In 2007, Bronson Arroyo suffered a disappointing season (9-15). In 2008, it was Aaron Harang was experienced a down year (6-17).
Arroyo, who was 14-10 in 2005 and 14-11 in 2006, bounced back from his tough campaign to post a 15-11 record in 2008. Harang had won 16 games in each of the previous two seasons (2006, 2007) before slipping to 6-17 last season.
What the club is looking for, of course, is for both to put together a 16- or 17-win 2009 season and for surprise right-hander Edinson Volquez to repeat his 2008 season of 17-6.
Rookie right-hander Johnny Cueto was 9-14 in 2008, but he showed the velocity and stuff to become a reliable member of the rotation.
The Reds enter 2009 with four locked-up spots in the rotation, something that hasn't happened during their current string of seven straight losing seasons. That quartet enables the team, for once, to concentrate on plugging holes other than in the rotation.
