Who will be the Red Sox 5th starter?
Since Daniel Bard appears to be the clear cut number 4 starter there remains 4 or 5 legitimate candidates for the 5th starter spot. While the Sox are still actively looking for another guy to stick in the back end of their rotation let's break down the guys currently on the roster that are battling it out.
Felix Doubront
The 24 year old is out of options and almost out of time. After coming in out of shape last year he seriously disapointed last season in Pawtucket and briefly at the major league level. Now if he is not on the roster come Opening Day then he can be claimed by another team. This spring started off promising for Doubront but after a rocky last outing in which he gave up 8 hits and threw ALOT of pitches, Bobby Valentine isn't drinking the kool-aide. Saying that right now Doubront lacks that "killer pitch" that major league pitchers need if they are going to strike guys out. There's still alot of hope for Doubront especially on the team with guys like Salty being quoted as saying that Doubront is a guy who "could win 20 games in the big leagues".
Andrew Miller
Miller had the pedigree coming into the MLB but it has yet to all come together for him. The reports out of camp initially were very positive. Miller had gone back to his old mechanics that worked so well at UNC and seemed to be the dark horse for the role. Now with an injury setting him back a little he will have to battle to get back to the front of the pack. As this next week progresses Miller should be extended and we'll have a better idea of where he's at. Out of this group of pitchers he's the one with the most potential but with the injury to Morales the Sox may want to keep him as the only lefty out of the pen.
Vicente Padilla
Padilla signed a minor league contract with the Sox after coming off of an injury shortened 2011 season. Vicente has been in the bigs for a long time and knows what it takes to be a starter. If your looking for the closest to a sure thing it might be Padilla. You know what he's going to go out there and give and you know that he's going to need the biggest hat that New Era makes. Valentine seems to echo those sentiments,
Aceves has to be the odds on favorite because of the way he performed last season. Although he got roughed up in a AAA game the other day his agent has been outspoken about the fact that he expects Aceves to be in the Red Sox rotation.
The answer? I would say Alfredo Aceves. For now. But keep an eye on Aaron Cook and how he continues to progress from his injury as his name has been thrown around a bit in regards to the rotation spot.
The 24 year old is out of options and almost out of time. After coming in out of shape last year he seriously disapointed last season in Pawtucket and briefly at the major league level. Now if he is not on the roster come Opening Day then he can be claimed by another team. This spring started off promising for Doubront but after a rocky last outing in which he gave up 8 hits and threw ALOT of pitches, Bobby Valentine isn't drinking the kool-aide. Saying that right now Doubront lacks that "killer pitch" that major league pitchers need if they are going to strike guys out. There's still alot of hope for Doubront especially on the team with guys like Salty being quoted as saying that Doubront is a guy who "could win 20 games in the big leagues".
Andrew Miller
Miller had the pedigree coming into the MLB but it has yet to all come together for him. The reports out of camp initially were very positive. Miller had gone back to his old mechanics that worked so well at UNC and seemed to be the dark horse for the role. Now with an injury setting him back a little he will have to battle to get back to the front of the pack. As this next week progresses Miller should be extended and we'll have a better idea of where he's at. Out of this group of pitchers he's the one with the most potential but with the injury to Morales the Sox may want to keep him as the only lefty out of the pen.Vicente Padilla
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| Yes that's Ryan Sweeney |
"“He’s a strike-thrower. He’s probably the best strike-thrower we have,” Valentine said. “I’m not sure that we’re going to think of him of being a strikeout pitcher. We’re going to think about him as being a strike pitcher, and strikes usually get hit. The key is to not have them get hit real far. He keeps the ball in the park.”Alfredo Aceves
Aceves has to be the odds on favorite because of the way he performed last season. Although he got roughed up in a AAA game the other day his agent has been outspoken about the fact that he expects Aceves to be in the Red Sox rotation.
The answer? I would say Alfredo Aceves. For now. But keep an eye on Aaron Cook and how he continues to progress from his injury as his name has been thrown around a bit in regards to the rotation spot.
