Andrew Bailey Returning To Red Sox

When Andrew Bailey last pitched in a major-league game, he was wearing the green-and-gold of the Oakland Athletics, September 28, 2011.

One trade, two injuries and a rehab assignment later, Bailey will make his Boston Red Sox debut soon. Scott Lauber:

According to a team source, the Red Sox intend to activate Bailey from the disabled list before tonight’s game in Baltimore, the opener of an all-important three-game series against the Orioles. The two-time All-Star closer passed his final test by retiring all four batters he faced Sunday night for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Bailey is not expected to become the Red Sox’ closer immediately, as the team wants to ease him into action and also, they have an effective closer now in Alfredo Aceves. Bailey says he doesn’t mind:

“I don’t really care. I just want to pitch,” Bailey said. “At this point, I’ve missed enough time to know that (Aceves) has done a hell of a job this year, and the bullpen has been great all year. So for me, I just want to find my role — whatever that is — and finish the year and get to the playoffs.”

No corresponding roster move has yet been announced, although Baseball Nation’s Marc Normandin suggests that the likely move would be to place Will Middlebrooks on the 60-day DL, then option either Junichi Tazawa or Clayton Mortensen to Triple-A Pawtucket.

For more on the Red Sox, please visit Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston.

Andrew Bailey's Red Sox Debut 'Close'

Remember Andrew Bailey? Sure you do. Three years ago he was AL Rookie of the Year, two years ago he was still dominating AL hitters with a 1.47 ERA and 0.959 WHIP, in 2011 he was still effective with 24 saves despite a higher ERA. All of that got the Red Sox interested in him, they acquired him by trade, and he promptly got hurt and has not thrown a single pitch for them.

How Red Sox, right? Well, now Bailey could be making his Boston debut soon. Justin Albers:

Injured reliever Andrew Bailey pitched well in back-to-back appearances for Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday and Thursday, and he may be nearing a return to the big leagues.

Bailey allowed one hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning of work on Thursday afternoon. He pitched a 1-2-3 frame and struck out one in his appearance on Wednesday. Bailey consistently worked in the low 90s on Thursday, but he touched 94 mph. He is scheduled to pitch again for Pawtucket on Sunday.

The article says Bailey told WEEI radio in Boston he felt “close” to returning. Boston has needed relief help all year; Alfredo Aceves does have 23 saves, but with a high 4.21 ERA. Bailey’s return to action will be welcomed at Fenway Park.

For more on the Red Sox, please visit Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston.

Andrew Bailey Nearing Rehab Assignment

Remember Andrew Bailey? He has yet to pitch in a game for the Boston Red Sox after they acquired him from the Oakland Athletics in a multi-player deal last offseason, due to thumb surgery and a forearm strain.

Now, he’s nearing a return. Gordon Edes:

But on Sunday in Tropicana Field, Bailey threw a 20-pitch bullpen, is scheduled to throw another Wednesday in Fenway Park, and then will be re-evaluated. He probably will be asked to throw a simulated game or two, but after that, it’s reasonable to expect he’ll be sent out on a rehabilitation assignment.

And when that happens, he says, he doesn’t expect to require the full 30 days before he will be ready to rejoin the Red Sox.

“Usually it takes just six or seven games, do a back-to-back," he said. “I don’t know how long that takes — a week, a week and a half?"

The Red Sox have done pretty well with Alfredo Aceves closing, so it’s not clear if Bailey would be installed as closer right away, but Boston could surely use another bullpen arm to help in their quest for one of the AL wild cards.

For more on the Red Sox, please visit Over The Monster and SB Nation Boston.

Daniel Bard Isn't Leaving The Red Sox's Rotation (Yet)

Let's think about this. A baseball team is designed based on months or years of information. Then in spring training, there's another six weeks for roster fine-tuning. When a team begins a year with a plan, a lot of work and a lot of data has gone into that plan. The team will presumably be confident in that plan.

So, the Boston Red Sox are 0-3. They chose to begin the season with Daniel Bard in the rotation, but the bullpen was a problem in the season's first series. I'm going to say that part again, to drive the point home: the season's first series. Are the Red Sox already thinking of deviating from their plan? Ben Cherington says, no, that's silly, you're silly.

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington ... said that his team would not reconsider its decision to commit to Daniel Bard in the rotation.

"Right now, he's starting [Tuesday] for us. We made a decision this winter collectively to give him a chance to get stretched out in spring training and show us what he can do. We feel like he showed enough in spring training, enough development, to carry that into the season," said Cherington.

Cherington wouldn't close the door on the possibility that Bard could return to the bullpen down the road, but that's down the road. For now, the Red Sox planned on starting Daniel Bard, so they'll start Daniel Bard and keep from overreacting to what was simply a bad series. If there are more bad series for the bullpen, perhaps the Red Sox will do something about it. Perhaps they'll even bump Bard back, if he's having trouble as a starter. But for the time being, no, the Red Sox are staying calm, and they'd probably like it if the fans and media would stay calm, too. Not that they ever will, about anything.

