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2017 Cleveland Indians

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CBBI said:
Bruce has hit right-handed pitching really well this year to the tune of an .871 OPS with a HR every 14 at bats. It's hard for me to envision a scenario where he isn't playing full time against RHP factoring in the power advantage he has.

That said, Brantley and especially Chisenhall have mashed righties all year long as well.

Then you factor in Zimmer who is the best defender and runner of the bunch. He should probably should play on defense alone and it's not like he can't hit RHP either.

I guess it boils down to would you rather have 3-4 Bruce/Chisenhall at bats against a RHP or 6-7 innings of Zimmer defense in a given game instead of 2 as a late inning sub.
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Chisenhall > Bruce, and it's really not even close. Better against righties, better against lefties, better defensively, clubhouse leader. Lonnie is playing in RF over Bruce, period. Guyer will probably still show up against lefties in RF.

Zimmer and Jackson should continue to split CF duties.

Brantley starts all day in LF.

Bruce is just here while we have no OF depth due to injuries. He's a postseason pinch hit threat that doesn't start at all.
 
Do people not understand that Jay Bruce is not a good player? I'm baffled by everyone's hype over him right now. He's ALWAYS garbage in the second half of the year. This is why we got him for a 30th round pick. He has no market--he's basically a replacement level player. Just so you're aware, here are his OPS numbers for the past four years. First half of the year vs second half of the year:

2017: .872 to .725
2016: .853 to .762
2015: .806 to .644
2014: .719 to .568

Every single year this happens. Second half Jay Bruce isn't good.
 
Out of the Rafters at the Q said:
Do people not understand that Jay Bruce is not a good player? I'm baffled by everyone's hype over him right now. He's ALWAYS garbage in the second half of the year. This is why we got him for a 30th round pick. He has no market--he's basically a replacement level player. Just so you're aware, here are his OPS numbers for the past four years. First half of the year vs second half of the year:

2017: .872 to .725
2016: .853 to .762
2015: .806 to .644
2014: .719 to .568

Every single year this happens. Second half Jay Bruce isn't good.
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We got him for a 30th round pick because he's a free agent set for a payday and we offered to take on the rest of his salary. Yonder Alonso was traded for peanuts too.

I made my thoughts known on Bruce a few weeks back, including him always falling off after the AS Break. He's having his best season is years mainly because he's actually a positive fielder this year instead of a huge negative and is swinging a heavy bat. Coming in with definitive statements about how he will and won't be used is premature considering he hasn't had 1 AB yet and we have a few guys on the shelf.
 
Urban said:
We got him for a 30th round pick because he's a free agent set for a payday and we offered to take on the rest of his salary. Yonder Alonso was traded for peanuts too.

I made my thoughts known on Bruce a few weeks back, including him always falling off after the AS Break. He's having his best season is years mainly because he's actually a positive fielder this year instead of a huge negative and is swinging a heavy bat. Coming in with definitive statements about how he will and won't be used is premature considering he hasn't had 1 AB yet and we have a few guys on the shelf.
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If we're healthy, do you play him over Brantley? Do you play him over Chisenhall? Are you playing him in CF?

I'm pretty sure we all can agree on the answer to every one of those questions. Saying that "if we're healthy, he won't start" isn't a bold statement.
 
Out of the Rafters at the Q said:
If we're healthy, do you play him over Brantley? Do you play him over Chisenhall? Are you playing him in CF?

I'm pretty sure we all can agree on the answer to every one of those questions. Saying that "if we're healthy, he won't start" isn't a bold statement.
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Not over Brantley and not in CF.

But over Chisenhall? I think that's a lot more up in the air. Does he pick up where he left off? Does Bruce get relegated to the bench and stay there if he continues to hit RHP like he has so this year? Don't think that's necessarily as clear cut as you're suggesting.
 
Urban said:
Not over Brantley and not in CF.

But over Chisenhall? I think that's a lot more up in the air. Does he pick up where he left off? Does Bruce get relegated to the bench and stay there if he continues to hit RHP like he has so this year? Don't think that's necessarily as clear cut as you're suggesting.
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If Lonnie isn't healthy, then there's a shot.

If Lonnie is healthy, there's no chance. Jay Bruce has never, in his career, hit as well as Lonnie has this season. Lonnie has been here for a long time, grown with these players, and is a clubhouse leader. Lonnie is also a better OF than Jay Bruce.
 
And Lonnie has never come close to hitting as well as he has this season either. Do you think he can maintain a .954 OPS? His career high is .770. I sure as hell hope so, but I think you're going to be disappointed when he comes back after being on the DL for 6 weeks. And Lonnie, like Bruce, has a bit of a history falling off post AS Break too.
 
It is very unlikely in my mind as well we will play Bruce over Chisenhall at the end of the day. Francona will play the best guy regardless and the team understands that, but I would rather have Bruce than Martinez any day of the week as my bench guy especially in the world series. He hasn't pinch hit a ton, but is a career .278 avg when pinch hitting and seems to hit better when DHing, so he may end up in the American League next season anyways.
 
I'm not sure why you guys are debating this. Kipnis will probably go back on the DL and we have had a rotating door of DL stints all season long. Slim chance everyone is healthy in October (if they get to the postseason).
 
Chis is in Columbus tonight. Miller is pitching in Columbus tomorrow. Joining the team then on Friday.
 
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