Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > August > 27 > Entry
Bruce: Still a work in progress
Was sitting this afternoon in McCoy’s Fine Cigars (Mike McCoy, Proprietor, is not a relative and he won’t even give me a discount) and was doing an interview on my cellphone with a local radio station. Suddenly, the front door opened and a guy stormed in swearing at the top of his voice about some personal wrong doing.
Hopefully the station hasn’t been shut down by the FCC and hopefully I’ll be invited back. I told them it wasn’t me swearing, but I’m not certain they believe me. Probably figured I burned my finger lighting a Montecristo.
A VETERAN Houston writer took a look at Wednesday’s Cincinnati Reds lineup and asked with a wry smile, “Where’s Paul Householder and Tracy Jones and Duane Walker and Tom Lawless?” Ouch.
ADAM DUNN and Ken Griffey Jr. used to call it, “Getting called to the principal’s office.”
Jay Bruce was summoned to manager Dusty Baker’s office before tonight’s game. No hickory stick or paddle awaited, just a man-to-man people talk. Over the course of the last two games Bruce struck out seven times in a row.
“I appreciate Dusty doing that,” said Bruce. “That’s what he is there for and it is good that he is there for us. He’s been through it. He knows things.”
Baker said, “Jay is in Never-Never Land right now. He is between off-speed pitches and fastballs. The secret is to get back on the fastballs. He is so aggressive and I’d rather have that way than for him to be passive. It is focus and concentration. We want him to keep being aggressive, but be aggressive in the strike zone.”
Nobody knows it better than the 21-year-old Bruce.
“I’m learning,” he said. “The way I’ve been hitting lately is not acceptable by my standards because I expect a lot out of myself. No matter how old I am or am not or how long I’ve been here in the majors or not been here, I have a certain standard to perform. Lately I haven’t been doing it. And, yes, it’s embarrassing.
“But that’s the beauty of baseball,” he added. “Every day you start over. Make the best of it and learn from it. This is probably one of a million slumps I’ll go through and dealing with adversity is all part of it. That’s the positive side of it for me. Everybody struggles.”
Somebody suggested that maybe playing in Houston, his home, in front of family and friends, was too much pressure, but the first four strikeouts came Sunday in Denver and the next three came Tuesday in Houston.
Baker said he likes the fact that players leave scads of tickets and play in front of friends and relatives on the road and added, “I like that. Players know people want to see them play and usually they bear down and do better. All those people probably never saw Jay struggle as a kid.”
Said Bruce, “I know I have to be aggressive in the zone. These pitchers up here know right now that they don’t have to throw me a strike, so they won’t. Why should they? I wouldn’t either if I didn’t have to.
“This is all a learning process I need to shorten that process as quickly as I can,” he added. “I haven’t struck out seven times in my life, ever. In your whole life you are always experiencing first times and hopefully that’s the last time I experience that.
“But at this point I was going up there more trying not to strikeout than get a hit,” he said. “That’s a bad approach. That’s like playing not to lose rather than playing not to win.”
Count on this. Bruce soon will again come out smoking and some pitchers are going to pay. Knowing Bruce, if pressed, he’d promise that with a money-back guarantee.
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Comments
By HuberWizNuts
August 28, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Hey sparky2, I agree that Bruce had Griffey and Dunn there to help…help him learn to increase his strike out ratio to make up for both of them when they were gone…and it’s working! C’mon now, I’m just joshin’ with ya …I like Jay Bruce and agree that he’ll be just fine. He’s just a kid making normal adjustments to ML pitching as other teams adjust to him. But hey, he IS swingin’ at everything (a newer Reds tradition). One wonders where Jacoby fits in to this equation. Does Jacoby ever talk to Bruce and Patterson or does he coach them to swing like a maniac at everything regardles of location? BTW,is it my imagination or does Jay Bruce look like he’s gain about 20-25 pounds since he came up? I think he’s even wearing Griff’s big butt uni pants.By michael
August 28, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Matt…I mean timb, get your facts together before you type. I am one of the few who does not blame Dusty, have never blamed Dunn, and stand by my opinion that Griffey was a hood ornament. As long as his fans (you and Matt) adored him, he was happy. You don’t understand the game if you think coaching doesn’t matter, especially on a young and talented team.By timb
August 28, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
Ross, I’m not defensive. Just mentioning that BA doesn’t make me happy, OBA and slugging do.By ross
August 28, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
timb..dont get defensive I agree with some of your observations just not on Bruce..I remember Brandon Larson who mashed in the minors..I hope Bruce turns out to be a superstar some think that he will be..I just see a decent player not a franchise guyBy timb
August 28, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Ross, I’m not sure he’ll hit .300. Frankly, I could care less, as long as learns to walk and is on base .360 to .380, BUT, everyone I read from scouts to stats geeks says the kid will mash. He had 80 EXTRA-base hits last year alone. You don’t have the bat speed necessary to kill a ball at 21 and then suddenly forget to hit. He will be fine, this is what happens to everyone not names DiMaggio or Williams.By sparky2
