Bruce or Dunn

[Captain Hook]

So Bruce is struggling a bit and people are actually suggesting that he gets sent down to the minors.This has to be a joke or something.I would actually argue that Bruce is having a much better season at this point then Dunn was at this point last year.Bruce probably isn't getting on base as well as Dunn was but other then that I'd take what Bruce is giving the team over what Dunn did.

The only problem I have with Bruce is that it seems like he doesn't like to take a walk and when you don't have anyone hitting behind you thats going to end up hurting your OBP and AVG.On the other hand I like the idea of a guy trying to make something happen when guys are on base instead of just taking the walk.If the guys behind you aren't getting the job done your star should try to make something happen.I hate seeing Bruce swing at bad pitches but Dunn used to make me sick with his good eye and selectiveness at the plate when guys were on base.

So if you take money and the age difference out of the equation I'll take the attitude and ability of Bruce over Dunn all day long.For the record I was a big Dunn fan and would love to still have him especially considering the year he is having.I only bring this up because of how hard some are being on Bruce.

[REDblooded]

Anybody think it was pretty funny the other night seeing Dunn take a strike looking on a huge at-bat late in the game with a full count?

Yup, I'll take Bruce.

[freestyle55]

Gotta love baseball-reference.com...

Bruce 2009 through 53 games:
.212/.300/.460 5 2B, 14 HR, 30 RBI, 23 BB, 46 K

Dunn 2008 through 53 games:
.258/.407/.560 6 2B, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 40 BB, 46 K

Sorry, but I don't think Bruce's fielding makes up that much difference... offenses are within a run of each other after 53 games as well...

[freestyle55]

And one other thing, just to throw out there since one of the tired old songs against Dunn has been not driving in runs...just look at last years stats, again courtesy of BR...

RBI Opportunities
Adam Dunn -- PA: 651 RBI: 100 Actual Runners on Base: 408 (188-143-77),
ML Avg. Player with PA: 651 RBI: 74 Avg. Runners on Base: 411 (203-136-71)

He drove in 33% more runners than your average player with fewer runners on base!

[Brandon4MVP]

I will take bruce with his salary of $417,500 rather than dunn and his $13 million in 2008

[Captain Hook]

Gotta love baseball-reference.com...

Bruce 2009 through 53 games:
.212/.300/.460 5 2B, 14 HR, 30 RBI, 23 BB, 46 K

Dunn 2008 through 53 games:
.258/.407/.560 6 2B, 14 HR, 36 RBI, 40 BB, 46 K

Sorry, but I don't think Bruce's fielding makes up that much difference... offenses are within a run of each other after 53 games as well...

I'm very suprised that Dunn's avg. was that high.Seems like he really struggled with that last year but I'll take your word for it.

I would still take Bruce.His defense does make up a lot and when you consider that and the approach that Bruce seems to have it evens out.Walks and OBP are great if your talking about your lead off guy or someone hitting in a line up that is stacked from top to bottom.In both cases we're not.I really like it that Bruce seems like he wants to be the guy that gets the job done.He will put it together soon when some of the guys out get back in the lineup.

[BRM13]

I will take bruce with his salary of $417,500 rather than dunn and his $13 million in 2008

I'd like to have them both. :) Bruce looks like a good deal at this point, but as he gets better/older he'll get a lot more expensive. Right now Dunn hits much better, Bruce fields, throws, and runs much better. If Bruce ever hits like Dunn, he'll cost much more because of his other skills. In fact, if Bruce progresses like we hope, he'll be hard to keep. Thankfully, that is several years down the road.

[Ghosts of 1990]

When the dusty has settled:

Dunn: .251 avg, 590 HR, 1211 RBI, 119 SB

Bruce: .282 avg, 501 HR, 1309, 191 SB

[Fon Duc Tow]

Dunn and his easy chair would poison these young guys. Even if Bruce goes below the Mendoza line, I'd still take him over Dunn.

[Oxblood]

Didn't Dunn have another blooper reel throw this past week? Anyone got footage?

[MrLarryJohnson]

When the dusty has settled:



Bruce: 501 HR, 191 SB

Wow, what's your dealers phone number? I have to get me some of that.

