The comparisons flowed even from his new teammates, who recognized the clear parallels from a year ago. They also hope he catches lightning in a bottle like Cespedes did last season and they go on a run.
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Mets manager Terry Collins says he’ll swap Yoenis Cespedes and Bruce in the corner spots in the outfield while Michael Conforto and Curtis Granderson hold down center field. “He’s a guy whether you want to hit him third or fourth or fifth, he’s going to be in that lineup against lefties and righties”. Hererra needs big league at-bats so that he can be ready for when the Reds are ready to be good again. “He’s an RBI machine”. The team is also in talks to trade shortstop Zack Cozart, as well.
“This was a very hard trade for us to make because of how our fans, ownership and everyone in our organization feel about Jay, but we acquired two quality players who better fit the direction our organization is heading”, Jocketty said.
“The only thing to do now is go play baseball”, Bruce told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
“The only responsibility I feel is to be the best version of myself”. He would embrace NY, meaning finding other modes of transportation. Since then, the Reds remained doubtful with Bruce’s efficiency.
“We’ve got to play better, period”, Collins said before the game. The past couple years have been tough. “I’m really looking forward to getting back in and hopefully catching the Nationals”. Cessa made a few appearances for the Yankees at the beginning of the season, but is now a pitching for their AAA-team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
If Cespedes, who missed his second straight game on Monday, returns to the field and hits in front of Bruce, this team has a chance to earn the second wild-card berth in the NL. With a pair of talented young outfielders in Pederson and Tompson, the addition of Bruce may be an ideal move in terms of offense.
For now the plan to seems to be playing Granderson and Conforto in center with Cespedes in left and Bruce in right.
“I think NY can be as big and fast as you want it to be”. His only real hiccup over the last two months was his start in Miami on July 23, when he gave up five runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. So, as it was for Yo, I expect it will be a bit of grind for Bruce, who has to learn a new city, new teammates, and a less hitter-friendly ballpark under the intense pressure and scrutiny of Mets fans and NY reporters. Alderson acknowledged the deal changed at one point Monday (Marc Carig of Newsday reported Brandon Nimmo was taken out of the trade because of medical concerns), but the price wasn’t prohibitive for a player who leads the National League with 80 RBI. Bruce is just the latest to depart.
The Mets are batting.206 with runners in scoring position, dead last in the majors and the third lowest mark since 1961.
Herrera was seen as the team’s second baseman of the future but the team used him to get a big bat for the lineup.
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“When [the deal] happened, I was very, very excited”. “There was a lot of emotions”.
