View Full Version : Arroyo: Interesting factoid

07-07-2006, 09:35 AM
From http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/tht-dartboard-july-7-2006/ :

14. Cincinnati Reds (Dartboard Factor = 81, 0): If you want to figure out how Bronson Arroyo has been so successful this year, you need to look no further than the number of batters he has hit. After hitting 34 batters over the previous two seasons, Arroyo has yet to plunk a batter this year. And while avoiding hitting batters helps his ERA a bit, more importantly it is an indicator that he has gotten his sweeping curveball under control this season, and that he is spotting it more effectively.

07-07-2006, 11:17 AM
I'm glad somebody was able to find an explanaion for this.

07-07-2006, 11:27 AM
I'll take that explanation. It's a lot better than:

"He's doing well because he's in a new league and eventually the batters will catch on"

I'm not sure that's a valid argument anymore, as hitters hop from league to league so frequently.