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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > April > 23 > Entry
Arroyo assaulted again
What should the Cincinnati Reds do with Bronson Arroyo - and let’s play nice here…no vulgarities and nothing to do with guns, knives and garrotes.
Take away his guitar? Make him grow corn rows again the way he did a couple of years ago when he went 10 games without a win, vowing to wear the hideous hair-style until he won a game?
Send him back to Boston doesn’t work. They don’t want him. Nor does Pittsburgh.
For the fifth time this year, Arroyo couldn’t make it past 5 2/3 innings. This time he made it through only 3 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs and 10 hits to the Houston Almighty Astros.
His fastball, normally at 91, was at 88 and spun up there with a smile and a message, “Hit me, hit me, hit me.” And the Astros hit them.
Arroyo, a No. 2 on this team and probably a No. 4 or No. 5 on most other teams (we all know Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez are ahead of him) has a 7.56 ERA. Now I’m no pitching coach, but something tells me that isn’t very good.
For the moment manager Dusty Baker is making no noises about moving Arroyo out of the rotation, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Dustman isn’t knocking on new GM Walt Jocketty’s door with his first request: “Homer Bailey, please?”
Arroyo, Baker and pitching coach Dick Pole all are dumbfounded.
“I don’t know how to do it, but I’ll try,” said Baker about putting corn rows in Arroyo’s hair. “They may not look like corn rows.”
That’s OK because Arroyo isn’t looking like a pitcher right now.
“Boy, I know he is going crazy and we’re trying to help him figure it out and right now we don’t have any answers,” said Baker. “He had better location tonight, but he didn’t have the velocity he had before.
“He’s looked at video, tried that, and I asked Dick (Pole), ‘What can we do?’ We’re all a little lost right now,” said Baker. Physical problems? “No, I don’t think so. I hope not. When he gets the ball up and makes a mistake, they’re not missing.”
Said Arroyo, “I can’t figure it out. I feel good physically, great physically. The velocity isn’t there. It’s hard to get the zip on the ball. I’ve watched video and there is nothing to see. I’m just getting beat, man, that’s all there is to it. That’s about all I have to say.”
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By Broadway
April 24, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
I agree with Kyle—it looks like he is “throwing with his shoulder”, or pushing the ball to the plate. I also agree with the Cowboys observation—he isn’t throwing his fast ball enough. Throws too much junk, and not for strikes.They are waiting on his fastball, because his other stuff is mostly out of the strike zone! Locate more fastballs—if you aren’t injured.
By Jack
April 24, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
I do not care if Bronson is hurt or not, put him on the DL and lets see if Baily or Lehr can get it done for a few starts.
By Mr. Baseball
April 24, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
Mr. Baseball is quite chagrined with Bronson’s most recent appearance. Bronson is really the key to the Reds rotation if they are to contend in the division. Here’s why: Harang is obviously the bell cow. He’s a given. He’ll go out and eat innings and keep his team in every ball game he pitches. He’s a genuine #1 starter. The youngsters, Cueto and Volquez, have been doing great, but they’re still youngsters. They will have rough days while they continue to learn at the major league level. If they can produce 25 wins between them, Mr. Baseball would be very happy. The fifth spot, Belisle or Fogg or whomever, is still shaky. That’s why Arroyo has to step up and be a solid #2 pitcher. The Reds need a solid veteran presence along with Harang if they are going to contend. Harang and four young pitchers won’t cut it. If Arroyo performs well, it allows the Reds to be a bit more patient with Belisle’s flounderings. (Keep in mind Belisle is only 27, an age when many pitchers are just coming into their own in the majors.) Arroyo doesn’t have to win every game, but he has to win at least 10-12 games and give the Reds a chance to win half the games that he starts and gets no decision. Last year’s performance, while not stellar, might be good enough this year, if the Cueto-Volquez combo continues to do well. Also, as Arroyo does well, he gives the two youngsters time to grow up and lets Dusty be a little patient with Belisle. If Arroyo doesn’t perform, then it puts more pressure on the youngsters to win now (which will eventually hurt their performance) and forces the Reds to push the panic button on Belisle. It doesn’t allow Dusty to be patient with the pitching which is the key in the long run. On the subject of bringing Bailey up now, there are some points that need to be considered: 1) The Reds are pushing the envelope now with two youngsters in the rotation; it would be a lot to ask us to contend with three; Mr. Baseball would be more inclined to bring up Bailey to replace either Volquez or Cueto if they falter (in other words, replace one youngster with another), but that doesn’t look likely; 2) Bailey had a chance last year and the mixed results he produced showed he wasn’t quite ready; If the Reds bring Bailey up now and he fails again, then what? 3) It was a foregone conclusion Bailey would make the team in the spring, but again he didn’t perform and Volquez and Cueto were clearly better. 4) The key reason why Bailey performs so well in the minors but struggles in the majors is because he does not yet have good command of his dominating stuff. Major league are disciplined enough to make him throw strikes, so what does he have to do? He needs to show a consistent string of starts where he limits his walks and keeps his pitch count down. Reds fans can track Bailey’s progress to the big leagues not by watching his ERA but his walk totals. Mr. Baseball believes that all these points factor in to the Reds’ decision to leave him in the minors for now. Let him develop and make sure he’s ready when he comes up. Meanwhile, we have to get Bronson straightened out. By the way, Arroyo’s velocity is down, usually a sign of a tired arm and, if past history is any indication, possibly a prelude to a trip to the DL. If that happens,bringing up Bailey is a possibility. But don’t be surprised if the Reds bypass Homer to bring up a less bally-hooed prospect.
