Where Is Jay Bruce??

He is at the top of most of the important batting statistic categories in the International League.

Bruce is currently leading the International League in batting average (.366), and in hits (50). He also ranks 2nd in RBI's (33), 4th in runs scored (27), 4th in triples (5), 5th in home runs (8), 2nd in total bases (96), 7th in on base percentage (.398), 2nd in slugging percentage (.662), and 2nd in on base plus slugging percentage (1.060). The most phenomenal of Jay's statistics may be the fact that he has hit 22-36 (.611) in his last 10 games.

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I cannot understand why the Reds haven't called this kid up yet. I thought for sure when Keppinger went down the other night that Bruce would be the guy that got called up to fill his roster spot. Instead, the Reds decided to call up Paul Janish. Of course, Janish got the game winning hit last night in the bottom of the 10th inning so I am not complaining too much.

I can sort of understand why Janish got called up because he is a shortstop and he was brought up to fill the roster spot created when Keppinger (SS) went down with a broken knee cap. But, I think the argument could also be made that Hairston JR has been doing a pretty decent job at SS when he has been given the chance. And, I'm pretty sure that Freel could also do a passable job at shortstop if the Reds got in a pinch.

I just don't understand what Bruce has to do to get a chance at the Bigs. The guy performed well in spring training and he is lighting it up in AAA ball. You would think that a Big League team that has been struggling to score runs and win games would be looking everywhere they can to find a guy that could help them get runners across the plate. I just don't understand what the Reds are doing.
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Pete Mackanin went 29-19 in his first 48 games as the Reds manager last season. He ended up finishing the season with a 41-39 record, but let's not forget that the last month of the season he found himself managing a lot of Minor League players that the organization brought up to evaluate. Its hard to tell what kind of record Pete would have had if he could have played who he wanted. Oh, and the Reds ended up firing Pete Mackanin.

I wonder if Dusty will be on as short of a leash as Pete was last season. The Reds currently have a record of 18-23 in Dusty's first 41 games which puts them dead last in the NL Central.