing contention for it.

[RedlegJake]

Doug, I simply see Bailey as the most expendable valuable chip looking at the Reds situation. I'm not down on him at all as a prospect, quite the oppsite -that's why I think he gets traded.

[Spring~Fields]

Originally Posted by RedlegJake

I'll be absolutely stunned if Jocketty trades Jay Bruce. With Hal reporting that Seattle sources don't see Junior's salary as a problem I think some kind of Junior to Seattle deal gets done once the 600 homers are done. Probably not alot coming back but it'll open Bruce a spot. The guy I do see getting traded is Homer Bailey. With Thompson right behind him, and Cueto and Volquez already up, Homer may be seen as an expendable chip and end up in a deal. Jocketty has made some Krusty-esque deals before and I expect another one this summer.

I agree with much of what you are saying and indicating that could or will be used for trading chips yet I have to consider the power and influence of the gatekeeper on the field operations. But for the sake that Jocketty has limited trading chips with the Reds current player resources that other clubs would have real demand for with the exception of young pitching or Jay Bruce, most of the others have contract or performance blemishes. I also think that Junior was playing to the crowd, and that he doesn't have any serious interest in returning to Seattle, a contender maybe, but Seattle, I don't think so really.

I think that we would be seriously wise to not under estimate the gatekeeper on any deal that is or might be considered. The gatekeeper that prefers older players over younger players with what might be a less seasoned approach to the game of baseball, but not always true. One has to look at what is, and has been, to notice that the gatekeeper prefers a veteran Bako, Corey Patterson or a Hairston over possible and potential stars.

I have to remember Corey Patterson leading off and starting center field, I have to recall an aging superstar past him prime getting the call to bat third and to start regularly despite his lack of range in right field, and the latest where a young slick fielding shortstop Janish gets the call to replace an injured Keppinger and a veteran Hairston receives the playing time despite Hairston being out of place at ss. Fortunately the aged Bako is having a career year to date.

The gatekeeper, Baker will want to continue to follow his patterns that we have seen, so that might have an impact on any potential Jocketty selections to improve the ball club, I just can’t dismiss Bakers role out of hand.

I differ in opinion in that I don't think that Jocketty will do anything until the off-season of any significance, though it would not come as a surprise if he moved some of the lesser or aged and former talents that will be coming to an end of their contracts.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by RedlegJake

Doug, I simply see Bailey as the most expendable valuable chip looking at the Reds situation. I'm not down on him at all as a prospect, quite the oppsite -that's why I think he gets traded.

Sure.... but why trade him to get something back in a lost season? These are the types of seasons you trade to rebuild with for the next year not trade what could be next year for other things.