February 21, 2006
Talkin' Baseball with Bronson Arroyo
By Jon Chattman
Editor's Note: Here are some excerpts from a great interview with Bronson Arroyo sent to us by the author, Jon Chattman of Cheappop.com, an entertainment and humor site featuring celebrity interviews. Chattman tells us he interviewed the famously corn-rowed, Arod-irritating Red Sox pitcher by phone last Friday.
Arroyo on Theo's absence when the Sox ship seemed rudderless...
"JC: Was it a little dicey before Theo came back? There was a time where the team, after trading Edgar Renteria and losing Damon, had a bunch of holes and everything seemed up in the air. Did you know the team was going to land on its feet?
BA: No, doubt about it. I think everybody was worried. If you're a Red Sox player or fan you had to be a little worried. Theo was leading the organization, which is a big part of what makes this thing go. For him to leave and then to see guys like Renteria and Johnny both leave, which both seemed like moves that really didn't make much sense at the time, I was definitely worried. Having the guys that we're bringing in now, you just hope everything gels together, like it did the last two or three years. It's hard to find something that clicks the way it did for us in 2004."
On Manny being Manny...
"[With] Manny, what you see in the media is his true personality. He's very proud and he's very happy-go-lucky. He seems to not know what's going on all the time. Internally, he's more aware of a lot of things than he leads on to, but he definitely does some things that are bizarre and don't make sense, and he doesn't talk to the media much so he never justifies himself which leads everyone else to make their own assumptions."
On facing his old friend, Johnny Damon, in a Yankee uniform..."We were just talking to each other a little bit and he said, "Bronson hey, just make sure you don't hit me this year, you're always hitting somebody. Hit Jeter, hit somebody else besides me."
To read the full text of the interview, check out thecheappop.com, and thanks to Jon Chattman for sharing with the fans at Yankeessuck.com
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How cute, The Hamburglar popping off on the internet! Just one more distraction to submarine his season. As a fringe pitcher with borderline MLB talent he should be concentrating on baseball instead of chicks, beer, and bad garage band BS. My guess is that he A)Get's shelled and sent to AAA. B)Goes back to the bullpen, or C)decides to pursue his music "career" instead of baseball.
Oh? Like Cardinals players don't do interviews? This is just an interview for a website. What's different than Pujols being interviewed by ESPN.com? Nothing.
He's probably going to the bullpen, which is where I prefer him to be since Beckett, Schilling, Wells, Clement, Wakefield and Papelbon are parts of the deepest starting rotation in MLB. It's probably the best rotation in MLB as well, considering how deep it is and none of the players are mediocre.
Clement will be back and ready to go. He changed his way of pitching because the way he finished left him vulnerable (See: Tampa Bay game where he got hit witha linedrive in the head). I'm confident he can bounce back. Beckett, if healthy (Which he should by the way since all of his injuries WERE BLISTERS, don't give me injury prone BS), can be the ace of this staff. Schilling has lost weight because he can actually walk and run this year. Wells, if he stats in Boston, will be key, because he is a big game pitcher. Wakefield is old, but he can still do well on the mound, and even in the clubhouse. Papelbon is young, and could even be better than Schilling.
Plus, lefty Lester is coming along nicely, and could be in the Sox rotation by 2007.
Hey Joe, Wake is the very definition of mediocrity. Please take a ritalin and chill. Career record: Mediocre. Career ERA: Mediocre. Career Sense of Badassness: Mediocre, Bottom Line: Wake is no Charlie Hough and definately no Phil Niekro. If The Hamburglar can't beat Wake out of a job then he is a joke. Period!
