The Sox came into the season armed with a rotation of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka. If they all stayed healthy and consistent, Boston was to breeze to the playoffs.
Yet, it didn't work that way. Matsuzaka was lost for the season early on. Buchholz battled a back injury for much of the year. Beckett and Lester both missed time at various junctures of the season. Lackey simply hasn't been able to bounce back after a rough debut in what has been a disappointing second season.
All of this has led to an increased role for Alfredo Aceves. Picked off the scrap heap, Aceves has been a diamond in the rough. He's worked almost every imaginable role for the Sox, and he's done most of them above and beyond expectations.
As the Sox have seen their grasp on a spot in the playoffs loosened seemingly every day for the past few weeks, some have called for Aceves to be added to the Boston rotation. Even David Ortiz has called for the man they call Ace to take the ball as a starter.
Aceves is just 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in four starts this season. His WHIP as a starter (1.571) is also considerably higher than as a reliever (1.024). So there's that.
There's also the fact that by taking Aceves out of the bullpen and putting him into the rotation, you lose a valuable member of the bullpen. However, what good is the work that Aceves gives you when he's coming into a game down by five or six runs in the third inning?
Also, if Buchholz is able to return in time for the end of the season and perhaps the playoffs, it may allow Terry Francona to move Aceves into the starting role.
Should the Red Sox make Alfredo Aceves a starter the rest of the season?