By Chad
April 24, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
I really wonder if he is hurt or is this just his normal pitching? If the latter then the Reds sure made a bad contract deal as they are now stuck with him. I hate saying it but I don’t think he is hurt as he has been playing this way for far to long.
By John in Trotwood
April 24, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
I think there really is something wrong physically with Bronson. He should be checked from head to toe by Dr. K
By Jeff
April 24, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Yeah good call. (sarcasm) Blanton is 1-4 with a 4.32 era. Arroyo is one of the reasons Krivsky was fired. Other than the first half of the forst year he has been really bad. I think he started like 8 or 9 and 0 and now look at him. The league figured him out. Last nite he toped out at 88 MPH and most of the time he was about 84-85. Seriously that is Division 1 high school pitching. Now the reds are stuck in his contract they can’t even trade him. I would place him on the DL because I think he has dead arm
By James Humphrey, Jr.
April 24, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
He’s weak; he’s got spindly arms. Stick him on CrossFit.
By James Humphrey, Jr.
April 24, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
He’s weak; he’s got spindly arms. Stick him on CrossFit.
By We're together again
April 24, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
So if we can’t send him down to the minors because he makes too much money, and JTM can’t afford for him not to be a red, how about we strongarm JTM into paying a portion of his salary this year.
By Pete
April 24, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Maybe the Reds should’ve gone out & gotten Joe Blanton during the off season. Man, the Cincy & Dayton media hyped the crap outa him. Go take a look @ how he’s workin’ out for the A’s so far this year. Boy, that could’ve been ANOTHER super pick up by the Reds. Oh by the way, he is leading the A’s in innings pitched.
By Ron
April 24, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
Actually, Arroyo did not pitch so well the full first year. He started out 9-0 then finished the season 14-11. Last year, and so far this year, he is terrible. Sounds to me like he really hasn’t lost much. He just isn’t that good.
By ROGER DOTY
April 24, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
ONE OF THE REASONS THE RED SOX LET HIM GO, THEY DID’NT THINK HE WAS DURABLE ENOUGH. LOOK AT HIM—HE LOOKS ANEMICK—ALMOST SKIN AND BONES.
By Richard
April 24, 2008 7:10 AM | Link to this
He pitched excellent the first year with the Reds and then they give him the big money and he hasn’t preformed worth a crap since.He needs to either play baseball or do JTM commercials. He can’t seemed to do both.If his JTM commercials are any sign of how he sings, well his singing sucks too. He might want to go to school and learn a trade, like tool making or plumbing. They are both in demand.
By Kyle
April 23, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
Last Friday I attended the game with a friend of mine who pitched in college. He kept saying that Bronson looked hurt. Something about his shoulder at release that looked like he was shoving the ball up there. What do you want to bet that he lands of the DL with the mystery elbow issue that everyone that Dusty wants to disappear seems to be coming down with, and Homer gets a call up?
By Jim M.
April 23, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
not trying to bash Bronson, just wanting him to get his pitching problems fixed..
By Jim M.
April 23, 2008 11:00 PM | Link to this
Maybe he should stop partying in Mt. Adams on all the other nights he isn’t pitching!!!! And Focus on fixing his pitching problems not his loneliness in his favorite hangouts!!!!!! just trying to help!