Rock Out With Your Bronson Out

So, I pretty much sat and watched every single Bronson Arroyo commercial (like this one that rules in ways I can't explain) on Youtube for a while and I noticed there's this thing he does at the end where he looks directly into the camera, with some sort of hard core look on his face. I am baffled by this. Anyone?

Also, this kid is awesome.

Braves Sweep, Jones Still Ridiculous

Chipper Jones drove in five runs for the Braves, including a three-run shot for his ninth homer of the season Sunday as the Atlanta Braves finished their sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 14-7 victory to bring them back up to .500 baseball.

The Braves, who nailed a season-high 19 hits, scored seven runs in the second inning and Kelly Johnson went 4-for-6 with three doubles. Three doubles! Furthermore, Mark Kotsay went 3-for-4 with a homer, his second of the year.

Atlanta veteran Tom Glavine couldn’t get his act together for his first victory, giving up seven hits and walking five for six runs in just 4.2 innings.

Bronson Arroyo was roughed up for seven runs on seven hits, and lasted only 1.1 innings. This marks the shortest outing of his career as his ERA sky-rocketed to 8.63.

Someone better call 911, cause Chipper Jones is on fire. The 36-year-old sweet-swinging switch-hitter is batting .425. Holy Smokes! The Braves, on the other hand, aren't faring so well on the road. They're 11-4 at The Ted, but 4-11 away.

That's not as crappy as the Reds, though, who just finished another five-game road losing streak to lose their 12th of 18 road games.

[AJC]

Arroyo Takes Hill For Cincy, Lilly Makes Debut

Aside from swooning the ladies with his guitar-playing skills, Bronson Arroyo will look to continue dominating the Cubs tonight at Great American Ballpark.

After leaving Boston for Cincinnati last March, Arroyo went 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA in five starts against Chicago, including wins in his first two outings as a Reds hurler. Not only did he strike out 26 Cubs in 35.2 innings, he homered in each of his first two games against the club last April.

Arroyo went 14-11 with a 3.29 ERA for Cincinnati in 2006 and led the majors with 240.2 innings pitched as the Reds' lone All-Star. He struck out 184 batters and tied teammate Aaron Harang for the NL lead with 35 starts.

Adam Dunn continues to have success against the Cubs, as well... then again, who doesn't? He's hit 30 homers and driven in 55 runs while batting .279 in 297 plate appearances against Chicago. BUT! Dunn has never faced Ted Lilly, who will make his Chicago debut Wednesday.

Lilly, a 31-year-old lefty who signed a four-year, $40 million contract this winter, posted a career high for wins with the Blue Jays last season, going 15-13 with a 4.31 ERA and 160 strikeouts.

Even with over-priced free agent acquisition Alfonso Soriano and a healthy Derrek Lee in the lineup, the Cubs managed just eight singles and scored their only run on a Cincinnati throwing error Monday.

"We are going to get off to a fast start," claimed Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "Just because you lose the first game doesn't mean ... It's just one ballgame."

Whatever you say, Lou.

Lee went 2-for-3 and Soriano went 1-for-4 with an infield single on Monday. Soriano has struggled in his career against Arroyo, going 1-for-15, striking out 5 times and driving in one run.

[MLB]

Reds Give Arroyo Two-Year Extension

Bronson Arroyo and the Cincinnati Reds agreed Thursday to a $25 million, two-year contract extension through 2010, calling for a $2.5 million signing bonus and an $11 million option for 2011 with a $2 million buyout.

This deal comes just two days after the Reds agreed to a $36.5 million, four-year contract with Aaron Harang, their other top starter. That agreement also includes a 2011 option, guaranteeing some damn good pitching for at least two or three more years.

After the Reds obtained the 30-year-old Bronson from Boston last March in a trade for outfielder Wily Mo Pena, the righty led the majors with 240.2 innings pitched and was 14-11 with a 3.29 ERA.

He and Harang, who won 16 games and pitched 234.1 innings, became the first pair in Reds history to each pitch at least 200 innings and have at least 184 strikeouts, with Harang leading the National League with 216 strikeouts last season.

[Cincinnati Enquirer]