Part 2 of the Eulogizing
Okay so as I promised, I will do part 2 of my Arroyo tribute. And to all you Arroyo haters out there, I know there's some, I ask for you to shut it. I liked Bronson for Bronson...not for what he could be or what people think he is. Was he overrated in some aspects? Hell yeah. He wasn't to be a Hall of Famer by any stretch of the imagination. He wasn't an ace or a number 2 guy. He was a 3-4 dude who was a walking talking contradiction. Bronson was my boy. I supported him with a fierce loyalty and defense, though I was the first to call him out on his stupidity whether it be bonin' the college hotties, music stuff(I'm going to pretend I never bought that Covering the Bases album...he's a good singer but still...no), bad outings, and the like. Yeah I had a celebrity crush on him, fuck I still do, but dude, you can't let that shit interfere with your baseball fandom by any means.
Anyways, as I said before Bronson is 1 of 25. That is something nobody can ever take away from him. Everybody on that team has played a part in the World Series winnings, and while Bronson wasn't one of the main players, he did his job and did it well. Well except Game 3 of teh ALCS. That was a nightmare and a half. Anyways, there's gonna be many-a-Bronson moments that we'll never forget. Well obviously in some aspects. I swear I'll shut up after this with my eulogizing, I'm just being a dork right now lol.
Just some moments I liked of Bronson's on teh field.
*July 9, 2004 vs Rangers. I was at this game with my friend. Bronson was friggin at his best. He was mystifying those Rangers and had one of his best games ever. 8 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, HBP, 7 K. This was when I started to crush on Bronson a little bit, but regardless, he was something special on that mound that night. Had it not been for my friend jinxing him in the 7th when she goes "yeah he only gave up 2 hits and they were in the first inning" he would've had a 2-hitter. Grrrr. But seriously, that was a fantastic outing from him
*Game 3 of the ALDS 2004 vs Angels. Everybody forgets about this game sometimes. I felt like a proud parent when Bronson left the game in the 7th inning, it's really indescribable of a feeling, but here was a guy I was watching, cheering, a guy I took an extreme interest in as a player and he was showing the world what he could do, showing them the Bronson I knew. He was awesome in that game and would've gotten the win if Mike Timlin hadn't forgotten how to pitch. That strikeout he had vs Bengie Molina was a beauty. One of the nastiest curveballs I've seen.
*Game 6 of the ALCS 2004 vs Yankees. We all know this one. The Slap. Bronson Arroyo seemed to always be a thorn in the side of Alex Rodriguez. It was just something about these two that whenever they crossed paths, they seemed to immortalize themselves in history. This is one such example. Jeter is at first base with 1 out in the 8th inning. Arroyo pitches and A-Rod swings...but all he can muster is a little nubber. Bronson does his thang, scoops it up, gets slapped by A-Rod, you knwo the dealio. Just looking at Bronson during that sequence afterwards was priceless he was like "What the fuck just happened?!" and then the smarmy smirk he made when A-Rod got called out was great. I love teh snarky Bronson.
*July 24, 2004 vs Yankees. The Brawl. We know this one very well too. Bronson pitches, he just is fresh off a double play with 2 outs in teh third. He already gave up 3 earned runs and the dude was just looking to get out of the inning. He throws a sinker inside, just to try to get A-Rod off teh plate. It grazes his elbow. A-Rod gets all pissy and yells at Bronson. Bronson just smirks like "Dude, WTF" and supposedly grabs his crotch, but that's just I think him adjusting his jockstrap. Then Tek intervenes, a fight breaks out, hell breaks loose and we get another chapter to the rivalry. Sometimes I like to think that Bronson Arroyo exposed A-Rod for the phony that he is because of this and The Slap. But inadvertantly.
*July 20, 2004 vs Mariners. Man was I never so pissed after blown save than this one. I was so fucking pissed at the entire team after this game except for Bronson and Varitek. I was ready to stab Keith Foulke with a spork after this one. The synopsis? Well here it goes. Bronson Arroyo strikes out 12 batters in this game. 11 of these batters were in a row. He gives up only 1 earned run and pitches only 7 innings. This outing was so amazing, and you'd think he'd get a win right? Wrong-o. Well first off, All four runs the REd Sox had came courtesy of Varitek. The first RBI was off a single and then nobody did anything for about 6 more innings then Varitek stroked a 3-run shot in the 8th. Enter Foulke. Foulke blows it on back-to-back jacks by Miguel Olivo and Edgar Martinez and it goes into extras. Boone wins it on a grand slam. I punch a wall and scream. Honestly, I was so pissed after this game.
