Red Sox Spring Training Delight – 3/11

One of the biggest questions the Boston Red Sox had coming into spring training in 2012 was who were going to be the fourth and fifth starters in the rotation. Daniel Bard and Alfredo Aceves were told to prepare as starters and that they would be given a chance to win those jobs.

Boston Red Sox starter Daniel Bard delivers against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Saturday, March 10, 2012. The Red Sox also signed a slew of pitchers to minor league contracts to compete with the pair but if both continue to pitch like they did on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, it’s likely they could win the spots.

That is of course unless skipper Bobby Valentine decides they’d be better off helping the Red Sox in the bullpen.

It’d been a long time since Bard had pitched three innings in a baseball game. But as he continues to build up arm strength, he’ll throw more pitches and innings in games than he has before in the big leagues.

He had some struggles in the first inning when he said he lost his focus but quickly regrouped. He ended up allowing two hits and two walks while striking out over three innings of work. Bard worked some his changeup last night, seems to be the recurring theme lately, throwing it 12 times out of his 48 pitches.

Aceves followed Bard with three shutout innings of own. He also also allowed two hits and had two strikeouts. He did a great job of mixing in all of his pitches last night and had pretty good command and control of all of them.

Given how valuable Aceves was to the bullpen last year though, it makes you wonder if Valentine is hesitant to use him in the starting rotation. We know pitching and defense wins ballgames. But if Aceves continues to pitch like has so far this spring, I think it’s going to be really hard not to use him in the rotation.

Click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page to see the lineups for today’s game plus links.

Jon Lester (L), Dana Eveland (R)

After beating the Rays 5-0 last night, the Red Sox head north to Sarasota for a Grapefruit League matchup with the team that ended their 2011 season, the Baltimore Orioles.

Today’s game is scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. It will also be available on the MLB Network. There is no radio broadcast for this game.


1. Nate Spears	3B	1. Robert Andino	2B
2. Dustin Pedroia	2B	2. J.J. Hardy	SS
3. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	3. Adam Jones	CF
4. David Ortiz	DH	4. Matt Wieters	C
5. Ryan Sweeney	RF	5. Mark Reynolds	3B
6. Mike Aviles	SS	6. Wilson Betemit	LF
7. Cody Ross	LF	7. Chris Davis	1B
8. Kelly Shoppach	C	8. Jai Miller	RF
9. Lars Anderson	1B	9. Ryan Adams	DH
Jon Lester	SP	Dana Eveland	SP