Jay Bruce

out a deal with Scott Hatteberg, who was designated for assignment by the Reds after the call-up of Jay Bruce. I am a fan of Hatteberg. He is a good fielder, and a "Moneyball" player in terms of his approach at the plate. He would be virtually the only hitter besides Ichiro on this team with some kind of plate discipline.

Continue reading "Believe It: Sexson is Gone"

Easily the biggest news anywhere in baseball this past week was the long-anticipated callup of Jay Bruce, savior-in-waiting for Cincinnati and #1 prospect by most of the writers in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook. With Cincy wallowing in last place in a revitalized NL Central that offers not only the surprising Cardinals, but also the resurgent Astros and the overachieving Bucs, it seems that Reds management is ready to bring out the big guns--or at least begin the rebuilding process. As further signal of the latter possibility, they called up Andy Phillips and sent down Corey Patterson, someone only a vet-lover like Dusty Baker still considered a serviceable outfielder.

Continue reading "Cincinnati's Youth Movement"