Arroyo seeks return to form

BOSTON -- It didn't take all that long for Bronson Arroyo to go from a sizzling stretch of pitching to the most pronounced funk he's had since joining the Red Sox rotation for good early last season.
The demarcation point, if you will, between the good and the bad was May 17. That was the day Arroyo began serving a six-game suspension.

In his eight starts before the suspension, Arroyo was 4-0 with a 3.21 ERA. Contrast that with his five starts since the suspension, a span which has seen him go 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA.

When Arroyo served the suspension -- which was handed down because he plunked Chris Singleton at Tropicana Field after a warning had been issued -- he had eight days of rest between starts. Was that enough to throw him out of rhythm?

"I don't know, I took eight days off and I haven't won since," said Arroyo. "You take from it what you want. I don't think it has anything to do with it. I just think I'm not making my pitches in big situations. I haven't felt as good physically as I did before that. That's it, man."

When Arroyo takes the ball on Wednesday night against the Reds, he hopes to put an end to his slump and start pitching the way he was earlier in the season.

Arroyo, who said he felt sluggish after taking a beating at Wrigley Field last Friday, has worked hard to regain his form.

"You go in the weight room, do the things you've been doing that you know make you feel good," Arroyo said. "Try to take care of yourself. Eat good. Get a good night's sleep. Hopefully when you hit the mound on game, you'll have good stuff."

Because he doesn't have overpowering stuff, Arroyo relies on precision. The lack thereof has largely explained his recent slide.

"He's thrown some fastballs right over the middle of the plate that have been hit pretty well," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "If he works ahead, all of a sudden that breaking ball can be borderline devastating. You've seen the swings he gets, especially [from] right-handers. He's thrown some decent breaking balls, but he's been behind in the count, guys have seen a lot of pitches."

Francona still has a lot of confidence in Arroyo.

"He's been so good, for about almost a year, whether that suspension had anything to do with it or not, you can't give up on a guy who's been so good," Francona said. "Especially a kid that, he was kind of learning during the process. I'm not sure anyone expected him to carry this much of a load."

Curt Schilling / P
Born: 11/14/66
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 235 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

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Schilling airs it out: Sox ace Curt Schilling continues to make progress in his rehab from ankle woes.

The right-hander is working out at the Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz., which is right across the street from Arizona State University. On Tuesday, he threw batting practice to members of the ASU baseball team.

Francona expected Schilling to throw 75 to 80 pitches.

Schilling is expected to return to Boston on Wednesday and be evaluated by the team's medical staff. After that, the Sox might be able to have a better sense of when Schilling will begin a Minor League rehab assignment.

Damon's heel no biggie: It seems as if Johnny Damon has had ailments in nearly every part of his body this season, yet he continues to play and get hits. Damon said following Monday's game that he's been dealing with a bruised right heel.

"It sure hasn't affected him too much," said Francona. "I guess my point is, it's not an issue. He's got a heel bruise."

Damon entered the night with a .349 average.

On deck: Arroyo (4-3, 4.54 ERA) will be opposed by Reds right-hander Aaron Harang (4-4, 3.52) in Wednesday night's finale of this three-game series.

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/