The Reds have announced today that Aaron Harang will, indeed, be the guy to take the mound on Opening Day. To secure this position, Harang beat out such shining stars as:

• Johnny Cueto, now entering his second full year in the majors
• Homer Bailey, now entering his first full year as a grownup
• Aroldis Chapman, the guy they haven’t even decided will be on the 25-man

No word yet on whether Micah Owings was a serious contender.

Actually, according to Reds.com, our favorite guitar-playing, day-game-hating, braid-wearing, run-support getting, good-for-half-the-season-and-then-toast Bronson Arroyo was the real threat:

Although the choice to go with Harang is tried and true, it’s not the conventional decision this time around. He is coming off of back-to-back six-win seasons, while Bronson Arroyo has won 15 games each of the past two years.

This move will give Arroyo two extra days to load up on supplements before he faces the Cards’ #2, and will save the Reds from having to identify themselves as a team whose best pitcher was the #5 for the Red Sox.