The past few years of Reds news have been a tale of frustration for both Cincinnati Reds fans and players - especially with the team's relatively quick playoff exits in both 2012 and 2013.
Former Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher and current Arizona Diamondback Bronson Arroyo spent eight years with the team, winning 105 games and helping key a turnaround for the starting rotation.
Speaking with John Fay of Enquirer.com, the always eloquent Arroyo shared his thoughts on the current state of the team, along with the blazing starts to the season for both Joey Votto and Johnny Cueto:
Given the way that team has been built, the same problem has persisted for the last five years. And that problem is always going to be: Can you beat the Grade A pitchers in the game? Can you consistently beat the Grade A pitchers of the game? Can you beat the (Adam) Wainwrights?
They can do it in streaks and at times. But can they do it consistently enough? When you map it onto that division – where the Cardinals have become a perennial team year after year after year – if you get off to a bad start and a team like Milwaukee gets off to a good start, you never know what could happen.
I think it makes a huge difference taking Votto out of the lineup. Joey obviously isn't putting up the power numbers they want him to. His average is down. But his on-base percentage is good.
Johnny Cueto is not a surprise at all. I think over the last three years in the time he's been healthy – you take out his DL time – he's probably top five in the league in ERA. Johnny's always had lights-out stuff. He's gotten better and better over the years.
The problem with him is: Can you stay healthy? Can you do it for 162? Can you pitch 200 innings? Can you do it three years in a row? Do you show people you have the desire to do that?
Be sure to check out the rest of Arroyo's interview with Fay at this link.
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