So it's been a while since I last posted but I'm back on track, as school has just ended for me and I will be able to post much more. Anyways, last night's Red Sox game was a good one................ until the 9th inning, when Bailey came in. The Red Sox had come into the 8th inning, all tied, 2-2. Then, Ortiz would hit a single to score the go ahead run and send Victorino home to make it 3-2. Uehara would come into the bottom of the 8th and secure the lead. Then, it came to the bottom of the 9th and it was all up to Bailey to secure the win and close out the game. First batter he faces, takes a walk, 1 on first, nobody out. Next batter he faces, hits a home run to left field and would give the Tigers a 4-3 walk off win, and Bailey had his 4th blown save of the season. Positive notes? Ortiz went 2-4 with 2 RBI's and his team leading 15th home run. Another great outing from Lackey went 7 innings giving up 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, and struck out 5, looking like the old Lackey that everyone expected when we had first got him.
Now as for the closer role, the Red Sox have decisions to make. Well, manager John Farrell has already said Bailey is out of the closer job after that game, but the question is, who will take over? Well there could be a number of people, starting with Andrew Miller. Actually, Miller was seen warming up in the 9th inning last night in the bullpen but did not go out. The reason he could be picked is because he has been dominant lately going lights out on the batters he has faced, and has drastically improved from the start of the season, after a slow start. His strikeout rate is amazing, and he has 43 strikeouts in only 26 innings, something that must not be ignored. His ERA has also slowly went back down to the 2's, owning a 2.77 ERA. He just has improved a lot better lately, and the fact that we saw him warming up, shows that they may give him a try.
Two other options would be, former short period closer, Junichi Tazawa, who was the closer when Bailey was injured, but did not record a save, or Koji Uehara, who has also been lights out lately. While Tazawa hasn't been his 2012 form self, he still has done good posting up a 4-2 record with a 2.51 ERA, and giving up only 3 WALKS, and striking out 38. Uehara has also been another option because of his 2010 season when he posted 13 saves and has just been really good this season owning a 2.10 ERA, and having a 42/7 K/BB ratio.
So after I wrote this I had found out Uehara has been named the new closer. So even though they have named Uehara the new closer, those people could be other options if Uehara struggles in the 9th. Really they all have potential to become a closer, but they need to handle the stressful situations in the 9th inning, and regain all their confidence. As for Bailey, it is unclear what the Sox will do with him for now, but they might experiment and put him in a different bullpen role, for different innings. Well, with that being said, struggling Jon Lester will be looking to pitch better tonight against the Tigers.
- DJ
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