Will the #4 and #5 Starters Please Stand Up?

Bard, Aceves, and Doubront. With a week to go until Opening Day on April 5, the final two spots in the rotation are still up for grabs. Well, at least one of them. Felix Doubront has pitched well enough in Spring Training to have earned a spot and being a lefty certainly helps. The other one is still being fought over by two relievers who have the stuff to start. The question is, which one can command his stuff over at least six innings and keep his team in the game?

Going by Spring Training results, the answer appears to be Alfredo Aceves (last Saturday's start against the Phillies notwithstanding). Bard seems to have more trouble in the command department, channelling Dice-K and Miller in his most recent starts. The AL East isn't getting any easier and teams need deep rotations to compete. It's a big gamble to send Bard out there to give up a handful of runs (and walks) every 5th day, putting pressure on both the offense and the rest of the starting rotation. If Aceves, as valuable as he is to the bullpen, can command his stuff, keep walks and runs to a minimum, and pitch deeper into games, he should get that last spot.

What of Aaron Cook, who, in his limited ST outings has shown he deserves a shot to start? Can he get a few starts under his belt in AAA to get stretched out, then take over the fifth spot? While the sample size is extremely tiny, he looks to be healthy and he has a May 1 opt-out date. If he can nail down a spot in the rotation, it can only help strengthen the bullpen, with both Bard and Aceves added to the mix.

Then there's Dice-K, who could be ready to return to the big club as early as June. Will having Bobby V, who speaks some Japanese, help him become more like the pitcher he was in Japan? If he can come back strong from TJ surgery, he could really give the rotation a boost. A fresh start with a new manager and pitching coach could be the best thing for him.

Whatever the back of the rotation ends up being, having depth is the key to avoiding another September meltdown.

Bobby V's Alright To Me

I know it's mid-Spring Training and sample sizes are on the level of a protozoa, but count me as a fan of Bobby Valentine's work so far. While his outspokenness may rub some people the wrong way, including those who wish Terry Francona were still at the helm, he has shaken up a team that had grown complacent over the years. I've heard his coaching methods criticized as micromanaging, but after the way the team performed at the beginning and end of last season, a little more supervision couldn't hurt. It's a complete 180 from Tito's hands-off management style and a necessary change in direction for the Red Sox.

Aggressive baserunning, bunting, squeeze plays, and the like have long been associated with the National League style of baseball, but now, more American League teams getting in on the act too. We've seen what teams like the Angels, Rays, and Rangers have done against the Red Sox on the base paths, especially when the recently-retired Tek was on the mound.

So far this Spring Training, the Red Sox have been doing a lot of running as well, stealing bases and going from first to third. They've run into some outs along the way, but they've also manufactured some runs and put pressure on the opposing team's defense. Take last night's 1-0 win over the Yankees for example. Pedro Ciriaco made it all the way around the bases on what was ruled a single. The ball got by the Yankees' right fielder and Ciriaco's blazing speed had the Yankees rushing throws, allowing the ball to get away and Ciriaco to cross the plate for the game's only run. Ciriaco, incidentally was the hero in Monday's game as well, blasting a 2-run shot above the extra-high Jet Blue Park Green Monster.

Bobby V has worked with the team extensively on fundamentals, both on the offensive and defensive side of the game. So far in Spring Training, his methods have been paying off, with the Red Sox near the top of the Grapefruit League with a 7-2 record. These games may not count toward the regular season, but it would be nice to keep up the good baseball in Spring Training and have it carry over once the games really do count.