Why tear up Wake? The guy is increadable. I'm not saying he is a All-Star or a HOF-er, but I mean c'mon, he's a #3,4 or 5 starter. He'll be following hard throwers like Schill, Beckett, and maybe Papand bring in that knuckle ball which is awsome. And even batters admit when they hit the knuck, it's pretty much all luck. The guy will win 10+ games this year, and that's exactly what you want out of a #3,4,5 pitcher. If Wells stays (wich he prob. won't), 10+ W's is amazing for a 4 or 5 starter. We could move Wake to the bullpen where he would ABSOLUTLY domminate, but why? He will do just as good in the rotation. The only reason Arroyo wouldn't make is, is because out rotation is soooo nasty, we can't fit them all. Unless we want a 7 guy rotation, but I'd rather stick with the traditional 5. Just picture this, say Wells stays, we will even go as far as saying Clemens comes back, how does this sound-
Schilling, Clemens, Beckett, Wells, Wake, Pap, and Arroyo. AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THE PROSPECTS WILL DO YET!! We got all the starting pitching in the world, and Wakefield only helps it.
I think the possibillity is there, but nothing is a lock.
1. Schilling- Will he be the '04 or '05 variety? how can you know?
2. Clemens?- Dream on! If you meant Clement, he is also a crap shoot. Will he be the guy who started out for the Sox with such promise? Or the guy who was innefective when needed most?
3.Becket- A lot of ifs here. If he can stay healthy, and if he can handle Boston- big difference from Florida.
4.Wells- LOL! Sure he was a big game pitcher, but he can be more of a distraction. Also, he's old and fat- without the work ethic of a Clemens or Johnson.
5.Wake- Can be great against the Yankees, but the Sox only play the Yankees 19 times- and Wake won't start them all.
6. Papelbon- (hope the spelling is right)- who knows?
7. Arroyo _ I don't see how this guy makes you feel warm all over.
"We got all the starting pitching in the world..."
Do you really?
The Yankees are full of question marks regarding their pitching, I don't know how you think the Sox are such a lock?
"Papelbon - Who knows?"
Im not hoping he's going to be good. I KNOW he's going to be good. I dont know about all our other pitcher's though. Im concerned with Beckett, comparing his Home ERA vs his Away ERA last season, and the fact that Fenway is a hitter's park...
Also, Francona has said he's thinking about putting Wakefield between Schilling and Beckett to throw hitters off.
1. Schilling
2. Wakefield
3. Beckett
4. ?? [Papelbon I hope]
5. ?? [Wells, unless he's traded, then it's Clement.]
How do you KNOW Papelbon will be good? IF it's because he has good stuff, that doesn't always translate to success. Then there's the fact that major league hitters will get to know him- how will he adjust? Look, I think you have reason to be hopeful, but he is no sure thing.
We'll see.
Rumor has it the Nationals, after losing Brian Lawrence to a torn labrum, are after Clement or Bronson Arroyo in exchange for a package that could include 1B Nick Johnson or OF Ryan Church...
Pap proved himself twice last year. First time was with his 3-1 record and 2.65 ERA at the end of the season. The times he started he did very well but Terry only let him stay in till the 4th or 5th. Second time was in the playoff when he was in a bases loaded jam and got out of it.
Now let me break it down to you this way.
Schilling- Back in great shape, and throwing just as hard as he ever has. He has said he expects to get at least 20 wins this year, and pitch over 200 innings. He says his age has nothing to do with it, he was able to work out this off season, something he hasn't been able to do in a while. His work ethic is compared to Roger Clemens. Schill is back, a question mark yes, but I think a small one.
Beckett- Healthy, ya if he can just calm down his throwing shou--, I mean his right elb--, no wait, it's his blisters. Heaven forbid he pops another one and misses a start. Predict 15-20+ games won for him.
Wake- Yankees killer, and can also can pitch against other teams quite well. He is not a worriment at all. What can you worry about with him? I already said he will win 10+ games as a 3,4,5 guy.
Clemens- I said so myself, IN MY DREAMS. But I AM still dreaming.
Clement- He's a good pitcher. Don't forget, everyone campares him to his last year's downfall. But last year he had to take on the role of the ACE. This year he takes on the role of 1.) trying to make this awsome pitching rotation, and 2.) TRYING to fit in the #4 or #5 slots!! Big difference than the #1 or #2.
Wells- I think he is gone, so I don't have much to say. If we keep him, we are even stronger, if we don't, we will get someone to make us stronger.
