Red Sox Spring Training Delight – 3/31

It’s the last day in March and with Opening Day 2012 around the corner, we still only know 3/5 of the Boston Red Sox rotation.

The four left in the battle have all pitched this week and pitched well for the most part. Daniel Bard was the last of the four to take the mound and he did so yesterday.

Bard went six innings yesterday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks but did have seven strikeouts. Matt Albers followed him by allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in 1.2 innings of work. Mark Melancon got the save despite allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.

For arguments sake, let’s look at the numbers of the four involved:

Aaron Cook – three games (two starts), 9.1 innings pitched, 1.93 ERA
Felix Doubront – four games (three starts), 16.2 innings pitched, 2.70 ERA
Alfredo Aceves – five games (three starts), 18 innings pitched, 5.50 ERA
Bard – six games (five starts), 24.2 innings pitched, 6.23 ERA

Based on those numbers, Doubront is a lock to make the rotation. Cook still needs some more innings to build up his arm strength but presents an interesting option because he’s a sinkerballer. Aceves is more valuable, at least to me, in the bullpen. Bard could go either way right now.

Conceivably, the Red Sox don’t need a fifth starter right away. But with Beckett lined up to pitch the home opener, they will more than likely need a 5th starter on April 10th.

Cook could be ready by then but probably wouldn’t be able to give them more than 5-6 innings. And since you don’t know how the other four games will go before that and how much the bullpen is used, I’m not sure that’s a chance you take.

If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on Doubront as the fourth starter and Bard as the fifth starter. And if either of them don’t work out, you have Cook waiting in the wings. Cook does have an opt-out clause in his contract but that’s not until May 1st and my best guess is that he’s in the rotation by then.

For a look at the links from the media as well as the lineups for today’s game against the Rays, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

After beating the Twins yesterday 9-7, the Red Sox make the trip up I-75 to take on their AL East rivals the Tampa Bay Rays.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network. If you live in the Boston area, you can also catch the game on your radio dial at WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM.

Here are today’s lineups:


1. Pedro Ciriaco	SS	1. Desmond Jennings	CF
2. Nate Spears	2B	2. Luke Scott	DH
3. Darnell McDonald	LF	3. Evan Longoria	3B
4. Mauro Gomez	RF	4. Ben Zobrist	RF
5. Kelly Shoppach	C	5. Carlos Pena	1B
6. Jason Repko	CF	6. Matthew Joyce	RF
7. Dan Butler	DH	7. Jeff Keppinger	2B
8. Daniel Nava	RF	8. Jose Lobaton	C
9. Jonathan Hee	3B	9. Sean Rodriguez	SS
Ross Ohlendorf	SP	Kyle Farnsworth	SP