Bronson Arroyo

[Edwards Kings]

I have this year five starters I am satisfied with as in I think they will pretty much be in my line-up each week (Kazmir, Vazquez, Danks, Wandy, and Sonnanstine). I am trolling the waiver-wires for some additional help as my sixth starter is Bronson Arroyo.



Last year I had him in one of my leagues and was one of the few who stuck with him after his last carpel tunnel episode (that we are aware of). When he rebounded, he rebounded well. In the fifteen starts (nine at Great American) after his 1.0 IP, 10 ER debacle in TOR on June 24th and before his last two starts of the year, he was 11-3 with 68 K's in 100 IP with a better than 2:1 K-BB ratio, a 2.88 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Few were better. So I thought he was worth a gamble (21st Round). Then his "guitar" playing causes another bout of carpal tunnel. Nice.



I did not use Arroyo in Week 1, going instead with an extra reliever, but even though he was tagged, he did make it though six innings, so I took that as a good sign he may be coming out of the injury. I have already been unlucky with wins so far this year (four of my five starters pitched will, but I ended up with only one win), so I decided to take a chance on him this week in Milwaukee.



I have always said it better to be lucky than good. And Arroyo’s start was mainly good, but with some luck sprinkled in. He did walk four including the LO hitter to start the game on his only four straight (Counsell), but Hart GDP to wipe that one out. Lucky. He also walked Kendall in the seventh which was the last batter he faced, but the relief pitcher got Weeks to GDP, so mark that as luck, not skill. The other two walks were to Hart.



The good news is he stayed out of big innings facing more than four batters only once and the minimum twice. The third was his roughest inning, facing six batters, but that was aided by Encarnacion’s throwing error on the first batter (nice since I also have Encarnacion). Good news as well is he went full-count on only three of the 27 batters he faced in 6.1 IP, and two of those were Parra and Counsell.



Against the meat of the Brewer order (Hart, Braun, Fielder, Hardy and Cameron), Arroyo held them to 3-13, but with two walks and two extra-base hits including Hardy’s HR, the only ER given up by Arroyo. Hardy gave him trouble as even his two outs were fly-balls including one deep out. So against the meat, he was OK keeping himself out of deep trouble.



Of Arroyo’s three K’s, two came in the fifth against Parra and Counsell, and the other was against Hall. Not exactly dominating stuff, but Arroyo basically pitched well averaging only about four pitches per batter. He wasn't exactly nibbling either as too many pitches were right down Main Street. He left after 104 pitches with 57 in the strike zone.



Milwaukee helped as while the Brewers were not swinging at the stuff outside the strikezone, they were not necessary getting good wood on too much either. Of the only four hits the Brewers managed, three were flyballs/linedrives and only five of the outs were flyball outs. Most of the balls in play were on the ground, which is good for Arroyo.



Still, Arroyo was not at his best, but it looks like he might be coming out of the carpal tunnel. He is a two start pitcher next week versus Hampton in Houston and Atlanta at Great American. Decision time!

[DOUGHBOYS]

Originally posted by Edwards Kings:

but it looks like he might be coming out of the carpal tunnel.Hopefully when he comes out, he'll get his cell reception back.