May 19, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) is congratulated by bench coach Chris Speier (35) after hitting home run in the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Whatever you want to call him, this is the Bruce we love to see come to the plate. More confident, keener eye, and above all run producer.

In this hitting streak Bruce is showing a slash line of .400/.417/.889/1.306. This includes 18 H, 5 HR, 7 2B and 14 RBI. Oh, and only 10 strikeouts, which as you can clearly see is less than one per game. Although he still leads the league in whiffs, it is attributable to his 48 in the first 33 games.

His 16 doubles leads the National League after the first quarter of the 2013 season. His season batting average is now a respectable .284. During his recent ride on the roller coaster, Bruce has failed to drive in a run only twice in the 11 games. In four of them he has driven in at least two runs, and has had multiple hits in six.

If you have watched the Reds for the past few years, you know that this metamorphosis is not uncommon at all. It will occur two or three times a year, and when it does he usually wins MLB awards: player of the month, week, etc. We have learned, yet not accepted the fact that we must take the bad rides with the good.

The team is also winning while he is performing in his potent mode. In the current hitting streak the Reds are 8-3 which is roughly 73 percent. I’ll take that anytime!

In games when he gets at least one hit, the Reds are 24-11. When he is hitless the team has won only three games thus far. On Bruce’s multi-hit games they have a record of 12-3. I am not saying that “so goes Bruce, so go the Reds.” But the win column sure seems to move in an upward trajectory while he is Jekyll and not Jay Hyde.

Bruce had a similar 11-game streak going in May of 2012. On those games he batted .415 with 7 HR and 14 RBI. In 2011 he had a terrific 14-game run (not a hitting streak) where he batted .417 with 9 HR and 22 batted in.

As a Reds’ fan all you can do is enjoy it when it comes, because when she ends, she ends suddenly. God bless Jay Bruce and God bless the Cincinnati Reds.

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May 25, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Masset (40) during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Reds 5-4 in 19 innings. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

When was the last time you have received a serious update concerning the condition of the Reds’ reliever? The man has not thrown a pitch in a baseball game since September 27, 2011. Probably has a little ring rust.

In my prognostications for the 2013 Reds, I wrote that I didn’t feel Masset would pitch at all this season. I will go a step further now and predict that Nick will never throw a baseball in a MLB game for the Cincinnati Reds again, like never.

Are you saying that you think Masset is no good Cliff? No, I didn’t say that, read carefully.

He has been hurt, rested, re-hurt, 15-day DL’d and now 60-day DL’d. Let’s look at the facts.

From 2009 until 2011 nobody in MLB pitched in more games than did Masset. Chicago Cubs’ former closer, Carlos Marmol tied him with 231 to lead the free world. That averages 77 games per season. Good on ya’ Nicholas.

As a setup man he was excellent, as a closer, not so good. In fact, in save opportunities he is 4-18 in his 6-year MLB career. That is not good and yes, you may quote me on that. I submit to you that 22.2 percent is not much good in anything when the goal is 100. Failing four times out of five will not cut the mustard for any hotdog.

The Reds are currently blessed with an excellent bullpen. Having probably the best season of any bullpen member, Sam LeCure can be used for long work, a few innings or to setup a closer. He could even be used as a spot starter if the need would arise. Other than the best season part, the same could be said of Alfredo Simon. J.J. Hoover can give you several good innings and is capable of saving a game, even bailing out the closer, ask Aroldis Chapman. Sorry Chappy, it had to be said, even if I still think you are one of the best two closers in the National League.

Sean Marshall and Jonathan Broxton are both extraordinary setup men and again, both have saved games before. What do I say about Logan Ondrusek? Moving on.

Where would you put Masset if he suddenly healed-up? Right, no place. Nowhere to go, no saves to blow. At best, if he makes a return, the Reds could use him for fodder to fill the cannon of a deal to land a good hitting shortstop.

Here is Nick’s career numbers:

Statistics from Baseball-Reference.com

If you happen to see Nick, tell him to phone home.

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March 5, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake (44) throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The 25-year old may not have twirled a gem, but he did throw his third quality start of the season, as the Reds blanked the Miami Marlins 4-0 powered by two homers by Shin-Soo Choo. He needed help from Sean Marshall getting out of trouble in the seventh. The two pitchers were joined by Sam LeCure and Aroldis Chapman in throwing an 11-hit shutout at the Miami Marlins. It was the fourth shutout for the Reds pitchers this season.

The 11 hits in a shutout is three shy of the record for a nine inning game. The Cleveland Indians got 14 hits while being white-washed in 1928 by the Washington Senators.

Leake (3-2) picked up the win and lowered his ERA to 3.72, trimming that statistic by over half a run. All Reds’ starters have ERA’s under 4 which is incredible these days.

Cueto is expected to start Monday against the New York Mets. His start inconveniently is on the same day that Leake would be starting, if everything had gone according to Hoyle (that is an old saying, so if you haven’t heard it, forgive me but I like it).

ESPN scheduling shows that Mat Latos is penciled to start the second game in the series in New York. At this juncture it is difficult reading minds, so we are left to wonder if Leake is getting bumped by southpaw Tony Cingrani, will miss a start or pitch on a couple days extra rest. It would be unlikely, in the opinion of this writer that Leake would be sent to Louisville.

Since his rookie season Leake has started a total of 86 games. The Reds record in games in which he started is 48 up and 38 down. Of those 86 games, 51 of them have been quality starts. That is 59.3 percent which is not too shabby. Those 51 quality starts rank him 23rd in the National League. Teammates Mat Latos is 9th in the league with 65, Cueto is 12th with 61, and Bronson Arroyo is 13th with 60. Homer Bailey falls behind Leake in 30th place with 47.

More impressive is the fact that he has more QS than Adam Wainwright, Jordan Zimmermann, Kyle Lohse, Chris Carpenter, Barry Zito and Jake Westbrook, among many others.

In those quality starts his overall record is 27-7 with a very trim ERA of 2.18.

At this stage of Cingrani’s career it would be disingenuous for the Reds’ management to choose him over the more experienced Leake who has been tried by fire.

Agree or disagree? Talk to me.

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