Sports

Monday, April 2, 2012

MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT RED SOX ROTATION


Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine unveiled his starting pitching rotation for the season on Monday. Valentine included Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard as the 4th and 5th starters. Though the team will have a rotation full of hard throwing pitchers, there are many questions about the capabilities of the starters. 

After longtime closer Jonathan Papelbon signed with the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, the Red Sox went out and traded for former Rookie of the Year closer Andrew Bailey to take Papelbon's spot. They also traded for Astros closer Mark Melancon to pitch the 8th inning. Though Bailey held opponents to a batting average of .218 in 2011, he had a number of injuries and only pitched 41.2 innings. On the bright side, he saved 24 of his 26 attempts, but many were close calls, and his ERA was a high 3.24.  Bailey also tends to give up a lot of fly balls, which could turn into home runs at the smaller Fenway Park.

Melancon was good for the Astros in 2011, posting a 2.78 ERA and saving 20 of 25 chances. He also walked only 26 batters all year and gave up only five home runs. The only question with Melancon is whether he will be able to remain effective in the American League East, believed to be a tougher division.

The Red Sox rotation also has a lot of questions awaiting answers. Will Bard and Doubront be able to pitch effectively deeper into games? Which Josh Beckett will we see -- the one who was phenomenal from April to July, or the one who was inconsistent in August and September? Will Clay Buchholz come back from his injury and pitch well? The only guarantee is Jon Lester, who I believe will contend for the AL Cy Young this coming season.

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