Sent down.

Cory Patterson becomes valuable again.

GB Dusty

Could have seen this coming even before the Patterson signing. Bruce needs to play every day and a Dunn-Bruce-Griffey OF defense would be ugly. I really don't see Bruce as a CF.

He'll be up when Dunn is dealt or Griffey is hurt.

The error of their ways will be learned soon enough...I hope. I think he'll be up sometime in May, they can only deal with Patterson's sub 300 OBP for so long.

watched Bruce a couple of time in Spring Training games. he was pressing, imo. besides, getting sent down postpones the arbitration clock, a la Braun.

you don't know Dusty too well

Well, he does seem to be settling into getting Votto, Cueto, and Volquez onto the major league club. Maybe all he needs to move Bruce up is a small push.

If/when Patterson craters, the Dusty move will be to put Freel at CF/leadoff

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, top prospect Jay Bruce will be making his MLB debut on Tuesday night.

Good times.

Until they thin out that OF situation and force Dusty to play him every day, I have very little hope that this will be a long-term thing.

Good news, still. But, it kills me the way Baker manages his rosters. He really needs to be given no other option than to play him.

I am not worried about this at all. They are not bringing him up here to sit. With that said, it would still make me feel better if I see the roster move tomorrow is, Bruce called up and Patterson DFA. More than likely it is going to be Valentin or Hatteberg sent out though.

I really don't see how the OF is not thin already. The Reds have 2 outfielders performing way below replacement level without much hope of that changing. The only real question is which of the 2 gaping holes (in CF and RF) he will fix. It isn't that much of a question though, as politics and emotions will keep Griffey in the everyday lineup regardless.

Kudos to the Reds for not waiting until June 1st (ala Headley w/Padres).

Bruce will play everyday, and his downside this season is roughly the kind of season that Longoria is having.

Fun times ahead for Reds fans.

Bruce is a five tool stud. Start him with confidence until further notice.

1-1, BB, SB

Nice start.

I am about as sure of a young player's stardom with him as I have been with anybody's in a looong time

Made it by the skin of my teeth and Patterson's OBP was even worse than I expected, 240? Dusty Baker you moron.

But now I'm in a bit of a quandry, albeit a good one. I can start up to 5 OF's but with Hamilton, Hart, Pence, Dunn, Bruce, Victorino, and Tavares in tow I'm swimming in some excess. Just hard deciding whether I should send Tavares packing, trade someone else, or stay as is and leave production on the bench everyday. Damn decisions.

3-3, 2BB, 2R, 2RBI, 1SB

The future of the Reds is as follows:

1B - Votto
2B - Phillips
SS - Kepp/Janish
3B - EdE
LF - Dunn
CF - ???
RF - Jay '#######' Bruce
C - ???


What a serious stud Bruce is and will continue to be

The kid's alright.

GMFB this guy.

I do not believe Dunn is in their long term plans, which is a mistake.

Jocketty said on the broadcast last night that Dunn's production would be extremely difficult (and pricey) to replace. He also said it was his usual policy to not negotiate during the season. Castellini loves the big guy. Dunn has apparently been a similar mentor to Bruce as Griffey was to Dunn and Kearns once upon a time -- though it's clearly debatable whether that's a good thing or not.

I think there's better than a 50% chance Dunn stays.

Add Harang, Volquez, Cueto and some combination of Arroyo, Thompson, Bailey, Maloney and 2010 looks pretty bright. It'd be even more interesting if one of the other hopefuls (Frazier, Stubbs, Mesoraco, Valaika) forces himself into the picture by then too. With any luck, Baker and the front office won't foul it up.

I'm kind of torn about the Bruce thing. It was painfully clear from the beginning that Patterson wouldn't be the answer, but I'm not sure how much good the extra two months in the minors did for him. Maybe it was good for his confidence, but Votto has been a big contributor after his 2-3 week adjustment at the start of the season. Hard to believe Bruce couldn't have done the same.