August 28, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
I believe the main problem for jay bruce is the fact that griffey and dunn are gone. he had them to help and now the reds Gm has put tremendous pressure on a young rookie to lead this team, and he cant do it.. PS, dont we have anyone ro put at third beside a guy that uses his belly to stop ground balls. EE needs to be put in left field, that might help his BA since he probably takes that(defensive problems) to the plate with him.By ross
August 28, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
timb..what type player you think Bruce will be .300hitter, 35HR, 100RBI type guy?By ross
August 28, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
michael…only bitter toward stooges which includes Walt Jocketty and Castellini how can you put a worse team on the field..By timb
August 28, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Ross, who is wrong about jay bruce, is eminently correct when he notes that coaches have nothing to do with losing on this team. No coach, no Chris Sabo (just pull everything guys and wear cool goggles) or Eric, could make a hitter out of Chris Dickerson or Jeff Keppinger. Back-up players have tremendous weaknesses, which are exposed if they play everyday. Bruce, Votto, and EE aren’t 35 HR guys, yet and no amount of coaching if going to make it so. josh Fogg is terrible and Neither Dick Pole (who has been a pitching coach for a billion years for a reason) nor Ted Power can create talent where none exists. Stop blaming coaches for a lack of talent. Jeez, Michael, do you always have to have a scapegoat? First, Griff, then Dunn, then Dusty, then Patterson, then the coaches. It’s always a certain someone’s fault. Well, on this team it’s not one person’s fault (unless that person is Wayne Krivsky). This team had a little offensive talent and a little pitching talent and that offensive talent was deemed too expensive and traded. Now, we’re stuck with the hitless wonders and no amount of coaching will turn that around.By michael
August 28, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Ross, you are a bitter man. I feel your pain. I disagree with some of your observations, but as a fellow Reds fan I can absolutely feel your pain.By ross
August 28, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
its not all about the coaches..the Reds fire coaches and personnel like no tomorrow..its the players..they cant play they are terrible..one thing castellini can do is fire people..hes could at thatBy ross
August 28, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
mike-cinci…great comments..Bruce is going to be a decent major leaguer at best a .260-20-75 type guy..jock itch thinks he is a franchise player..Dickerson cant play everyday at best a 4th OF on a terrible team would rather have Hopper..Hanigan is awful hes another Bako .215-7-30 the Reds absolutely stink at catcher I Like Jave and his bat and think he should get some time back there..this team CANT score a bunch of punch and judy’s no pop..they have the young pitchers and Phillips..Votto has a chance but the the last tine I looked it takes 25 players to win not 3 or 4..This team will have another 8 yrs of losing..why pay money to watch AAA baseballBy michael
August 28, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
Until we get a Hitting coach, Jay Bruce will struggle. He was hot until Jacoby got a say. Until we get a Pitching coach, who first sets a good example of fitness, the young Pitchers will struggle. Eric Davis or Cris Sabo could help Bruce, and Ted Power or Mario Soto could help the pitching staff.By ShockMonkey
August 28, 2008 6:15 AM | Link to this
ctownboy: Finally, Bruce and Patterson should take EVERY first Pitch and NOT swing at it like their lives depended on it. My friend, you speak the truth. Is it just me or does Patterson swing at the first two pitches every at bat! I swear, he wakes up in the morning down 0-2. There is no reason, except as late inning defensive replacements, to play Patterson or, for that matter, Bako. Only Dusty and I mean, ONLY DUSTY. Awful.By Mike-Cinci
August 27, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this
If Bruce were a player in the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, Cardinals, Brewers, Rays, Dodgers, or in several other systems he would still be in the minors. He is a Red because they have nothing better to put in the field. This team plays Patterson, Bako, Hannigan, Cabrera, Dickerson, Keppinger, Bruce and EE because they don’t have anything better. Just wait until we get Freel and Hopper back. What a difference they will make!! Bruce is not ready yet. The other guys are not very good. I hope Bruce was not rushed too soon that it permanently hurts him. Bad teams rush there best talent and it usually does not work out. What’s the record for K’s in a row? 7 has to be in the ball park. Hopefully Bruce will get better but there is no guarantee he will. Jocketty has his work cut out for him. Patience is needed….again.By LugTuckyHuBrarNutHopper
August 27, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Whichever handle of mine bothers you the most, Matt, or keeps you businest as junior detective cop wannabe, it matters not to me. You choose. Yer jes so clever!By Scott
August 27, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
Hal, With all your connections could you find out if Adam Done gave anyof his bats to CC after he was traded? CC has been on a tear…By rob in stl
August 27, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