Papelbon- I already said what I had to say. They are comparing this guy to Roger Clemens already, and predicted him to win the AL ROY. Why not? He has a good curve, a good change, and throws 95-97 MPH. He hits his spots, and the Red Sox have been careful about bring him up to early or to late. They slowing worked him in last year, and gave him a taste of playoff baseball. The guy is ready, and I personally hope he will MAKE this rotation. Then again we do have all the pitching in the world, so we will have to find out.
Arroyo- 14 wins last year. And he will probably be the #5 guy or in the bullpen. That curveball is INCREDABLE. Probably top three, with Barry Zito's curve obviously being #1. Plus Bronson can throw 91, he is a good pitcher. He showed us he can start AND come out of the pen.
I know Francona wants Wake to pitch in between Schill and Becket, but Beckett I think is a great #2 guy. Put Wake between hard throwing Beckett and harder throwing Pap.
(Assuming Wells and Clemens are not on this team)
1. Schill
2. Beckett
3. Wakefield
4. Papelbon
5. Clement
(With Wells)
1. Schilling
2. Beckett
3. Wells
4. Wakefield
5. Clement, but I rather have Pap.
(With Clemens and Wells)
1. Schill
2. Clemens
3. Beckett
4. Wells
5. I don't even know, I think the first 4 is enough, anyone else would just be mean.
Bullpen-
-Timlin, can save Foulke (no pun intended) if Foulke has anoth '05 season again)
-Riske, Good middle relief
-Arroyo/Pap/Wake, they are all starting pitcher, and all three have proved they can relieve quite well, so no wprryment with them.
-DiNardo, Lefty specialist
-Seanez, hopeing for another '05 not '03, '05 is much closer, where he dominated
-Tavarez, still don't like the guy, but he is good.
-Foulke, he has his velocity back, is a head case, but you know what, if he wins 30+ games I'll forgive him.
Papelbon is also being taught the splitter by Schilling...
Dont know about Arroyo's curve being #3 >.>
It's nasty man, if anything top 5 I would say.
A "taste" is not enought to call Papelbon a lock, sorry. He may be great, he may not. A lot of guys came up with great stuff that didn't translate to winning. As for all the rest, I have stated many question marks above. You can spin it all you want, but the Sox rotation is FAR from a sure thing. I am saying the same thing about the Yankees- A lot of question marks with their pitching. The only lock with the Yankees is that they will score a ton of runs. The Red Sox may have dropped a bit in regards to their offense. Or maybe their new additions will be lights out, more question marks.
"I have stated many question marks above. You can spin it all you want..."
The 'question marks' you stated are still spinning. Schilling, he might not be the '04 version, but it sure won't be the '05. Let's make it the '06 Schilling, the Red Sox ace. Beckett, BLISTERS, 'nuff said. Wakefield, where are there any questions? Clement, DOMINATE 4-5 starter. I mean when you ask someone who is your 4-5 starter, and you say Matt Clement? Yeah, I'm excited for the '06 season. Wells, don't care anymore, he is here or he is not. Clemens, still dreaming. Pap, I don't know how else to put it. Soriano was the Yankees top prospect and proved himself. Papelbon is the Sox, or was the Sox, top prospect, and has proved himself. I mean when you are a rookie, and compeating with guys like Clement, Wakefield, and Arroyo, maybe even having an effect on what the team does with Wells, it says something. Arroyo, where ever they put him, start, 'pen, he has, and will do well.
You have to put into consideration where these guys will be starting into the rotation. You ragg on Arroyo and Wake and Clement, but they are #4-5 starters maybe #3. Most teams they are top 3 (well, some teams). And Papelbon is the real deal. I know talent, and that is talent. (You are making me want to become a die-hard Big Pap fan I am supporting this guy so much)
The Sox have sound defense, and sound pitching. It's a giving. It's not just in names. Every member (if they are healthy, but that goes for any player) of that staff will win 10+ games. Write that down.