All this should probably go in whatever Reds thread we're posting in these days, but I'm getting a little nervous about Volquez, too. Bunch of pitches in nearly every start, then a 40 pitch relief appearance after a "breather" type start in terms of pitch count. Let's keep these kids healthy for 2009-2010 please.

What type of SP is Bruce equal to in a redraft league?

Good info on the Dunn negotiations, didn't know the new regime wanted to keep Dunn around; guess that eliminates the thought of Dunn being moved to the AL at the deadline.

I'm probably one of the only non-Reds homers who thought this team's prospects were bright in the short term. I thought they'd be better than this now and competing for the division next season - maybe I'm a year ahead. There's a lot of good,young talent.

As for Volquez, that's Dusty Baker. He is too hard on young batters (and limits their AB's until proven otherwise accordingly - he needed to be told that Corey Patterson was marred in a 1-for-27 slump earlier this season, he hadn't even noticed!) and over uses young pitchers, just ask poor Kerry Wood. Why he's sending out his rookies in the 7th inning of games that are not close and they've already tallied 100+ pitches is mind numbing dumb, and Dusty's already done it twice (once to Volquez, once to Cueto). The relief appearance was more need than anything else, I understand that, but more self control needs to be exerted going forward - it probably won't though.

I was more excited this offseason than I'd been in years. I thought this team, even with Patterson and Hatteberg starting this season in significant roles, had 85-87 win potential. Realistically, though, 2009 is the beginning of the window -- assuming the young pitchers are handled properly while they grow.

Agreed on all the Dusty stuff. I'm a little less fussy than I was when he was hired, but still a little fearful of what may be in store for Volquez and Cueto (and Arroyo) through the summer. It's not even worth discussing the Patterson thing -- horrifically stupid. You can argue the merits of letting a 21 year old phenom have a 2 month mental health break in AAA, but it's really hard to take when the guy holding him there has no useful skill other than his defensive range.

As I've said before, I don't think Dunn is going anywhere.

And I think people are being too paranoid about Dusty. He's consistently pulling Volquez after 6 even when he's still got his good stuff. Last start he pulled him after 6 innings and 92 pitches in a close game.

Didnt Cueto throw almost 120 pitches last night?

118 in only 5 innings

Dusty should be ####### shot

That's because he might need to pitch Volquez in relief 36-48 hours after any given start.

Depends on who you trade with. I got Sabathia last week for Bruce.

always depends a lot on league structure, but i'd say in the range of...

Owings
Maddux
Maine
Billingsley
Peavy (from a panicked owner, and if you like to gamble)

there's an excitement factor for a new guy like Bruce, and you may be able to swing someone like Wainwright or Sheets.

Was offered Oswalt by one guy and Maine by another and I need a SP badly. No way can I take Oswalt IMO but Im leaning towards Maine. Would take Wainwright in a heartbeat...

see prior and wood. i dont see the reds going anywhere this year. actually now that i think about it, its dusty baker... nevermind. i know nothing

Strike while the iron is hot, I would take Maine in a heartbeat if I were you in a redraft

Cant do anything until tonight anyway and Im going to the Met game so might have to wait until tomorrow. I got Bruce in a keeper league

I'll assume most of you are talking redraft values in here.

GO Marlins!

Thats fine by me

What gave that away? The fact that I mentioned it in my post?

Oof.

Yeah dont think Im gonna take either of those SPs for Bruce.

Walk-off HR vs. Braves in 10th inning for 1st ML HR.



Can we please get the title of this thread changed to: Jay "####ing" Bruce.

nowhere to go but down. sell high

Maybe you could move him for Johnny Lester or Oliver Perez

You don't trade Jay "Pay Day" Bruce

too much

His current level is not sustainable, but I think the "market" probably reflects that pretty accurately.

Furley, if you would trade him now for Lester or Perez, you should punch yourself in the face as hard as you can.

Any chance I could flip Longoria for him or has that train sailed?

Doubtful unless someone needs a future 3rd baseman. Potentially the Miggy owner. In a redraft, no way. Bruce was actually listed higher than Longoria on quite a few prospect lists.