A reference to the ‘82 Reds. Egads. I remember a lot of losing, a pop gun offense, and the dominance of Mario Soto every fifth day. One game over at 14-13 for a team that was FORTY under .500.By Sick of it all
August 27, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this
Over and under for Matt’s response to Ctownboy - 1400 words. Place your bets….By ctownboy
August 27, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this
First off, Bruce should NOT be listening to Dusty Baker. All Baker wants (like most Managers would) is a team which can HIT all the time. When a team isn’t hitting and is getting on base via Walks, the Manager actually HAS TO MANAGE. This is where Dusty FAILS!! All Baker wants to do is make out the line up card and then sit back, go on autopilot and chew his stupid toothpicks. Just like in a casino, most people can go in and win some money right off but, over the long haul, the casino has the edge and most people will eventually LOSE all of their money. That is why Dusty’s teams have done well in the regular season but FAILED in the Post Season. It is because his teams have had more talent and have won over the long haul but when matched against similiar talent in a short series, the MANAGER has a LOT more to do with which team wins and loses because of the decisions they make (or don’t make). Because Dusty is a BAD Manager, he gets out thought and out maneuvered and his teams LOSE because of it. Again, if Dusty is such a GREAT Manager, then WHY did the Giants not want to bring him back right AFTER he had taken them to the World Series? When was the last time THAT happened? I think it was back in the 1920’s. Also, WHY did the Cubs not bring Baker back? WHY did they go out and hire Lou Piniella and spend $300 million dollars on four or five players? If the players were the problem (and NOT Baker) then why didn’t the Cubs bring Baker back and THEN spend the money on those key players? Anyway, Bruce should be listening to somebody who knows how to hit. Maybe he should listen to Eric Davis. Finally, Bruce and Patterson should take EVERY first Pitch and NOT swing at it like their lives depended on it. Opposing Pitchers KNOW these guys are aggressive and are going to swing at almost EVERY first Pitch, so they throw some slop up there which Bruce and Patterson can NOT do anything with and thus, Bruce and Patterson either get behind in the count because of a crappy Pitch or they make an Out on a crappy Pitch.By Wizard
August 27, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
You failed the moment you hit the doctors hands!By Matt
August 27, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
I’m the failure, Wizard, or Wiz? Whichever SN you prefer to go by. You are the one who can’t answer questions. You are the one who uses name-calling and personal attacks to attempt to get your message across. You are the one who thinks that being black is all it takes to qualify one to be President. And I’m the failure?? I think not, sir!By wiz
August 27, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Is Matt a failure here, too. He was on the other blog, as well.By Matt
August 27, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
Are you hiding behind another one of your SNs, Brarhopper? Would you prefer to go by the SN of Brarhopper or Brartucky? Or maybe another SN you created, like lugnut?By BrarTucky
August 27, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Oh Matt, I would never be so presumptuous as to attempt to even tilt your crown as The Almighty Queen of Drivel on this blog. Lordy, lordy, and right after you had you skyboss bless me. I’m truly crestfallen, Matt. I was also quite worried that the little soft spot in your skull had erupted and was spewing…and sure enough, there you were, right on time, as predictable as Old Faithful! Hehehe.By HuberTucky
August 27, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this
No kidding, Shock Monkey. I read your post and tasted a little vomit in my throat. Patterson, Bako and Fogg? Why bother, indeed.?! Why give these guys ANY more time at the plate (or behind it)? Other than both are friends of Dusty from his halcyon days w/the Cubs. I mean, WTF, the Reds have alread taken a team vote and decided they can’t possibly beat Osawlt. May as guarantee it with a line up including these two duds, Bako and Corey. I thought bako was going to catch “the kids?” So is Fogg suddenly a kid? Baker is so thickheaded and clueless that it baffles the mind. I agree, why bother? Why watch at all? How depressing.By Matt
August 27, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this
Oh that’s the drivel that your heroes Wizard and Brarhopper spew on this site almost daily, “Matt’s Pastor”. I guess you are the designated attack dog for their side, huh?By Matt's Pastor
August 27, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
Oh brother. Uh, let’s see now, who was it that EVER said Dusty did not care about the team or it’s players? Another false flag and still more fantasy from the imaginative and disturbed mind of Super Matt who suppeth his own strange brew of Kool Aid!By Matt
August 27, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
So much for not caring about the team or his players, huh? That was great to hear about Dusty’s meeting with Jay Bruce. I’m sure that he dispensed veteran advice to one of the best and most promising young players in baseball. He did what a manager is supposed to do, encourage and try to whip his player into shape. Go Reds!!By ShockMonkey
August 27, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
I’m not worried about Bruce, it’s Dusty who’s clueless. Batting in the 7, 8 and 9 order tonight: Patterson, Bako and Fogg. Why bother? Honest to gawd, this guy is making me ill.