Daniel Bard Might Close For Red Sox After All

Two words. You'll have to take this one at face value. It's not as if Bobby Valentine stood at a podium and expounded on how the natural state of Daniel Bard was, in fact, as a reliever. Someone in a sea of reporters asked Valentine if Bard was an option to close if Alfredo Aceves and/or Mark Melancon continue to struggle. Valentine responded:

"Could be."

That could mean several things.

Dismissive: "Yeah, I guess. I mean, that's a pretty stupid theory this early, but I'm not ruling anything out."

Serious: "Daniel Bard certainly could close. This is something I've thought about often."

Confused: "I thought you asked 'Did you park your car closer?' and I was all, man, where did I park? So I said 'Could be' and later realized that you were talking about Bard. Figured that was going to start a crapstorm in the papers the next day, so I slept in."

But it's not a crazy idea. Bard was moved to the bullpen after horrific control struggles in the minors, and he was one of the Red Sox' best relievers the past two seasons. The Red Sox are also without Andrew Bailey, who had thumb surgery. That means that the Red Sox have lost their two best bullpen arms and the player they acquired to help replace them. There has to be a temptation to put Bard back there.

Of course, we're talking about three games. Three freaking games. Temporary closer Alfredo Aceves hasn't had a great start to the season, and neither has ostensible setup man Mark Melancon. Again: three games. Daniel Bard hasn't even made a start yet. It's too early to panic.

Except in Boston, where the default state is panic. And Bobby Valentine said that Bard "could be" an option to close if things don't improve. So that's news. You just read about it. Now you feel dirty. Serves you right.

Alfredo Aceves, Not Mark Melancon, To Close In Andrew Bailey's Absence

The Red Sox pulled a fast one on us, naming Alfredo Aceves as their interim closer over Mark Melancon.

Andrew Bailey To Miss Months Following Thumb Surgery

Things weren't looking so good for Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey after he injured his thumb and had one medical professional recommend surgery. That sent him to another medical professional, and that medical professional also apparently recommended surgery. Because Andrew Bailey is going to have surgery:

#RedSox announce Andrew Bailey will have surgery Wed. in Cleveland to reconstruct ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb

— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) April 3, 2012

This isn't season-ending surgery, the way surgery on the UCL in the elbow would be season-ending surgery. But this is season-diminishing surgery, in that it looks like Bailey could miss 3-4 months. That is a ... lot of time, considering the regular season starts up on Wednesday. The regular season actually started last Wednesday, but I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who noticed.

Just as a fun fact, here are Andrew Bailey's year-to-year major-league appearance totals:

2009: 68
2010: 47
2011: 42

Prepare for another drop. Bailey's no stranger to injury problems, so I guess the Red Sox shouldn't be shocked that he's dealing with an injury problem, even if this one's of the freak-accident variety.

Right now, the Red Sox could elect to replace Bailey with Alfredo Aceves or Mark Melancon. Those are the in-house solutions. But this being the Red Sox, you can never count out something more creative or something more aggressive. They're supposed to contend, and they got Bailey for a reason. Now that Bailey's gone for a while, do you think the Red Sox will sit still? Do you really? Do you really?

Maybe they will. I don't know. How could I know?

Andrew Bailey Injury Reportedly To UCL (In Thumb)

I had you going there, didn't I? A UCL injury can mean Tommy John surgery. But not when it's a UCL injury in the thumb! Haha, jokes! I had you going for the split-second that you were reading that headline before you got to the end of that headline.

So we know that Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey is out with a thumb injury, presumably sustained in an on-field collision. We don't know when Bailey will be back on the field and throwing meaningful innings. Indications, however, are that it could be some time. Bobby Valentine:

Bobby V acknowledges that Sox expect to be w/o Bailey for a while, but expects Beckett to make start as scheduled Saturday. #RedSoxTalk

— Sean McAdam(@Sean_McAdam) April 3, 2012

Here's more detail, from Alex Speier:

According to a major league source, the injury sustained by Andrew Bailey is believed to involve the UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in the pitcher's thumb.

According to Dr. Bruce Leslie of Newton Wellesley Orthopediac Associates, there are three grades for a UCL injury. A Grade 1 does not need surgery and includes three weeks of immobility. A Grade 2 sometimes does not require surgery, but often ends up needing a procedure after the initial treatment isn't effective. A Grade 3, which does include surgery, has the patient coming back anywhere from 2-3 months, with a cast needed between 4-6 weeks.

Bailey has had one person recommend surgery. It would appear that he's headed for surgery. If that's the case, then the Red Sox will be even more glad that they traded for Mark Melancon than they already were. I'm assuming that the Red Sox were not completely overcome with glee that they traded for Mark Melancon. You can't be more glad than that.

Andrew Bailey Injury: Red Sox Closer Could Need Thumb Surgery

Andrew Bailey is probably going to have to wait a long time to get his first save in a Red Sox uniform.