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Sunday, April 18, 2021

New York Yankees’ Jay Bruce to retire after Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays

Jay Bruce had seen enough. Having made the New York Yankees’ Opening Day roster, he couldn’t stomach his poor start to the season.

So the three-time All-Star outfielder decided to retire at age 34 after Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.

“Just the consistent underperformance for me,” he said. “Felt like I wasn’t able to do it at a level that was acceptable for myself.”

Bruce informed Yankees manager Aaron Boone of his decision during a 20-minute meeting in the manager’s office on Friday, then made a public announcement before Sunday’s game.

Bruce went to spring training with the Yankees on a minor league contract and made the major league roster as a first baseman when Luke Voit suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, earning a $1.35 million one-year deal.

He is hitting .118 with one homer and three RBIs in 39 plate appearances, and he remained active for Sunday’s game. He started the first eight games at first base but just two of the next seven.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: April 18, 2021 at 05:16 PM | 39 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: jay bruce, yankees

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1. The Duke Posted: April 18, 2021 at 05:20 PM (#6014158)

Only 17 players with more service time than Bruce going into today’s game - guesses anyone ?

2. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: April 18, 2021 at 05:26 PM (#6014159)

Pujols, Cabrera, Votto, Verlander, Scherzer, Greinke, Wainwright, Molina, Rich Hill, Nelson Cruz...maybe Gardner?

3. JJ1986 Posted: April 18, 2021 at 05:27 PM (#6014161)

Ervin Santana? McCutchen.

Edit: Ryan Zimmerman.

4. Lowry Seasoning Salt Posted: April 18, 2021 at 05:30 PM (#6014162)

Cabrera x 2: Miggy and Asdrubal
Happ
Lester
Upton
Zimmermann

Edit: Suzuki

5. JJ1986 Posted: April 18, 2021 at 05:31 PM (#6014163)

Edit again: Justin Upton

6. Howie Menckel Posted: April 18, 2021 at 05:35 PM (#6014165)

from the weekend thread (updating that Bruce did not play today)

44. Howie Menckel Posted: April 18, 2021 at 01:41 PM (#6014133)

Jay Bruce is retiring - AFTER today's Yankees game.

just turned 34 this month, but an everyday gig in place of injured 1B Voit produced a 4 for 34, and 36 OPS+ and I guess he figured that's enough.

319 HR, tied for 122nd all-time with the Fielders. 108 career OPS+

apparently Yankees can't recall Ford until Tuesday and tomorrow is an off-day, so he's on hand just in case.

Bruce shares 50th all-time with 1,572 K with Jason Giambi, so that mark could be on the line with a farewell AB. or a Ted Williams "farewell tater" would jump him over the Fielders and into a share with Troy Glaus and Vinny Castilla.

7. Walt Davis Posted: April 18, 2021 at 06:01 PM (#6014169)

Solid if slightly disappointing career. In 2007, he put up a 962 OPS playing across A/AA/AAA in one season. That made him the #1 prospect entering 2008 which he solidified by hitting for a 1023 OPS at AAA before his promotion at age 21. He never approached that level in the majors but had a solid 121 OPS+ from 23-26 before dropping to near replacement-level for the rest of his career, a full-time starter for the last time at age 28. He finishes with exactly 20 WAR, 6600 PA and average. Nothing wrong with that.

8. vortex of dissipation Posted: April 18, 2021 at 07:01 PM (#6014178)

As a Reds fan, I have many good memories of him, this being the best one - his walk-off home run to clinch the 2010 NL Central championship, the first-time Cincinnati had made the playoffs in 15 years.

9. The Duke Posted: April 18, 2021 at 07:14 PM (#6014180)

LAA Albert Pujols 20.000
DET Miguel Cabrera 17.101
STL Yadier Molina 16.123
CLE Oliver Pérez 16.093
HOU Zack Greinke 16.057
STL Adam Wainwright 15.027
HOU* Justin Verlander 15.002
WSN Jon Lester 14.075
WSN Ryan Zimmerman 14.032
ARI Joakim Soria 14.000
LAA Kurt Suzuki 13.113
MIN Nelson Cruz 13.082
LAA Justin Upton 13.060
ARI Asdrúbal Cabrera 13.027
CIN* Joey Votto 13.027
SFG Johnny Cueto 13.000
SFG Evan Longoria 12.170

10. JJ1986 Posted: April 18, 2021 at 07:57 PM (#6014189)

Ervin is at 13.123 so you're missing some players.

11. The Yankee Clapper Posted: April 18, 2021 at 08:01 PM (#6014190)

He finishes with exactly 20 WAR, 6600 PA and average.

And about $103M in career earnings. That should ease him into a comfortable retirement, even if a bit early

12. Lowry Seasoning Salt Posted: April 18, 2021 at 08:28 PM (#6014194)

Ervin is at 13.123 so you're missing some players.

Santana's season debut was just yesterday, so maybe why he wasn't included wherever The Duke found the list. I don't know if that means there are others missing.

