Admissions

OK - so here's a non newsflash, I am a fan of Bronson Arroyo. Anyone who knows me and is reading this is thinking, DUH... Now, the reason I am writing about it today is because I am starting to see a turning of the tide in terms of people's attitudes' toward him.

Brief history - Bronson was picked up by the Sox in the spring of 2003 after he was put on waivers by Pittsburgh. In August 2003 - Bronson pitched a perfect game down in Pawtucket (only the 4th EVER in the International League) - read Bronson's comments about it here. http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/reds/daily/0529redsnotesweb.html

Shortly after that - he was up in Boston all the time, pitching from the 'Pen, and then becoming part of the SR. (Hmmm, sounds a bit like a certain knuckleballer we all know, doesn't it?) His ERA was average - 4.5-ish for his career. The majority of which had been played in the AL.

Now, for as long as I can remember - Bronson has been trade bait. EVERY Boston sports personality suggested him as a potential trade component at one time or another. People were perfectly FINE with trading what they believed to be an AVERAGE pitcher. I can't tell you how many times I heard people say he should be a 'spot-starter' or belonged in the 'pen, or would never be anything better than a 4/5 starter. Even my coworkers had jumped on the trade-train - so much so that I had to hang a sign in my cube prohibitting the discussion of trade rumors.

(And - as a side note - I cannot tell you how many people said he was a bad pitcher because he had a side 'music career'. Hey guys, one CD and a few concerts - does not a career make. Just so you know. That said - I can't even begin to comment on how stupid the 'musician'=bad pitcher thoery truly is... But I digress...)

Anyway, as everyone who pays attention to baseball knows - Bronson signed a 'hometown discount' and was subsequently traded 8 weeks later. Bronson loves Boston, and that is why he took the lower paying contract, to stay here. (Which, I will say again, was a breath of fresh air after Juan da Mon took his overpriced Yankee contract.)

That said - Bronson began scoring brownie points when he signed the discounted contract. He continued to do so when he was traded (as people became pissy that his loyalty wasn't rewarded). Then he acted like a grown up about it - stating he was disappointed but that he knows it is the way of the business - gaining even more likability.

Fast forward to today - Bronson is kicking ASS. Period. He is the ACE of the Cincinnati Reds SR - as opposed to being in the 'pen - which is where he was slated to be at the beginning of the Sox season. (Though - he would have been there about five minutes due to a variety of Sox SR mishaps, David Wells being broken, Matt Clement having... umm, issues?? But I digress - again...) His ERA is one of the best in the NL at 2.58. Now, before I get the flack for this - I realize there is almost always an improvement in stats when jumping from the AL to NL - however, it is hardly EVER this drastic. Check out stats on Pedro, D. Lowe and Clemens, if you don't believe me. **See post on June 13th for MORE NL/AL comparison stats.**


People are starting to question the sensibility if the trade. People are beginning to see that he DID have a place in the Boston rotation. People are beginning to agree that even though we got Wily Mo - who is doing VERY WELL, the Sox gave up a lot - more than people were willing to see/believe - to get him.

So to all of you whose eyes are being opened - welcome to the world I have been in for about two and a half years. I may not be a Theo Epstein or a Craig Shipley - but something about the way he pitches has impressed me from the first time I ever saw him. And he is continuing to live up to MY expectations, which is very validating. Especially when this conversation happens:

Coworker: Hey - Bronson Arroyo - he's on fire.
Me: Damn straight he is...
Coworker: Maybe we can get him back.
Me: Here's hoping...

Well - it's about friggen' time.

Just sayin'...