Loading ...Over at Reds.com, Mark Sheldon has a decent off-season profile of Jay Bruce. If nothing else, Bruce knows the right things to say.
There aren’t a ton of things to be excited about in the upcoming year for the Reds, but watching Jay Bruce develop in 2009 is at the top of that list. I’m really looking forward to it.
Any predictions for Bruce? Let’s hear ‘em.
He’ll never strike out more than a hundred times again.
I’m reasonably bullish. I think 35 Home runs and maybe a .340 OBP mostly resulting from a better BA.
His offense is a steady progression of work, and that’s fine at his age and experience. But I was stunned at the roughness of his defense. Turns out those silly development people knew what they were talking about after all.
I guess I don’t get “not a whole lot of things to be excited about.” Sure, the Reds still have some holes to fill, key holes, like centerfield and a righty power swinger.
But I think there are some things to get excited about that might garner, at the least, a winning season. Look for a bounceback year from Harang if he is not put in a blockbuster deal. Arroyo has proven to be a reliable middle of the rotation starter. Cueto made it through a whole year at 22 and showed he belonged and should post markedly improved numbers. Volquez is now one of the top young starters in the majors. We actually have something other than retreads vying for the 5th starter position. Cordero should post better numbers, hopefully they figure out his walks problem that showed up last year.
Then in the field, you have the runner up ROY at first, and deservedly so. Bruce held his own at 21 and should make adjustments that caused the prolonged slumps. Phillips is a 30/30 gold glover. Encarnacion, if not traded, will be approaching his prime years offensively.
The bullpen has a good mix of vet and young arms and was actually the team’s most consistent unit last year and did not lose any key arms, save perhaps Affeldt, but he is not worth what he got.
Then, there are some young guys getting ready to push for the majors. While it is not a huge indicator, the minors teams did well last year with young prospects moreso than old career minor leaguers.
I think there are a lot of things to get excited about, much more than last year’s “we got a closer.”
If we got Taveras and a RH power hitter for LF without losing any key players, the Reds would have to be taken seriously.
I will be really jacked if Walt pulls off a blockbuster trade like he was known for with the Cards.
But then, its always easier and safer to be pessimistic.
If the Reds get Taveras. I will not take them seriously. I haven’t seem anything to make me think Taveras is a good player. If the Reds sign him, I will lose a lot of faith in the brain trust. Though, I so agree that the Reds could be much better than people are giving them credit for. A lot of good players on the upswing. I can’t think of any key pieces except maybe Volquez and Phillips who I would expect to regress at all, and I think those two will likely produce about what they did last year.
Still adding Taveras would make them worse, not better.
I hope Bruce wins the Triple Crown. I’m also prepared for the so called sophomore slump. He appeared unsure of himself in the outfield and that really didn’t improve as the season progressed. Is left field in his future?
I hope Bruce gets a haircut… He had some weird Turnbow-esque do at RedsFest last weekend… has anyone else seen him lately?
Deaner, I thought the same thing when I saw that pic! Turnbow or how about a Rod Blogojevich-esque ‘do? Either way, it needs be sheared.
34 HR, .281, 95 RBI, 12 SB