[Ghosts of 1990]

Wow, what's your dealers phone number? I have to get me some of that.

Yeah?

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/4/26/461071/crystal-ball-jay-bruce

Well aparently John Sickels (very respectable opinion) is on something along the same lines.

[Farnsie]

Speaking of Dunn... Does anyone have that GIF of Dunn "trying" to catch a flyball then throwing it backwards on the throw? Remembered it when I saw the ESPN Video "Not So Pretty" a few days ago.

[GIDP]

Speaking of Dunn... Does anyone have that GIF of Dunn "trying" to catch a flyball then throwing it backwards on the throw? Remembered it when I saw the ESPN Video "Not So Pretty" a few days ago.

Shouldnt be hard to find, hes done it more than once.

[TheBigLebowski]

Bruce 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.

[aceace]

Dunn did save a lot of laundry money. No one ever had to wash his uniform.

Bruce will give as much or more at the plate. The jury is still out after only one year.

[Jack Burton]

Amazing, we're all in agreement for once here in the sun deck. Bruce, no question.

[bgwilly31]

I will take bruce with his salary of $417,500 rather than dunn and his $13 million in 2008

Well somebody sees the light.

The potential with bruce is still there.

[Ghosts of 1990]

Threads like this wouldn't exist if Jay could get one of his balls to fall each night he's had no luck.

[BLEEDS]

Threads like this wouldn't exist if Jay could get one of his balls to fall each night he's had no luck.

He's had no luck, but also a ton of suck.


Yep. Although with Bruce, I don't know if it's as much slow dribblers and infield pop ups as it is that he just hits a ton of fly balls (the low LD%.) Fly balls fall into play less often than other types of batted balls, in fact, I believe the normal BABIP for a high percentage fly ball hitter comes out to something like .260 (don't hold me to that, I believe I have read that on here before though.) So while he may be a little unlucky, he's also got the type of approach the leads to a lot of his batted balls finding gloves.


His line drive rate is one of the worst in the league which plays a significant factor in BABIP.

I would direct you here for a good write up of Bruces struggles -

http://www.redreporter.com/2009/6/3/897511/jay-bruce-is-young-and-talented

Dude isn't hitting enough Line Drives, that's not "BAD LUCK".
Quit popping up and striking out while looking like a lost kid who bails out on every other swing, and maybe your "LUCK" will change...

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[Captain Hook]

He's had no luck, but also a ton of suck.





Dude isn't hitting enough Line Drives, that's not "BAD LUCK".
Quit popping up and striking out while looking like a lost kid who bails out on every other swing, and maybe your "LUCK" will change...

PEACE

-BLEEDS

I think that your right.He pops up a lot and strikes out too much.I still would argue that the reason for that is he wants to hit the ball and make something happen(being aggressive).At his age and considering the pitches he is getting with the lineup he's hitting in I give him credit for doing what is imo a very difficult thing to do.That is to lead this absolutely inept offense.Bruce taking walks and being selective is not going to help this team any more then what Dunn helped doing the same thing when he played for the Reds.

Some people just love the guys that swing for the fences.I know that is not the the best thing in the world but I'll take that over the guy that just waits for the walks(unless we are talking about our lead off hitter).

[GIDP]

his LD% would have to be 2% for his BABIP to be this low.

[BigJohn]

http://www.sawauto.com/uploader/up2/Donkey%20Show.gif

[Ghosts of 1990]

I respect the organization for their patience with him thus far. They're doing the right thing. The sooner you can get a young hitter to 1000 at bats, the sooner you see what you have in them and they will progress. He's shown flashes of brilliance thus far as a bonus.

[DTCromer]

One of the things that Jay is jealous of Adam is his ability to hit w/ RISP.

Jay is hitting a robust .197 w/ RISP and an even more impressive .167 with RISP and 2 outs throughout his 653 career AB's. With any luck, he might get above .200.

[bubbachunk]

Bruce, he is struggling now but he has been incredibly unlucky thus far. He also plays great defense, I sat in the right field seats for two of the braves games and the most enjoyment I got was watching him work.

[BigJohn]

Dunn Seldom hit above .220 RISP when he was a Red.