Brian Bruney arrived on the Yankee scene in 2006, a little pudgy and armed with an upper 90's fastball. He showed flashes of dominance, but could never carry that consistency for very long, partially due to somewhat stifled opportunity, and partially due to arm health.
Pitching exclusively in relief he was 12-3 over the course of his Yankee career averaging a strikeout per inning over that time. There were periods in 2006-2007 that Bruney would really dominate a game or two in a row, but then Torre would forget that he was there, even in jam situations that called for a strikeout.
During my trip to a seemingly lawless Denver in 2007 for the Yankees-Rockies series I ran into Bruney out on the town after one of the ass-kickings the Rockies gave them. He was on his way to meet Scott Proctor for a few drinks and cigarettes. We talked to him for a few minutes and told him that he ought to get more time, more innings.
He had been throwing the ball really well, but Torre was just so dead set on Proctor. Bruney thanked us and then in classic Bruney fashion he agreeably kind of shrugged, with his arms out, as if to say, 'not my call'.
Although rumored in 2006, the man playing the "biker Dad"(pictured below) at the LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE pageant was in fact NOT Brian Bruney.
Bruney came to camp in fantastic condition in 2008. Perhaps buoyed by the new manager, new hope, etc, he had clearly shed a lot of excess weight. Unfortunately his elbow flared up and would never completely go away. He did some rehab work but then came back too early, not letting anyone know until more damage was done that his elbow was still screaming. He looked downright awful in one stretch and heard the boo birds, deservedly so. His arm health issues continued into 2009.
Fortunately for his ups and downs he did have what he called his moment in late September of this 2009 season. It came on September 28 at home against Boston with the Yanks up by a run in the 7th inning. Bruney threw a 1-2-3 7th and registered the first 2 outs of the 8th inning. 5 straight outs. The fact that he was lifted for Phil Coke to face David Ortiz made for perfect timing.
As Bruney exited the field he received a standing ovation from the Yankee crowd. He was very moved by it, and wanted to look up into the stands but he couldn't because he was crying.
"That's my moment in baseball right now," the reliever said. "I've been through a lot all year and the ovation I got was really special."
It was a well deserved ovation, and especially now that he's off to the Nationals, nice that he got to have that individual moment in addition to his World Series ring. Bruney finished the regular season with 44 appearances, going 5-0 with a 3.92 ERA.
Supposedly he has a strong chance at being the closer for the Nationals, like I said for Coke, I wish him well, chances are he won't be facing the Yankees anytime soon.
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