GAME IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT]
CHICAGO CUBS (1-0) AT CINCINNATI REDS (0-1)
GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK, 11:35 CDT, TV: ESPN & CSN Chicago
Temperature in the 50's with the wind blowing out.
Glendon Rusch, LHP
2005: 9-8, 4.52
111/53 K/BB, 14 HR in 145 1/3 IP
Ryan Freel, 2B
Felipe Lopez, SS
Ken Griffey, Jr, CF (5/21, 238/320/714, 3 HR)
Rich Aurilia, 1B
Adam Dunn, LF (7/21, 333/333/952, 4 HR, 7K)
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
Austin Kearns, RF
David Ross, C
Bronson Arroyo, P | Bronson Arroyo, RHP
2005: 14-10, 3.52
100/54 K/BB, 22 HR in 205 1/3 IP
Juan Pierre, CF
Todd Walker, 2B
Derrek Lee, 1B
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Jacque Jones, RF
Michael Barrett, C
Matt Murton, CF
Ronny Cedeno, SS
Glendon Rusch, P |
Dunn owns Rusch, and Griffey has hit the Cubs left-hander well too. Rusch usually has a WHIP around 1.50, so he better keep the ball in the park or it's going to be a short day for the lefty.
Arroyo was acquired by the Reds from Boston for OF Wily Mo Pena during Spring Training. He has been the Red Sox rubber-armed swing-man the last couple of years, with a spot start here and a long relief job there, but now he has a chance to be a full-time full-fledged top-of-the-rotation starter on a team that (like his former club) scores a lot of runs.
Arroyo has been more effective against right-handed hitters (228/281/366) than he has been against left-handed hitters (275/338/455) over the past three seasons, but today's Cubs starters are an aggregate lifetime 13-25 with two BB and three K versus Arroyo. Heck, even Glendon Rusch is 2-3 with a BB. Arroyo hit 14 batters last year and surrendered 22 HR in just over 200 IP.
Arroyo mixes a four-seam fastball (cutter) that tops out in the low 90's with four other pitches, including a two-seam fastball (sinker), a slider he likes to use as an "out" pitch against right-handed hitters, and a curve he throws mostly when he is behind in the count. He rarely throws his change-up, because he has difficulty throwing it for strikes. He has a quick move to home plate with runners on base, so it is hard for opponents to steal bases when he is pitching.
In his last start in Spring Training last week, Arroyo shut out the Red Sox on three hits (and seven Ks) over seven innings, so he appears to be ready to go.
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