Cincinnati Reds' manager Dusty Baker has announced that Aaron Harang will once again take the ball for the first game of the regular season in 2010.
He has been has starter the opener every year since 2006. Harang's fifth consecutive Opening Day ties the team record set by Pete Donohue (1923-27) and Mario Soto (1982-87).
You really have to pitch well the previous year to receive this honor right?
Wrong.
Harang is coming off consecutive six-win stinkers. His record the past two season is 12-31 with a 4.50 ERA. Does that look like the numbers of an "ace"? He has battled various injuries ever since Baker pitched him four innings on three days rest in an 18-inning game against the San Diego Padres in '08.
Last year the Reds best starting pitcher was clearly Bronson Arroyo. He won 15 games with a 3.84 ERA. He has been the model of consistency during Harang's struggles, pitching at least 200 innings all four seasons he has been with the Reds. In fact, Arroyo hasn't missed a start since high school.
Baseball is America's pastime. It has been in the DNA of U.S. citizens since 1869. The fans of the game care deeply about legacies, stats, and pride. The same simply can't be said about football, basketball, and hockey in this country.
Being named the opening day starter for your team is considered the highest of honors for a starting pitcher. It means that the manger wants YOU to have the chance to pitch the most innings for the team. The manager trusts YOU with going up against the other teams best. The opening day starter is considered the "ace" of the entire pitching staff.
But I think this old tradition certainly doesn't mean as much as it used to.
With so many off days, rain-outs, injuries, and minor league call-ups—the No. 1 will only face the other teams No. 1 a hand-full of times throughout the marathon season.
The allure of being the opening day starter has to do with the traditionalists of the game. Sure it's an honor, but it means next to nothing come May.
And this is why Dusty went with Harang. He is rewarding him for his long tenure as a Red (entering his eighth season, by far the most of any current player). He knows it's a pride thing for Harang, while Arroyo could care less:
“I’d rather enjoy that day and soak in all the festivities,” Arroyo said.
“It’s not a big deal for me to pitch in the one hole. I pitched in the five hole in Boston. I ended up throwing against five No. 1s in one season. Once you get a rain-out, one off day, somebody’s a little sore and they get bumped back a day, match-ups don’t matter—until you get to the playoffs."
Well that and the night owl Arroyo is MUCH more comfortable pitching at night than during the day—in 2009 to the tune of 13 night wins versus two during the day and over a run difference in ERA. Too bad Baker has slotted Arroyo third after the young hurler Johnny Cueto. Guess what time game three is... 12:35 p.m. So much more that logic, Dusty.
As spring training rolls on, remember that this whole naming a opening day starter thing is really not important. It certainly wont have an impact on anything that happens in the fall. Even Baker agrees:
"After day one it doesn't really matter anyway."
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