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Mets Hope Jay Bruce Solves Hitting Problems
The Mets got Niese back from Pittsburgh on Monday for reliever Antonio Bastardo. The Rangers might also be out of the picture – they’re more anxious about their pitching, although they did show interest in Jonathan Lucroy. NY sends Andrew Miller to Cleveland Indians Justin Gloria- Jul 31, 2016 The Cleveland Indians are making big moves before the Major League Baseball trade deadline acquiring New York Yankees pitcher and reliever Andrew Miller early…
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“I feel like myself again”, said Bruce, who dealt with a knee injury in 2014 that he believes might have impacted him past year as well. There was also talk of a trade to Baltimore during the spring, but that too fell through. Last year, there’s some insane stuff during the deadline. “When I was in Cincinnati, we played a lot of baseball that mattered for a long time”.
Jay Bruce is probably not the best fit for the New York Mets. Until then, this may have a negative impact on the team’s defense, it’s a major boost to the offense and that’s what they need right now.
Bruce goes from the Reds (42-62), who are 21 games behind the Chicago Cubs, to the Mets (54-50), who are 6½ games behind the Washington Nationals and 2½ behind the wild-card leaders.
But it is unclear if Bruce is a clutch hitter or simply hitting in the clutch. This was a significant improvement from the last two seasons where he only hit.222, averaging 22 home runs and a 76 RBI.
I guess it could be said that at least they scored more than the recent average. Aside from Yoenis Cespedes, the outfield has been a weak unit, with Curtis Granderson mired in a slump and Juan Lagares, Michael Conforto and Alejandro De Aza struggling at the plate all season. It’s a ideal fit, and yet, it really isn’t.
“Tomorrow night when we get Ces’ back in there, I’ll tell you what, that’s going to be a unique looking lineup with those big bats in the middle”, the manager said. I think this year some small, small changes that I actually noticed the past two years – and being healthy – is key.
It would be unfair to expect Bruce to play at the level that Cespedes did a year ago, when he garnered some MVP attention, however the Mets would be very happy if the 29-year old outfield continues to play at the All-Star level he has this season. Nimmo will be under team control for years and years, of course.
The Mets weren’t going to give up on this year, and they certainly weren’t going to give up on next year.
But this season seems to be bringing out a different Bruce.
In Game 5, with the Reds trailing 6-4 in the ninth inning and the tying runs on base with one out, Bruce fouled off eight straight pitches in a 12-pitch at-bat before flying out to left field. It’s an issue the Mets will have to deal with not only this year, but next year, when Granderson enters the final season of his contract and the Mets are sure to have Bruce after exercising his $13 million option. Wotell is said to still be included in the deal and is the second piece along with Herrera.
NY clinched the NL East title in Cincinnati last September and returns for a three-game series from Sept. 5-7. He’d immediately slot in as a starter for the Reds.
They tried to trade second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Nationals, but he blocked the deal.
Alderson also has high hopes for Bruce in revitalizing the team.
Before his first game with the Mets, a 7-1 Subway Series victory over the Yankees in which he batted third and went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, Bruce made it clear that he would not be burdened by expectations.
“We liked Dilson very much”, Alderson said.
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“I heard he’s kind of a big deal around here”, the All-Star outfielder said. “There’s still some guys that are still here that were here previous year”.