Chicks Dig the Long Ball

Back in 2006 when the Red Sox expressed interest in the Reds’ Wily Mo Pena, Reds GM Wayne Krivsky insisted that we get a big bat in return. 

The big bat the Red Sox offered in exchange was Bronson Arroyo.

(The Red Sox threw in Arroyo’s gorgeous, wind-blown locks of blond hair free of charge)

Since his arrival in Cincinnati, Arroyo has proved his worth in spades.  He homered in his Cincinnati debut (off Cubbies pitcher Glendon Rusch), then he embarrassed the Hell out of Rusch by homering off him again a week later at Wrigley Field.

Take that, fatty!

Arroyo has had some bad luck on the mound in Cincinnati, due mostly to lack of run support, but who needs run support when your starting pitcher is a beast with the bat?

The Reds had six hits on Thursday night, and two of them were Arroyo’s, including a homer that pushed the Reds’ lead to 2-0 in the 5th inning.  Arroyo is now 595 homers away from joining Ken Griffey, Jr. in the exclusive 600 Club.  Let the countdown begin.

Then the bullpen came in and promptly gave up the lead.  That’s what happens when you take the Bronson Bat out of the lineup, Dusty. 

Fortunately, Junior walked with the bases loaded in the 7th, then Brandon Phillips tripled, clearing the bases and giving the Reds a comfortable 6-2 lead.

And just for the record…

• Bronson Arroyo’s 2008 Batting Average: .192
• He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s 2008 Batting Average: .195