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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > May > 31 > Entry
You can’t make this stuff up
Everybody keeps asking: “In your 36 years, you ever seen anything like this?”
No, never. Nothing close. No, zip, nada.
There has never been anything like this. Not in real life. You have The Natural and you have Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees.
But this? This? This is real life what Jay Bruce is doing. You can’t do this in your first week of major-league baseball when you just turned 21.
Some folks want to start calling him Batman. Well, not bad. After all, wasn’t Batman’s real name BRUCE Wayne.
For those of you with your nose into the NASCAR race or an NBA playoff game, well, even Jay Bruce topped himself Saturday.
The Kid not only topped himself, he topped Ken Griffey Jr., and that’s tough to do when Junior hit his 599th career home run. Bruce hit a game-winning walkoff home run in the 10th inning to give the Cincinnati Reds an 8-7 win over the Atlanta Braves.
Hey, I saw Ken Griffey Sr. (not Junior, Senior) begin his career with nine hits in his first 17 at-bats, but no walk-off home runs.
This is why we in the media harped and harped and harped to get Bruce pardoned out of Louisville, where he was exiled after spring training for committing no crimes and no sins.
Heck, seeing this, I’m saying the Reds should have called him LAST SEPTEMBER when they called up Joey Votto, but not Bruce.
Big, bad mistake. Just think what he could be doing now.
When the Reds finally called up Bruce last Tuesday, one of the front office people said to me, “Well, you’ve got Bruce up here, now what are you going to start demanding?”
Well, now that you ask, how soon can you get pitcher Daryl Thompson up here. Tomorrow will be just fine.
Votto, one of Bruce’s friends, sensed it all along.
“Take a look at his month of May and he might be the hottest hitter in all of baseball,” said Votto. “It’s unbelievable. I hope he keeps it going. That was a big swing. That’s about as good of a home run as it gets, especially in front of a big home crowd.”
Told that it was Bruce’s first-ever walkoff home run, Votto said, “Even better. Obviously it was meant for the big leagues.”
No, no. Bruce was meant for the big leagues - a long time ago, even if he just turned 21.
Are we overhyping this kid. Expecting too much.
Hey, his teammate, Javier Valentin, calls him, “Babe Bruce.”
And manager Dusty Baker has seen them come and seen them go and he is mystified and mesmerized like all the rest of us.
Love this quote from Dusty: “A lot of times hype is overhyped, but this hype is real.”What a remarkable story for Jay Bruce,” said Baker. “That’s probably one of the best stories I’ve ever seen. If he is living a dream, I’d like to get into that dream.”
Remember Joe Namath’s famous quote and his book title: I Can’t Wait For Tomorrow Because I Get Better-Looking Every Day?
Bruce would never, never say that. He’s like Opie of Mayberry, mostly gosh and gee-whiz.
But me? I can’t wait until tomorrow because Jay Bruce gets better every day.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Jay Bruce
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By Axis
June 18, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
check out the “BRUUUCE” Jay Bruce shirt available at: www.axispromos.com
By Ken Griffey, Sr.
June 2, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
Much as I like Dunner, I wonder if Texas would have take him for Volquez. Imagine an outfield with Hamilton, Bruce and Hopper/Freel…and without Griffey. I’m sure we had to give up something meaningful for V, but I think Dunn would have been happy playing at home (Texas). I’ll be a happy guy when Griffey is out of a Reds uniform. He’s a slug, no longer a slugger. Yeah, he’ll have a rare good day, but it’s become painful to watch him, specially at over a million a month every month of the year.
By Bruce fan
June 2, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
He is proving to everybody that he is worthy of the hype of being the #1 prospect in all of baseball. Heck, the kid already has his own shirt honoring the “Bruce Almighty”. check it out: http://sportscrack.com/tees_brucealmighty.html This team is only going to get better especially with our young pitching. And thank god we didn’t trade Bruce during the offseason for Bedard. The club is finally moving in the right direction, next year could be really special.