13. The Duke Posted: April 18, 2021 at 09:16 PM (#6014197)

Santana is listed as 12.1 just below Jay Bruce. Spotrac has him at 12 and bbref at 13

14. Benji Gil Gamesh VII - The Opt-Out Awakens Posted: April 18, 2021 at 09:29 PM (#6014199)

He never approached that level in the majors but had a solid 121 OPS+ from 23-26 before dropping to near replacement-level for the rest of his career, a full-time starter for the last time at age 28.

Not quite that bad, his 2017 (primarily with Mets, finishing with Cleveland), was the 3rd best year of his career, at age 30.

15. Ziggy: social distancing since 1980 Posted: April 18, 2021 at 09:46 PM (#6014201)

In my preferred alternate universe, Jay Bruce led the Cincinnati Reds to their sixth consecutive championship in 2010, building on the dynasty established a decade earlier by Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns.

In other news, prospects don't always work out like you hope.

16. Walt Davis Posted: April 18, 2021 at 10:36 PM (#6014206)

#14: good catch. I was looking at the PAs in the "player value" table where it doesn't report totals across multiple teams in a season. I thought that seemed early and you're right, his last season as a full-timer was age 30.

EDIT: and on the career earnings, I thought about mentioning that, although it was just 2018, there seems no way any team today would give Bruce the 3/$39 contract the Mets gave him. That was coming off that good season at age 30 but over the previous 4 seasons he was just a 1-WAR player. Not that $64+ M in career earnings would suck.

And #8, he cited the same highlight, noting that it's kinda bittersweet that his top highlight came so early in his career.

17. Perry Posted: April 19, 2021 at 12:17 AM (#6014209)

On my only visit to GABP, in 2012, he hit a 3-run walk-off homer to beat the Mets.

18. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: April 19, 2021 at 07:40 AM (#6014219)

The way the Yanks have been playin', maybe they should all retire, amirite...?!

19. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: April 19, 2021 at 08:08 AM (#6014222)

I remember when Jay Bruce was the #1 prospect in the game. Which makes me feel old because I was already an adult at that point.

20. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: April 19, 2021 at 10:02 AM (#6014232)

Bruce justified the hype when he first arrived in 2008. He went 3/5 his first game and was still OPSing over 1.000 a few weeks later. But teams learned to pitch him low and away and he never quite figured out how to lay off those. He was also one of the early victims of the shift.

The 1st round of the 2005 draft was really loaded. Bruce's 20 WAR was just 9th; I don't know that most first rounds are worse but it feels like it. Upton, Gordon, Zimmerman, Braun, Tulo, Maybin, Cutch, and Bruce were all picked in the top 12. Ricky Romero had some good seasons and Mike Plefrey had his moments. The only busts in the top 12 were Jeff Clement (Seattle, no. 3) and Wade Townsend (Tampa, 8).

21. ERROR---Jolly Old St. Nick

Posted: April 19, 2021 at 10:35 AM (#6014239)

I've got nothing against Bruce, but seeing him and Rougned Odor in the starting lineup made me wonder what planet I was living on. Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel.

22. sunday silence (again) Posted: April 19, 2021 at 03:39 PM (#6014280)

does he get a full season salary if he just walks away like this?

23. SoSH U at work Posted: April 19, 2021 at 03:49 PM (#6014281)

does he get a full season salary if he just walks away like this?

No.

24. Itchy Row Posted: April 19, 2021 at 03:56 PM (#6014282)

Here's a thread about Bruce from four days after his debut. He got his career batting average up to .591 the next day.

25. Jesus Luzardo Maraschino Posted: April 19, 2021 at 05:23 PM (#6014295)

8. Roy Hobbs of WIFFLE Ball Posted: May 31, 2008 at 04:30 PM (#2801132)
Ah, c'mon. Those are great lines by Dusty.

Exactly. The Dusty stuff is beyond old at this point. Dusty can't win. When he does the correct thing they just say "Just wait." Corey Patterson's down, Bruce is up. You have to bend over backwards to criticize the man this week.

Heh who would have thought nearly 13 years later Dusty would be still coaching while Bruce is retiring...

26. Walt Davis Posted: April 19, 2021 at 05:31 PM (#6014297)

#20 ... Grrr, I lost a longer post. Anyway, yes, that was a strong, deep draft, producing 409 WAR, about 150 more WAR in the first round than any of the ones around it. (that includes all the supplementals because that's how b-r does it.) However, it's lacking in HoF candidates. Tulo was on the way and maybe Braun, Zimmerman and McCutchen too but none of them aged well.

Meanwhile the 2006 1st round produced "just" 296 WAR but a staggering 8 CYA (Kershaw, Scherzer, TIMMEH) -- seems like that factoid should be better known. That draft also had Longoria who's not gonna make the HoF but has more WAR than anybody in the 2005 draft.

27. Walt Davis Posted: April 19, 2021 at 05:55 PM (#6014303)

Now the 2003 1st round, not so good. Just 207 WAR (but very few supplemental picks), only 3 of the top 6 picks even made the majors, Delmon Young was #1 overall, Markakis and Adam Jones (the last supplemental pick) are the only players over 30 WAR. Even Daric Barton with 9 WAR was a pretty good pick that year.

