Will the Real Bronson Arroyo Please Stand Up?

How many old timers are reading this now?  Don’t be embarrassed, just raise that hand. Just as I thought, not too many.

Gather round kids and Uncle Cliffy will tell you a story.

Back in the '60s, there was a TV show called To Tell the Truth, featuring Garry Moore as the host.  The celebrity panelists would attempt to decide which of the three persons (who all claimed to be the same guy) was the correct one.  At the beginning, they would all have the light shined on them and would say, "My name is John Public" (whatever the guy's name was).  After the Q/A period, and the panelists made their selection, Moore would say, "Will the real John Public please stand up?"

With that as a backdrop, I want to ask the question, “Will the real Bronson Arroyo please stand up?”

Bronson Arroyo can be one of the best pitchers in the game one night, then the next start he may give up a world-class number of earned runs and hits (usually in the first inning).

As an example, he currently is the rider of a 16-inning scoreless streak.  In that time frame, he has only given up 10 hits, walked two and struck out 11. This after a 4-0 spanking of the Milwaukee Brewers last night. That, Kiddies is pretty good stuff.

But before we become “Pollyannaish” lets step back a bit

In the 19 games Arroyo has started, the Reds are 10-9. That is right in line with his personal record of 10-8. 

Let’s focus on the three games before this streak started against the Mets in New York.  Arroyo was coming off a three-game losing streak (his longest of the year) where he had been wearing the Mr. Arroyo mask. 

In 14 innings, he had been tagged for 29 hits, 21 runs (16 of them earned), walked nine and struck out only six.

Now as Dr. Bronson you can see how mystical the master can be.

In only one of the starts in which he has lost, did he (Mr. Arroyo) have a “quality” start.  A quality start is a starting pitcher going at least six innings and surrendering less than three runs.  He was beaten like a thirteenth century slave in the others. His ERA in those games is 11.78, freaky eh?

I think Robert Louis Stevenson could have a book-of-the-month award with this one.

We could analyze this to death, but you know what?  I am going to enjoy it while it lasts.

© 2009 Clifton Eastham.  All Rights Reserved.