BOSTON — Nearly a week since the trade deadline, Bobby Valentine is still exploring the ways he can use new left-handed reliever Craig Breslow.
The Red Sox skipper wants to figure out the reliever's skill set, from whether he can appear in back-to-back games to daily pitch limits. As a lefty specialist, Breslow has emerged as one of Valentine's prized commodities.
"I talked to him, and the coaches talk to him every day," Valentine said. "He throws, gives us feedback, and then we look at past performance. The fact that he hasn't pitched many pitches [for us] is a factor."
Breslow has thrown 53 pitches for the Red Sox over his five outings, from the 20 he tossed in his first game with the Red Sox, on Aug. 1, to a one-pitch, 1/3 inning he posted Aug. 4. Valentine has been using Breslow in a variety of situations, whereas his previous team — the Diamondbacks — used him mostly as a one- or two-inning setup man.
"He's always wanted to pitch," Valentine said. "I walked by him last night — he's not pitching today, being it's a day game. I don't think he will. But he doesn't even think he's been breaking a sweat."
During five appearances, which include 3 2/3 innings of work, Breslow has allowed just two hits and one run while striking out two batters.
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