*June 27, 2004 vs Giants. This one--I wasn't so pissed, but we saw Bronson hold his own in a great duel between him and Jason Schmidt. Bronson, with a little bit of luck and a nasty curve went toe-to-toe with Jason Schmidt who was pitching a great game himself. Fate(and a bullshit call from the 3B ump) would soon intervene and Bronson gives up 2 ER...however not his fault. The bases were loaded for Edgardo Alfonzo who hit a grand slam off of Timlin. It was frustrating, but you couldn't be too pissed...Schmidt pitched a damn 1-hitter! That's worthy of a tip of teh cap from me.
*Game 5 ALCS 2004 vs Yankees. 10th inning and the bullpen was being held by used bubble gum and a few toothpicks. Everybody had been used the past two games and we were unsure what to expect of Bronson. He was eaten alive in Game 3 of the ALCS so it was a little scary to see him brought out there. He was facing the meat of the Yankees lineup: Jeter, A-Rod, Sheffield. Bronson have fear? Thousand times no. He induced a groundout to JEter and then struck out his nemesis A-Rod and Sheffield, helping the team stay alive. At least for another day.
*August 25, 2003 vs Mariners. Bronson must love pitching vs Seattle or something. This was his Red Sox debut. After 6 innings of great work from Pedro Martinez, Bronson made his debut fresh from Pawtucket and about two weeks removed from his perfect game. Bronson didn't disappoint as he fired 3 scoreless innings and collected his first career save. With a bullpen like that 2003 model, you needed somebody who could hold down the fort like that, and Bronson did just that.
*April 27, 2005 vs Devil Rays. Bronson seems to somehow be in the middle of many brawls, huh? This one started, supposedly, when Bronson hit Huff in the leg after giving up a HR to Nick Green. Bronson insists it was never intentional, but the bloods were boiling throughout teh weekend as players were being thrown at and beaned left and right. Today was just the final straw. Enter Lance Carter in the next inning who threw at both Manny AND Papi....at their heads. A brawl breaks out, Trot "gives Brazelton some information" Blaine Neal somehow restrains the dude, and thus another crazy brawlage. Next inning Bronson just does what any teammate would do with a good lead--beans the next dude. I don't blame him, you gotta protect your teammates. Bronson did just that.
*May 5, 2005 vs Tigers. And now we get to the near-no hitter. I was listening to this one on my radio at school and keeping track via sportsline. I was decked out in my Arroyo tee and it was a great day outside. I remember trying to notify my friend, but not exactly telling her of it just saying "look at the boxscore" and the innings got all the way to the 8th inning until it happened. And I had just so happened to walk into my music final when it happened. I had my radio on one ear and as I took my seat, Carlos Guillen hit that HR. I nearly erupted into mad profanity but I didn't wanna get into any trouble. Not only was Bronson's no-no gone but it was a tie game. Luckily Papi and Trot came through for Bronson and he got himself a well earned win. Good times. Good times.
Okay that's all I got for you dudes....just felt like saying a few things. Sorry to make ya'll put up with it but I just had to.
Anyways, as I said before Bronson is 1 of 25. That is something nobody can ever take away from him. Everybody on that team has played a part in the World Series winnings, and while Bronson wasn't one of the main players, he did his job and did it well. Well except Game 3 of teh ALCS. That was a nightmare and a half. Anyways, there's gonna be many-a-Bronson moments that we'll never forget. Well obviously in some aspects. I swear I'll shut up after this with my eulogizing, I'm just being a dork right now lol.
Just some moments I liked of Bronson's on teh field.
*July 9, 2004 vs Rangers. I was at this game with my friend. Bronson was friggin at his best. He was mystifying those Rangers and had one of his best games ever. 8 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, HBP, 7 K. This was when I started to crush on Bronson a little bit, but regardless, he was something special on that mound that night. Had it not been for my friend jinxing him in the 7th when she goes "yeah he only gave up 2 hits and they were in the first inning" he would've had a 2-hitter. Grrrr. But seriously, that was a fantastic outing from him
*Game 3 of the ALDS 2004 vs Angels. Everybody forgets about this game sometimes. I felt like a proud parent when Bronson left the game in the 7th inning, it's really indescribable of a feeling, but here was a guy I was watching, cheering, a guy I took an extreme interest in as a player and he was showing the world what he could do, showing them the Bronson I knew. He was awesome in that game and would've gotten the win if Mike Timlin hadn't forgotten how to pitch. That strikeout he had vs Bengie Molina was a beauty. One of the nastiest curveballs I've seen.
*Game 6 of the ALCS 2004 vs Yankees. We all know this one. The Slap. Bronson Arroyo seemed to always be a thorn in the side of Alex Rodriguez. It was just something about these two that whenever they crossed paths, they seemed to immortalize themselves in history. This is one such example. Jeter is at first base with 1 out in the 8th inning. Arroyo pitches and A-Rod swings...but all he can muster is a little nubber. Bronson does his thang, scoops it up, gets slapped by A-Rod, you knwo the dealio. Just looking at Bronson during that sequence afterwards was priceless he was like "What the fuck just happened?!" and then the smarmy smirk he made when A-Rod got called out was great. I love teh snarky Bronson.
