Brian Bruney Interview

MLB.com interviews the newest member of the Washington Nationals. Good read. I like the question: You seem excited to be a National. Why? (Very shocking!)

about 2 years ago Brandon C. 9 comments 0 recs |

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ORLY Brian Bruney?

MLB.com: You went on the disabled list twice this past season because of a flexor muscle strain in your right elbow. How are you doing right now?

Bruney: Awesome. It could have been avoided. It was just one of those deals where there happened to be a home run replay [on April 19] and I had been warming up. I warmed up way too long. The replay, I think, took eight and a half minutes. I’m not blaming the umpires or anything like that. I shut that down and I think I overthrew a little bit. I had some tenderness. I went on one rehab assignment and I tried to come back. I just didn’t give it enough time. I wasn’t really honest with myself about it. Being the competitor that I am, that last thing I wanted was not be on that field helping my team. So I was so eager to get out there.

MLB.com: When you came back, you were wild and were taken off the playoff roster in the first two rounds. Was that because of your elbow or were you not productive?

Bruney: The latter, definitely. When I came back, there were wasn’t any health concerns the rest of the year. … When you are coming off an injury, especially an elbow or shoulder, you are a little reluctant to let it go and trust your body. I knew I was healthy, but when you are out a long time and you are used to feeling something, you kind of baby it. I was tentative with all my pitches. I wasn’t throwing like my normal self. I think that’s what caused my wildness.

I hope the Nats can teach him to have some decisiveness (aka balls).

by Scooby Snacks on Dec 29, 2009 12:58 AM EST reply actions

It sounds like bruney is relieved to be out of NY....

I personally don’t get his explanation…we all love challenges…..but i’d rather win…..

If I’m a Yankee and I found out I’ve been traded to the Nationals my first reaction wouldn’t be thinking about my beard…I can tell ya that much…

Good luck to him and the nationals, hope all goes well

-Announcemen Forwarded To The Following: Boston Blowsox, New York Pets, Philadelphia Phonies, And Any Other Team Who Ain't The With The Empire.................

Getcha' Fuccin Rings Up........

by NYYWinsRings27 on Dec 29, 2009 9:39 AM EST via mobile reply actions

And you would think that such a competitor would want to play for the most competetitive team...

He saying all the right stuff for the Nats but….it’s rubbing me the wrong way…

-Announcemen Forwarded To The Following: Boston Blowsox, New York Pets, Philadelphia Phonies, And Any Other Team Who Ain't The With The Empire.................

Getcha' Fuccin Rings Up........

by NYYWinsRings27 on Dec 29, 2009 9:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

He can’t control being traded, but he can control his reaction to being traded. This trade gives him a shot at testing himself in a vital role (closer) that just isn’t available on the Yankees. For someone trying to be the best he can, that’s huge.

And if you’re completely Yankee-centric, then you can just figure he wants to prove he can close so that in 3-4 years when Mo retires, the Yankees sign HIM back for $15 mil a year lol

by d_c_guy on Dec 29, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Bruney says it's more fun to win when people don't expect you to?

Brian, there is a reason that people don’t expect you to win. It’s because the Nats will NOT win. That’s the bottom line. When this season is over, ask him that same question and see what his response is after the Yanks win #28 and the Nats are in last place.

I hope things go well for him, but I don’t know how he could expect to have more fun playing for the Nationals than the Yankees. If you want to get out of NY, fine. But for the Nationals? I really don’t get it.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 29, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions

Past Performance is no Guarantee of Future Results

Having been around a while, I’ve seen the wheel turn on organizations. When I became a Yankee fan the O’s were the lords of the AL East, and the Yankees were the dregs. It’s kinda different now, but that doesn’t mean that this is the way it’s always going to be.

People didn’t expect the Braves to win, but they became a great organization. The Red Sox lost for decades, but I have to respect the job that they’ve done over the past several years. The Yankees were expected to win all through the 80’s, but after losing the WS in 1981 didn’t do squat. After pissing away a couple of years thanks to a combination of Omar Minaya and Jim Bowden (now THAT’S a murderers row!) the Nats are moving in the right direction. The Phillies are going to own the East next year, and probably the year after that – but the Nats are proving that they are willing to spend on their organization and on their players, and they’ve got a shot.

And if all that makes no impression, I’ll just repeat something I said earlier – look at it as Bruney’s chance to prove he can close so that in 3-4 years when Mo retires, the Yankees sign HIM back for $17 mil a year :-)

by d_c_guy on Dec 29, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions

That was meant as a response to nyyrocks29

Thread management skilz, I lacks dem lol

by d_c_guy on Dec 29, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

I was talking about next year, only

and the Nats aren’t winning next year, at all. Do I think they will win eventually? Yes. Every team has to win eventually (or at least have a winning season. WS are never guaranteed, right Cubs fans?). But Bruney seems to think that they are going to surprise everybody next season and build a “winning franchise” next year. And I personally just don’t see it.

They are moving in the right direction, but they are still years away from becoming even a .500 team, and maybe a decade away of becoming a contender. They need to draft smartly and make smart decisions. If they don’t, they aren’t winning for a while.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 29, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

Fair Enough

I do think the Nats have a shot at respectability next year (.500 or so). Given the last couple of years, that would be HUGE. But as for what Bruney said, I’ll repeat what I said earlier: he can’t control being traded, but he can control his reaction to being traded. Most athletes aren’t going to mope around and think about all the good times they’re going to miss – they’re going to focus on the positive, with a dose of “I’ll show them” in the mix as well. I didn’t read anything he said as slamming the Yanks.

by d_c_guy on Dec 31, 2009 2:21 AM EST up reply actions