Nothing is written in stone, especially not in baseball. Â We get caught up in set rotations, lineups and rosters without taking into consideration the many outside factors that end up figuring into how a team ends up looking. Â No one can appreciate this more today than right-handed pitcher Alfredo Aceves.
All spring Aceves has been competing for a spot in the starting rotation. With Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz being shoe-ins for the first three spots, the injuries to John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka left two gaping wholes in the rotation and Aceves was hoping to fill one of them. Â He was a fixture in the bullpen last year and even made four spot starts but it was this spring where he has truly shone. Â Unfortunately, when manager Bobby Valentine made his final decision on the rotation, Aceves was the odd man out and took his place back in the bullpen. Â He was reportedly very disappointed when his manager gave him the news and many fans were as well; hoping his hard work and good results would turn into the position he so wanted.
But baseball is a funny game. Â Less than 24 hours after his hopes were dashed, he was telling reporters that Valentine informed him he was in line to possibly take over for Josh Beckett in his first two starts because the right-hander was having “issues” with his thumb. Â Beckett has since had his thumb looked at by two different doctors and is reportedly fine and expected to make his first start as scheduled this Saturday in Detroit. Â In the meantime, Boston’s new closer Andrew Bailey was having thumb issues of his own and after he had two different doctor’s look at his thumb it was decided he needed surgery.
So yesterday was spent wondering who the closer would be, Aceves, arguably the best arm in the bullpen, or Mark Melancon? Â Today WBZ’s Dan Roche was the first to tweet that Bobby Valentine chose Aceves over Melancon, with the caveat that Melancon would be closing when Aceves wasn’t available. Â Many are speculating that could happen if Beckett is injured more than they are letting on and Aceves suddenly gets thrust into the rotation.
In any event, at least for now, the Red Sox have their rotation and closer set while they wait for another shoe to drop.
(Originally published on Examiner.com)