Bats Game 7/17/07

Last night I went out to the Bats game to catch Homer's start and also see Jay Bruce in action for the first time. Watched Homers bullpen session and you could tell that he was going to have a good breaking ball, and that was the case.

Homers first 3 innings were rocky. He walked the lead off batter in the first 2 innings and also had a couple rockets hit off him deep into the outfield that were run down by Bruce and Dickerson. He was really struggling with his command and was throwing his fastball 87-91 mph and his curve 73-74 mph.

When the fourth came around he really seemed to hit his stride throwing his fastball on the corner at 93-95 consistently and throwing his curve at 73-74 range with really good bite. He never really was comfortable throwing the change and he probably only threw 2 or 3 for strikes all night.

In the 6th the wheels fell off. He walked the lead off batter, and then made an errant pickoff attempt. The next batter he fell behind on, and then Machado botched an easy groundball to 2nd. The next hitter hit a 3 run shot into deep right field. Homer then gave up 2 more hits before giving way to Brad Salmon, who did not record an out, allowing both of Homers runner to score and leaving 2 of his own on base.

After Salmon exited Bill Bray came on to pitch. He didn't pitch great but his fastball was at 91-91 consistently and he had a good curve and a really good change.

Also had a chance to see Medlock work and he did not have it working. He left a lot of fastballs over the plate, throwing 90-91, and hung a couple of curves. This is the 2nd time I've seen him in person. Even though he didn't throw well last night, he has a really nice breaking ball and think with some time in Louisville could be a solid middle relief option.

Finally on the offensive side of things. They were facing J. Seo, who has had success at the major league level.

Bruce looked outstanding at the plate, no need for him to go back to AA. He looked comfortable in every at bat. He hit a triple off the center field wall 405 feet away. He also hit a ball about 370 feet into the left field gap that would have been gone had the wind not been blowing in some last night. In the field he showed his rocket arm with a line drive thaw to the plate from center holding a runner at 3rd. I know 1 game is a very small sample size but I believe Bruce could come up to the Show right now and hit. Hess just a ballplayer and you can tell with the way he carries himself on the field.

Votto did not look comfortable in the box at all last night. He was hitting everything out on his front foot and his one hit of the night came on a broken bat bloop to right field. Although Seo was making most of the Bats hitters look bad all night.    

Finally, Janish is the really deal at shortstop making 2 incredible plays and showing a rocket arm on a really throw to 3rd to cut down a runner.