*July 24, 2004 vs Yankees. The Brawl. We know this one very well too. Bronson pitches, he just is fresh off a double play with 2 outs in teh third. He already gave up 3 earned runs and the dude was just looking to get out of the inning. He throws a sinker inside, just to try to get A-Rod off teh plate. It grazes his elbow. A-Rod gets all pissy and yells at Bronson. Bronson just smirks like "Dude, WTF" and supposedly grabs his crotch, but that's just I think him adjusting his jockstrap. Then Tek intervenes, a fight breaks out, hell breaks loose and we get another chapter to the rivalry. Sometimes I like to think that Bronson Arroyo exposed A-Rod for the phony that he is because of this and The Slap. But inadvertantly.
*July 20, 2004 vs Mariners. Man was I never so pissed after blown save than this one. I was so fucking pissed at the entire team after this game except for Bronson and Varitek. I was ready to stab Keith Foulke with a spork after this one. The synopsis? Well here it goes. Bronson Arroyo strikes out 12 batters in this game. 11 of these batters were in a row. He gives up only 1 earned run and pitches only 7 innings. This outing was so amazing, and you'd think he'd get a win right? Wrong-o. Well first off, All four runs the REd Sox had came courtesy of Varitek. The first RBI was off a single and then nobody did anything for about 6 more innings then Varitek stroked a 3-run shot in the 8th. Enter Foulke. Foulke blows it on back-to-back jacks by Miguel Olivo and Edgar Martinez and it goes into extras. Boone wins it on a grand slam. I punch a wall and scream. Honestly, I was so pissed after this game.
*June 27, 2004 vs Giants. This one--I wasn't so pissed, but we saw Bronson hold his own in a great duel between him and Jason Schmidt. Bronson, with a little bit of luck and a nasty curve went toe-to-toe with Jason Schmidt who was pitching a great game himself. Fate(and a bullshit call from the 3B ump) would soon intervene and Bronson gives up 2 ER...however not his fault. The bases were loaded for Edgardo Alfonzo who hit a grand slam off of Timlin. It was frustrating, but you couldn't be too pissed...Schmidt pitched a damn 1-hitter! That's worthy of a tip of teh cap from me.
*Game 5 ALCS 2004 vs Yankees. 10th inning and the bullpen was being held by used bubble gum and a few toothpicks. Everybody had been used the past two games and we were unsure what to expect of Bronson. He was eaten alive in Game 3 of the ALCS so it was a little scary to see him brought out there. He was facing the meat of the Yankees lineup: Jeter, A-Rod, Sheffield. Bronson have fear? Thousand times no. He induced a groundout to JEter and then struck out his nemesis A-Rod and Sheffield, helping the team stay alive. At least for another day.
*August 25, 2003 vs Mariners. Bronson must love pitching vs Seattle or something. This was his Red Sox debut. After 6 innings of great work from Pedro Martinez, Bronson made his debut fresh from Pawtucket and about two weeks removed from his perfect game. Bronson didn't disappoint as he fired 3 scoreless innings and collected his first career save. With a bullpen like that 2003 model, you needed somebody who could hold down the fort like that, and Bronson did just that.
*April 27, 2005 vs Devil Rays. Bronson seems to somehow be in the middle of many brawls, huh? This one started, supposedly, when Bronson hit Huff in the leg after giving up a HR to Nick Green. Bronson insists it was never intentional, but the bloods were boiling throughout teh weekend as players were being thrown at and beaned left and right. Today was just the final straw. Enter Lance Carter in the next inning who threw at both Manny AND Papi....at their heads. A brawl breaks out, Trot "gives Brazelton some information" Blaine Neal somehow restrains the dude, and thus another crazy brawlage. Next inning Bronson just does what any teammate would do with a good lead--beans the next dude. I don't blame him, you gotta protect your teammates. Bronson did just that.
*May 5, 2005 vs Tigers. And now we get to the near-no hitter. I was listening to this one on my radio at school and keeping track via sportsline. I was decked out in my Arroyo tee and it was a great day outside. I remember trying to notify my friend, but not exactly telling her of it just saying "look at the boxscore" and the innings got all the way to the 8th inning until it happened. And I had just so happened to walk into my music final when it happened. I had my radio on one ear and as I took my seat, Carlos Guillen hit that HR. I nearly erupted into mad profanity but I didn't wanna get into any trouble. Not only was Bronson's no-no gone but it was a tie game. Luckily Papi and Trot came through for Bronson and he got himself a well earned win. Good times. Good times.
Okay that's all I got for you dudes....just felt like saying a few things. Sorry to make ya'll put up with it but I just had to.