That's sort where my "Rich Becker Line" comes from. Becker made it to 8 WAR. Becker was a 3rd round pick but his 8 WAR would have put him #11 (out of 40) in the 1990 1st round. Barton's 9 WAR put him #10 (out of 37/ in 2003 and he'd have been #9 in 2004 (41) and #8 in 2006 (44) and even #16 in 2005 (46). Getting 8 WAR out of a draftee, even a 1st-round draftee, is a good outcome. That's generally 2 good years or 3 average years plus a bit of production before and after.

But I am happy to report that Brandon Nimmo has passed the Becker Line and showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Next up, Elliott Maddox! :-)

28. sunday silence (again) Posted: April 19, 2021 at 06:20 PM (#6014305)

I have to wonder if Bruce isnt in some terrible sort of pain from an injury. His sprint speed went from 26.8 ft/sec in 2019 to 25.1 in 2020 (apparently he doesnt have enuf data pts for 2021 or something). Thats going from 50ish percentile to something like 15 percentile. SOmeone mentioned that they pinch ran for him the other day. Obviously its got to be hard to out there and play when you're effectively handicapped like that.

29. Howie Menckel Posted: April 19, 2021 at 06:30 PM (#6014307)

from the thread in Post 24

9. Damon Rutherford Posted: May 31, 2008 at 06:42 PM (#2801185)
Very, very premature, but I have a feeling all three OF for the Reds right now will someday be in the Hall of Fame. OK, so I hope they will. But it doesn't seem too unreasonable of an idea.

.......................

Griffey Jr., CHECK
Dunn
Corey Patterson
Bruce

30. Walt Davis Posted: April 19, 2021 at 06:46 PM (#6014313)

Dunn didn't even finish 2008 in Cincy. But, in the poster's defense, at the end of 2008, Dunn had 278 HR through his age 28 season. That was his 4th straight season with exactly 40 HR (and he had 46 the year before that streak started). He was a "sure" bet for 500 HR. Alas he had the mobility of Mr. Burns already and he wasn't able to turn into Nelson Cruz.

31. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: April 20, 2021 at 11:31 AM (#6014415)

I remember being pretty excited about the Griffey / Adam Dunn / Austin Kearns outfield for a year or so, until it became clear that 2 of those 3 guys couldn't stay on the field.

32. SoSH U at work Posted: April 20, 2021 at 11:37 AM (#6014417)

I remember being pretty excited about the Griffey / Adam Dunn / Austin Kearns outfield for a year or so, until it became clear that 2 of those 3 guys couldn't stay on the field.

The exact same fate that befell the previous Reds superstar outfield of the future, though in that case the guy who could stay healthy was a petulant manchild.

33. Don August(us) Cesar Geronimo Berroa Posted: April 21, 2021 at 12:39 PM (#6014660)

Anyway, yes, that was a strong, deep draft, producing 409 WAR, about 150 more WAR in the first round than any of the ones around it.

2011 is looking good too.

First round: 5 guys over 20 war, another 5 over 15, and the most talented player in the draft, sadly, died several years ago (Jose Fernandez).

34. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: April 21, 2021 at 01:23 PM (#6014695)

The exact same fate that befell the previous Reds superstar outfield of the future, though in that case the guy who could stay healthy was a petulant manchild.

Are you referring to Kal Daniels/Eric Davis/Paul O'Neill?

35. Walt Davis Posted: April 22, 2021 at 02:38 AM (#6014885)

2011 is looking good too.

Being a "first" round with 60 picks will help. :-)

But yeah, they are up to 335 WAR already. (For those that don't know, page down near the bottom of a draft round page and the b-r page will give you the WAR total for those players.) The key players still going are Cole, Bauer, Rendon, Lindor, Springer, Story, Snell and Baez so they can still add heaps.

Yet Daric Barton would be a top 20 player in that round. Currently 9 WAR would put you 15th, almost certainly Fulmer and Cron will pass that, probably Musgrove and maybe Matt Barnes.

36. SoSH U at work Posted: April 22, 2021 at 11:38 AM (#6014919)

Are you referring to Kal Daniels/Eric Davis/Paul O'Neill?

Indeed.

37. Traderdave

Posted: April 22, 2021 at 11:53 AM (#6014922)

petulant manchild

If you pout loudly and often, some fanbases will call you a "warrior."

38. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: April 22, 2021 at 12:36 PM (#6014936)

The exact same fate that befell the previous Reds superstar outfield of the future, though in that case the guy who could stay healthy was a petulant manchild.

Are you referring to Kal Daniels/Eric Davis/Paul O'Neill?

If any Reds' OF had a petulant manchild, it was .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

39. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: April 22, 2021 at 02:56 PM (#6014959)

Well, Pete Rose played OF for a couple years...

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Sunday, April 18, 2021

New York Yankees’ Jay Bruce to retire after Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays

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