Bronson Arroyo Is a Creature of the Night

· Steele: <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/curt-flood-an-extraordinary-man-of-principle-and-conviction/">Man of Conviction | <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/hank-greenberg-could-relate-to-flood/">Greenberg Relates
· Moore: Flood's Peers Owe Him Apology
· Blackistone: <a href="http://kevin-blackistone.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/curt-flood-belongs-in-the-hall-of-fame/">Cooperstown Should Open Doors
· Fletcher: <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/curt-flood-a-hero-to-todays-players-those-who-know-his-name/">Modern Players Know Little of Flood
· Stradley: <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/06/for-curt-flood-antitrust-meant-exactly-that-at-supreme-court/">Antitrust Meant Just That

This season hasn't gone well for Bronson Arroyo. After being one of the best starters in the NL last year and signing a big off-season extension with the Reds, Arroyo has watched his ERA jump nearly run and a half this season as he's fallen to 5-13 on the year. The Reds have to be wondering what's happening to their investment. Ken Griffey Jr. has an explanation; Arroyo is undead.

Last weekend in Pittsburgh, a bat found its way into the Reds dugout and Ken Griffey Jr. joked that it was Bronson Arroyo, who had turned into a vampire.

Arroyo, the Reds' rock-star pitcher, has the same aversion to the sun as nearly any guitarist or other creature of the night. So with a 1:05 p.m. start time Sunday against the Padres, Arroyo knew he was in for a struggle when he saw the rotation, never mind that the Padres' ace, Jake Peavy, was throwing against him.

"I always feel like it's going to be a battle when the sun's up," Arroyo said following the Reds' 10-4 loss to the Padres in front of 31,297 at Great American Ball Park.

Now obviously Arroyo cannot actually be a vampire because if he was, he'd burst into flames every time he walked out of the dugout ... though thinking about it now, that's kind of what happens every time he takes the mound this year. And what about this: after the Pirates released him, Arroyo has pitched for the Red Sox and the Reds. Of course red is the color of blood, the vampire's drink of choice. Coincidence? LOOK OUT DAVID ROSS!!!