By Bruce fan
June 2, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
He is proving to everybody that he is worthy of the hype of being the #1 prospect in all of baseball. Heck, the kid already has his own shirt honoring the “Bruce Almighty”. check it out: http://sportscrack.com/tees_brucealmighty.html This team is only going to get better especially with our young pitching. And thank god we didn’t trade Bruce during the offseason for Bedard. The club is moving in the right direction, next year could be really special.
By Don
June 2, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
Joe,Bruce doesn’t make me forget Josh Hamilton.Actually,it makes me wonder what could have been if we had Jay and Josh in the same line up. I just haven’t been able to daydream of a realistic way in which we could have fleeced Edinson from Texas.Anyway,I’m happy for Josh.I’m happy for Jay.Hey, I’m happy.
By Eric
June 2, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
What Bruce is doing on the field is certainly exciting, but I think having his positive attitude in the clubhouse will be a welcomed benefit as well. I see similarities between Bruce and Sean Casey in terms of enthusiasm and his down-to-earth, positive outlook. Anyone remember a young Sean Casey’s first trip to the All-Star game? He was running around with a video camera and a giant smile the entire time—just taking it all in and enjoying an amazing experience. This clubhouse has lacked that kind of positive leadership since Casey was traded. It has certainly been an exciting week to be a Reds fan.
By Eric
June 2, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
What Bruce is doing on the field is certainly exciting, but I think having his positive attitude in the clubhouse will be a welcomed benefit as well. I see similarities between Bruce and Sean Casey in terms of enthusiasm and his down-to-earth, positive outlook. Anyone remember a young Sean Casey’s first trip to the All-Star game? He was running around with a video camera and a giant smile the entire time—just taking it all in and enjoying an amazing experience. This clubhouse has lacked that kind of positive leadership since Casey was traded. It has certainly been an exciting week to be a Reds fan.
By michael
June 2, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah… I won’t forget about Josh Hamilton. How cool would it have been to see a Reds outfield of Dunn, Hamilton, and Bruce? It is what it is now…and Volquez has been awesome!
By michael
June 2, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
I think Bruce is finally ready for the Majors(LOL)!. Maybe Baker was trying to keep all this hoopla from getting in Jay Bruce’s head until he was ready. I think he was ready on opening day, but I am not the Reds manager.
By Bob
June 2, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this
Jay Bruce is just another item in Dusty’s resume with the Reds that has been poor. He said nothing positive in spring training about Bruce. To do so would have meant he could not ask Krivsky to sign Patterson. It might have been good to not put pressure on Jay right at the start of the season, but to give Patterson two months in leadoff is stupid. Even if Corey had good career stats, it was obvious he stunk, but his careet stats don’t show anything that would justify what Dusty did. Poor Freel must have short sheeted Baker’s bed to be so deep in his dog house. Freel showed his value Sat. when he scored the tying run. When he plays he makes things happen. Sometimes he gets overexuberant, but that happens when you’re giving tour all. Bruce would never have batted in the 10th without Freel’s gamble.
By HuberTucky
June 1, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Hey Frank, you’re alarm is going off. WAKE UP! Get rid of Dunn, Patterson, Freel and Hopper? And KEPPINGER!? Man, what are you doing, sitting home and taking idiot pills? You CAN’T be serious. Keppinger? Oh I get it, you post intentionally dumb things like that moron “preacher in Franklin” just to stir the pot. You must live a really exciting life, Frank. Take your lithium and call Happy Valley in the morning, dude.
By MAC
June 1, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
What a start by Bruce Almighty! I think the best part might be the influence he’s already had on Jr; I was amazed to see JR hit 2 balls the other way on Friday. One which went for a base hit in the last inning and was instrumental in getting the winning run home…truely amazing.
By Y-City Jim
June 1, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Wow, Frank! Bruce is good enough to play the entire outfield at once?
