Bronson Arroyo has been to 13 or 14 spring training camps in his professional career. This is the first time he could drive from his home in Brooksville, Florida.
Arroyo owns a boat named the "Nasty Hook" but left it anchored in Tampa. Own it, in its case, is his accoustic guitar.
The guitar strumming righthander plays guitar and sings. He put out a cover album after his Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Championship but is giving it up this year, at least during the season.
"I can't play the guitar or write too much," Arroyo said "But that's the way it goes. It's baseball season."
Last spring, Arroyo, couldn't feel his pitches due to carpel tunnel in his right hand.
Playing guitar may not have caused it but it didn't help.
He persevered. For the sixth straight season, Arroyo made over 30 starts, including a team-leading 33 last season.
Surgery could have eased his pain but Arroyo elected not to take that avenue.
"I didn't want to get it cut on and come into camp at two-thirds," Arroyo said. "This could be our last year with a lot of veterans. The last 16 games were too good to take a chance. I didn't want to come in with my hand not up to par."
First Camp
Dayton pitching coach, Tony Fossas and thirdbase coach, Mark Berry had three players on a practice field learning to bunt.
First round pick Michael Leake, Travis Wood and Aroldis Chapman were the players. Fossas was explaining when to square around to Chapman in spanish. The only word I understood was slide step.
These three are in their first major league camp. Each are given at least an outside chance of making the team.
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