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Inbox: Is Bruce on 'right' track?
Beat reporter Mark Sheldon answers Reds fans' questions
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
11/30/09 10:00 AM EST
Now that the Thanksgiving turkey has been picked over and the turkey sandwiches, turkey burgers, turkey dogs, turkey chili, turkey pot pie and turkey fricassee have been consumed from the leftovers all weekend, there's nothing like another edition of a Reds Inbox to serve as dessert. Let's carve into the questions. I'm not as worried about center field and left field for next year as I am about right field. Does Jay Bruce have the batting skills to compete?-- Joe S., San Antonio, Texas Yes he does, and those skills should kick in after Bruce provided a .223 average, .303 on-base percentage and 75 strikeouts in 387 plate appearances last season. Bruce still was all too willing to chase bad pitches and set himself up for failure at the plate, but there is ample reason for encouragement. After he returned from missing two months with a broken wrist, the 23-year-old Bruce made some adjustments with his footwork in the batter's box, got more selective and began taking the bad pitches he would have previously chased. In 18 games upon his activation from the disabled list, Bruce batted .326 (15-for-46) with four home runs and 17 RBIs. That improvement and his howitzer left arm make him all but a lock for right field again. I still say the best bet to stabilize payroll would be to offer closer Francisco Cordero on the market. The chance of him having another year like last year is questionable, he is our most tradeable commodity and will bring the most in return, even if they are top Minor Leaguers. What do you think?
-- Bob, Indiana There are problems with your theory, Bob. First, Cordero's salary -- he's owed $25 million over the next two seasons -- makes him a more difficult commodity to trade. If the Reds were to attempt to move him, they'd likely have to eat some of that money. So that wouldn't stabilize the economic issue as much as you're thinking. Plus, with Jose Valverde, Billy Wagner and Fernando Rodney among those on the free-agent market, teams in need of a closer might be able to secure a cheaper alternative without giving up players in return.
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Should the Reds attempt to sign Orlando Hudson and move Brandon Phillips to shortstop?
-- Aaron B., Sidney, Ohio
-- Ken, Columbus, Ohio The short answer for the first four pitchers is Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey. At this point and based on the current cast of characters, I'd think Matt Maloney is on the inside track for the fifth spot. He had a couple of nice outings in September, when he was not bothered by a blister. Do you think Arroyo could become the Opening Day starter?
-- Ron, Amelia, Ohio Arroyo has certainly earned the honor, and it wouldn't shock me at all. Much will depend on how manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Bryan Price decide to set up the rotation order. I heard some rumors that the Reds are thinking about trading Arroyo and Phillips. What are your thoughts on that?
-- Jacob B., Cincinnati I think it's a bad idea and unlikely, too. As I mentioned on my blog last week, the Reds dealt prospects in July to get $11 million third baseman Scott Rolen and re-signed 33-year-old catcher Ramon Hernandez for $3 million earlier this month -- a luxury item when they already have Ryan Hanigan. Why would they make those moves and turn around and deal more pivotal players like Phillips and Arroyo? That would be nutty. What's become of lefty pitcher Bobby Livingston? He looked promising a couple of years ago.
-- Bill H., Lexington, Ky. Livingston spent all of 2009 in the Minors and bounced through three different organizations -- Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
