Chuck Scrabbles gave us a pretty chilling comparison between Bronson Arroyo and Eric Milton. But heckfire, he's 7-9. Just about average, I'd say. Are Arroyo's 2011 numbers just lagging indicators of the worrisome peripherals he's posted for seasons - or are they more the result of bad fly ball luck and a sometimes hardheaded willingness to pitch through injury? I really don't know at all, but the optimist in me thinks that a healthy Bronson Arroyo with a bite in his curve should not be falling of the cliff so suddenly.
It's also an open question as to whether refusing to miss a start is a stubborn, vain attempt to "prove" something, or a practical way to get Bronson back in working order for next year, while saving some bullpen arms. Whatever it is, it doesn't make sense to start Bronson for the sake of starting him, 'cuz that's circular logic. This team has Edinson Volquez, Matt Maloney and Daryl Thompson in the minors and Travis Wood in the bullpen. Regardless of what you think of those dudes - and whether or not most of them are even SPs - this team will be in a world of hurt if it reflexively keeps starting the 2011 Arroyo every fifth day through the end of his contract. Arroyo is Spanish for ditch, so let's hope Bryan Price - and the training staff - can be the Ditch Witch.
Arroyo's Achilles may still be sore, but he's had good outings though pain and sickness before. I'm looking for reasonable improvement and a DC series win for the third year in a row.
LINEUP:
Phillips 2B
Sappelt LF
Votto 1B
Bruce RF
Cairo 3B
Stubbs CF
Hanigan C
Janish SS
Arroyo RHP