And I am even more excited with the offence. We have contact hitters, power hitters, I can't wait, spee--, I'll get back to you on that one. Sox have lead the league in runs, what, 3 years in a row? Why not a third? My only TRUE question mark: is not Loretta, or Lowell. They are truely sound hitters, there will be no problem with them. It's not Coco, we aren't looking for a guy to replace Johnny Damon from him, we are looking for a lead-off man from him, and he will do fine. He is young and will learn, quite well and quickly might I add, how to become a dominate lead-off hitter. The only question in the line up is the #9 batter, Gonzalez, he can....um....field.
A-Gonz can't field, actually. He's virtually useless, the only good thing about him is that he might adapt to Fenway.
About Papelbon - Sonshine, why are you ragging on Jonathon? He pitched 34 innings last year and ranked up 34 K's... He pitched a 5 hitter against the Angels (in Anaheim) and in two innings against the Yankees, he gave up one HIT and racked up three K's... I'm sorry, where was Chien-Ming Wang last year?
You also can't bring up "question marks" while supporting the Yankees. You want to talk distractions? Compare Manny wanting to leave to Gary attacking his team. Compare the fact that Curt Schilling sucked because of injuries, to the fact that Randy Johnson just couldn't get it done in the AL East. Johnson's ERA last year was 3.79 and he gave up the most homers in his career... 32
How about Mike Mussina? Want to go there..?
Shawn Chacon, you think you have a case there...?
Carl Pavano? Did they clear him to play yet?
Jaret Wright? Nice, how many comebackers is he fielding with his face this year?
While I agree with you when you say 'nothing is a lock' AND I agree with how you say the Sox have nothing but question marks in the rotation, I think you should be worrying about your own team (who is far worse off on the mound) than Sloan's.
Cheers,
Jack Jablin
Jack,
Did you not read ALL of what I wrote? I said as much about the Yankees starters- Question marks!
And exacly how was I "ragging" on Papelbon? Is it in this statement:?
How do you KNOW Papelbon will be good? IF it's because he has good stuff, that doesn't always translate to success. Then there's the fact that major league hitters will get to know him- how will he adjust? Look, I think you have reason to be hopeful, but he is no sure thing.
Man, I was real harsh!
Shawn Chacon-are you kidding me? What more could he have done for the Yankees last year? If not for him and Small, the Yankees would not have made the playoffs.
Carl Pavano- Seems like a gutless wonder to me. I hope he proves me wrong.
Jaret Wright- He may be another NY bust that just does well in smaller markets.
Chien-Ming Wang did an outstanding job last year-before and after returning from injury.
Mike Mussina- Is a solid starter who may be on the decline.
As far as Johnson goes, he won 17 games in an off year, he is a proven winner. I know he had that bad postseason game last year, but he pitched pretty well in relief didn't he? You give Schilling an injury pass, yet Johnson gets nothing for pitching through the pain of no cartilage in his knee. I will have my money on Johnson this year.
Yes, you did say that the Yankees starters were question marks - congratulations you have recall of your own comments.
What I said was "I think you should be worrying about your own team (who is far worse off on the mound) than Sloan's."
If that was harsh, then yes, your Papelbon commentary was as well.
As far as Randy goes, he won 17 games because he had a great OFFENSE, not because he pitched well... The Yankees did get swept by the Royals, you know.. Oh and Randy also got a loss to mah boys, the Brew Crew.
You can bank on Randy Johnson, in practice drafts I have as well. But until you join the fantasy league and draft him (cheap pop, I know) then you can't really say he's going to be great.
You know me, Sonny. I'm not trying to take shots, here. I'm just pointing out small hypocracisms. If I'm wrong, then alright, I apologize.
Cheers,
Jack Jablin
Jack,
What you said was:
"You also can't bring up "question marks" while supporting the Yankees."
It is my contention that while I do support the Yankees, I have no pipe dreams of them having a can't-lose starting rotation. It was in that same vein that I was pointing out to Sloan that the Sox were also with a questionable starting staff. He made it sound as though they (Red Sox starters) are can't miss, and nothing is farther from the truth.
I'll tell you what:
I believe that Johnson will have a better year than Schilling this year. Of course, it's just what I think, your results may vary. You can base it on wins, strikeouts or ERA, it won't matter. Would you care to make a friendly wager? Schilling does have the age advantage, after all.
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