Cincinnati Reds need to evaluate Bronson Arroyo using a unique system

Bronson Arroyo shouldn’t be evaluated by the Cincinnati Reds in the same way as the rest of the staff.

Both the Cincinnati Reds and Bronson Arroyo have made no secret of the fact that this is Bronson’s swan song.  At the end of the 2017 season Arroyo plans to hang up his cleats and move his houseboat somewhere quiet.  Because of that plan, the Reds can look at Arroyo’s season in a completely different light.  They almost signed him last year, before getting the deal done this off-season.

Arroyo is a man who doesn’t want to be embarrassed.  That means that he will tell the Reds when it is time for him to be removed from the rotation.  The Reds for their part need to make sure that keeping him in the rotation still makes sense for the rest of the staff.

Right now the Reds have five starting pitchers on the DL, including three on the 60 day DL, meaning they need innings more than anything else.  So far Arroyo has had trouble staying in games long enough to provide a consistent amount of innings.  He has only thrown 15 innings so far this season through three starts.

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The Reds need him to throw innings, to throw pitches and to keep the ball in the park.  If he can average just a touch better than replacement level, he should be a great fit for the Reds.  That would be averaging five innings or more per start, allowing three or fewer earned runs and maintaining a WHIP below 1.40.

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Given his return from exile to the Cincinnati Reds, Bronson Arroyo may not have left what it takes anymore.

Anyone who has seen Arroyo pitch this year has seen the same thing.  He can still throw hard enough and with enough movement to be competitive.  There are two things that are holding him back though.  The batters are too easily squaring up on some of his offerings and Arroyo is tiring too quickly.

The first issue is the bigger issue.  Arroyo hasn’t made it through any line-up twice without surrendering a home run.  That means that the opposition is able to get used to what he is offering.

Almost as alarming is the fact that he is running out of gas as early as the third inning.  Right now Arroyo is spent at pitch number 75.  He may build up more endurance the season wears on, but the Reds need to be aware of this.

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Arroyo may end up in the bullpen after all.  If he can’t extend beyond 75 pitches, the Reds will have better options as pitchers get healthy. The good news is that the early results show Arroyo good enough to be with the Reds all season long in some capacity.