By rob
June 1, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
A full house, stirring comeback win against a good team, and of course a 21 year old phenom. Finally, it appears the Reds have some legitimacy.
By Mr. Redlegs
June 1, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Stand corrected, Gary. ‘Spose I was thinking Williams was 19 when he was tearing up the minors in 1938 at Minneapolis and Red Sox fans were screaming for him to be called.
By Frank
June 1, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this
Now, can we get rid of Dunn, Patterson, Jr.,Hopper, and Freel? With Hariston we don’t need Freel or Kepp either. If only we could find a new for 3b we might have a halfway winning season.
By got milk
June 1, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
Well, let’s hope Gary Majewski benefited as much from his stint in AAA as Jay Bruce did. Gary’s on his way to the Reds. Found this nugget at the end of the L’ville C-J’s story on the Bats. “Louisville added another pitching change after last night’s game. Middle reliever Gary Majewski (2-1, 3.76 ERA) was called up by Cincinnati.”
By jay
June 1, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this
look hal, they made the right baseball and financial decision in not calling him up, just the wrong stopgap. get over it, will ya?
By AP-FLORIDA
June 1, 2008 6:08 AM | Link to this
HOW LONG B4 RUSTY SAYS “JAY NEEDS A DAY OFF?”
By Gary Maloy Jr.
June 1, 2008 4:47 AM | Link to this
FYI, Ted Williams was born August 30, 1918. He debuted April 20, 1939. He was 20 years, 7 months and 21 days old when he broke into the majors with the Red Sox. A kid by all means, but he wasn’t a teenager… And if we can use “The Kid” for Teddie Ballgame, we can use “The Kid” for Jay Bruce. Over here in Norway, the walk-off homerun didn’t happen until about 2:30 am. It gave me goosebumps and shivers and wasn’t calm enough to go to bed until about four a.m. This team is starting to gel, and I still can’t wait for October!!!
By bruiser
June 1, 2008 3:08 AM | Link to this
Although I, like most, was in favor of calling up “Babe” Bruce—yes that’s the best nickname—-I think it’s rushing Thompson. Bruce had much more success than has Thompson. Maloney has more experience and having a lefty starter would be nice. Maloney could be the Dumatrait of this year—let’s hope not last!
By Mr. Redlegs
June 1, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this
For the sake of history and originality, Teddy Ballgame was “The Kid,” and Junior Griffey was “The Kid,” and the reason was because they were mere teenagers when they made their smashing big league debuts. Bruce is 21 and until he plays more than a week “The Kid” label doesn’t really work. Most people around the Reds’ blogosphere are calling him “Bruce Almighty,” which is pretty catchy tho not very original.
By Broadway
June 1, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this
You can sure see the difference in the “stuff” of Volquez/Cueto/and Cordero—as opposed to Fogg and others. Those changeups are brutal on opposing hitters after 95 mph fastballs!I do think Fogg deserves another shot, or two—since he hasn’t pitched in two weeks, before this start. Throwing in the bullpen, isn’t the same as game conditions.I agree with Hal, that it is time for Daryl Thompson. How long are those in charge going to tell us HE isn’t ready for the BIGS? What an arrogant statement that was they made to Hal, after Bruce’s arrival!Go Little Red Caboose!
By Joe
June 1, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
After what Bruce has done this week it will make everyone forget about Josh Hamilton
By Ian
May 31, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this
To be fair to the Reds’ front office you could argue that Bruce wouldn’t have had immediate success like this if he were called up at the start of the year since he wasn’t hitting the ball nearly as well as he is now. But I don’t really care about any of that, I’m just glad that I can watch him play right now.
By got milk
May 31, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
Is Homer Bailey getting called up to take the 5th spot in the rotation? Here’s why I ask. Tomorrow’s game would be Homer’s next turn in the Bats rotation, but the game write up for tonight’s Bats game stated that Daryl Thompson would be Sunday’s starter.
By Kyle
May 31, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
How much fun is this, Reds’ fans??