BOSTON — One day later, Alfredo Aceves remains on the team.
It appears that will be the case for the remainder of the
2012 season. Despite disrespecting Bobby Valentine on Wednesday — by refusing
to look him in the eye or give him the baseball when removed from the game –– Aceves would stay on the roster, the Red Sox skipper confirmed.
But that doesn’t mean Valentine isn’t disappointed in his
pitcher’s actions. In recent weeks, Aceves complained about his role to
Valentine, slammed his office door and gestured for him to go away in the
dugout.
“You
always want people around who know the difference between right and wrong, and
sometimes when people don’t know the difference, you can talk all day long to
them, and it doesn’t matter,” Valentine said. “In Alfredo’s case, I
think that he understands what he’s doing.
“If
you know you do something wrong, you understand that there’s also a
consequence.”
Valentine
said Aceves wouldn’t be fined for his behavior. But the ex-closer’s disruptive
reputation predates his tenure with the Red Sox and actually resulted in his
release from the Yankees.
The
actions come as no surprise to Valentine. After Aceves was denied a spot in the
starting rotation in spring training, he was visibly upset with the decision
and it gave Valentine a peek into his personality.
“I
think I knew what I was dealing with from spring training,” Valentine
said. “You just try to manage every situation that you have to try to
manage to the best for the organization. He’s a good pitcher.”
Despite
Aceves’ behavior, Valentine has been a staunch advocate of his pitching skills.
And he’ll continue to use him — for now.
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