Do you know who the final two spots are going to in the 2012 Boston Red Sox rotation? Yeah, I didn’t think so. If Bobby Valentine knows, he sure isn’t telling us.
But with spring training winding down very quickly here, we should get the answer to that question sooner rather than later.
Aaron Cook pitched well the other day, Daniel Bard pitches today and Felix Doubront and Alfredo Aceves threw yesterday and threw well according to the media reports since there was no television or radio coverage.
Valentine may have tipped his hand though by having Doubront pitch in a minor league game while Aceves threw to the Blue Jays “big league” squad. I say “big league” because their lineup on Thursday was mostly minor leaguers with some major league reserves.
After a bad outing his last time out where he got shelled, Aceves pitched much better yesterday.
He went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out four. Meanwhile on one of the practice fields, Doubront threw six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out four.
No matter what, Aceves will be on the 25-man roster. Doubront is out of options and I just don’t see the Red Sox letting him go through waivers since it’s likely someone will snatch him up. The bullpen is always a possibility for Doubront but something tells me he’ll be one of the five starters in the rotation.
My best guess is that after Bard pitches today, we’ll get our answer to who the final two will be in the Red Sox rotation.
To see the lineups for today’s Mayor’s Cup game against a split-squad from the Minnesota Twins as well as the links from the media, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
After falling to the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 yesterday, the Red Sox make a short trip across Ft. Myers to take on their spring training rivals, the Minnesota Twins.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and there is no television or radio coverage for today’s game.
Here are today’s lineups:
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| 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 1. Denard Span | CF |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2. Brian Dozier | SS |
| 3. David Ortiz | DH | 3. Joe Mauer | C |
| 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B | 4. Justin Morneau | DH |
| 5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C | 5. Josh Willingham | LF |
| 6. Cody Ross | LF | 6. Sean Burroughs | 3B |
| 7. Ryan Sweeney | RF | 7. Luke Hughes | 1B |
| 8. Mike Aviles | SS | 8. Trevor Plouffe | RF |
| 9. Nick Punto | 1B | 9. Mike Hollimon | 2B |
| Daniel Bard | SP | Nick Blackburn | SP |
Bard will be followed by RHP Mark Melancon and RHP Matt Albers.
MORE LINKS WILL BE ADDED BEFORE GAMETIME IF/WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND WILL BE BOLDED
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Schilling behind desk does an about-face [Boston Globe]
New year, new lease on life for Youkilis [Boston Globe]
No recourse in Carpenter case [Boston Globe]
Pedroia manages to adjust [Boston Globe]
Carl Crawford takes time in return [Boston Herald]
Bobby Valentine’s rotation still spinning [Boston Herald]
Cody Ross knows ropes [Boston Herald]
Source: Red Sox still want Cubs to talk [Boston Herald]
How the Red Sox make their decisions [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
Setting the Red Sox pitching plan through the end of spring training [Clubhouse Insider]
Valentine: ‘I’m very happy with Doubront’s spring’ [CSN New England]
Aceves: ‘It’s like a dream, to start’ [CSN New England]
Valentine: Sox not ‘best team ever’, but still expect great things [CSN New England]
Doubront, Aceves shine, but nothing set yet [ESPN Boston]
Curses! Musings on the Theo comp saga [ESPN Boston]
A few pregame Red Sox notes [Extra Bases]
Cook paid retention bonus [Extra Bases]
Valentine: Bard is capable of starting [Extra Bases]
Ben Cherington explains what the Red Sox knew about Carl Crawford’s wrist [Full Count]
Felix Doubront’s Time to Shine in Red Sox Rotation Could Be Now [NESN.com]
Director of Player Development Ben Crockett Encouraged by Lars Anderson, Impressed With Alex Wilson [NESN.com]
As Ross well knows, this time of year means abrupt transactions [Projo Sox Blog]
Aceves, Doubront make cases for spots in rotation [Projo Sox Blog]
Punto giving first base a whirl to be prepared for emergencies [Projo Sox Blog]
Red Sox bringing few regulars to play Rays on Saturday [Projo Sox Blog]
How might the Red Sox roster shape up? [Projo Sox Blog]
Cook being viewed as only starter, not reliever [RedSox.com]
Red Sox don’t want to put pressure on Crawford [RedSox.com]
Valentine expecting club will reach postseason [RedSox.com]
Aceves, Doubront both sparkle in starts [RedSox.com]
AL East again looks to be battle of Big Three [RedSox.com]
2012 Prospect Previews: Jose Iglesias and Ryan Lavarnway [SoxProspects.com]
Who Throws the First Pitch at Fenway’s 100th Anniversary Game? [Surviving Grady]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
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