Editor's note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby Valentine's words. Each game day, we will select a Valentine quote that sums up the day for the Red Sox.
Alfredo Aceves has been solid for the Red Sox for much of this season.
Once a long relief specialist, Aceves was unhappy with being passed over for the starting rotation coming out of spring training as the two available spots went to youngsters Daniel Bard and Felix Doubront. But when closer Andrew Bailey went down with injury just before the season began, a new opportunity emerged. It was offered to Aceves, and he took it with gusto.
Aceves didn't immediately shine in the closer role, stumbling through initial appearances as the entire Red Sox crew faltered, but he settled down to the point that the ninth inning was starting to look automatic. For a reliever known for his quirks and unorthodox approaches, Aceves was remarkably consistent, a quiet evenness that can't be valued too much considering the massive ups and downs the Red Sox have had this season.
That changed Sunday when Aceves gave up two runs to the Rays in the top of the ninth inning to allow Tampa Bay's comeback win. But it was just Aceves' third blown save of the season, and it wasn't a meltdown as much as it was one of those days when the pitches just didn't work the way they were supposed to.
"Those pitches were just a little off, I guess," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said of Aceves walking a man then giving up a home run to let the Rays jump ahead.
Aceves burned his way out of the Yankees organization with back issues (that some say were further caused by poor conditioning, preparation and nutrition) and attitude questions (shaking off catchers, wanting to pitch his own way), but his coming up short Sunday showed more that Aceves is such a consistent contributor to the Red Sox this season that it's more strange when things don't work out for him. He's become a dependable veteran.
Still, the Red Sox as a group can't love what happened Sunday. They had finally gotten some fire back against the American League East heavyweight Rays, and they punched them well with a 3-2 walkoff win on Saturday night. But, in the fifth chance the Red Sox had to finally go above .500 this year, Boston stumbled.
This time, Aceves was the fall guy. But, in true form to what the Red Sox have been this season, it could have been anyone. Any member of the Red Sox can be pointed to and take some blame for the pittance of wins the team has had this season. In a group full of talent and experience, there have just been more days when it wasn't clicking than when it was.
Just as Aceves' pitches were just "a little off" to the point that the Rays could steal one on Sunday, each member of the Red Sox has had days where things were just "a little off" to the point that the team didn't have enough pieces clicking together to win.
What can change that? What can make the Red Sox pull it together with enough consistency to get above .500 and go on a tear?
Aceves may be the man to ask. He had a rough start to the season but now looks like a natural. He didn't do much to change but rather worked hard until no one noticed how seamlessly he fit into the team's win pattern.
Aceves was relegated to a backup role but didn't let it keep him down. He took the next opportunity the Red Sox offered and fought his way into being a big part of the team's winning ways. The quirky reliever could be a guy the rest of the team looks to moving forward.
The Red Sox missed their fifth chance to get above .500 on Sunday, but the way Aceves and the rest of the team responds could lay the foundation for quite a few wins on the other side of the middle mark later this season.
