Bailey Loses Red Sox Closer Role
Only a day after manager John Farrell said that Andrew Bailey was Boston’s closer he lost his job.
Jun 10, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher
Andrew Bailey(40) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 10-8 in fourteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Bailey tanked again on Thursday night against the Tigers, blowing his third save in his last five attempts (three in a row) that triggered a Tigers come from behind win. A strong outing by starter John Lackey (7 complete innings, 2 runs, 1 walk and five Ks) was wasted when Bailey gave up 2 runs in the ninth – a two-run walk off homer to Jhonny Peralta – to allow the Tigers to come from behind for the 4-3 win.
Koji Uehara will take over the closer role for the time being while Bailey attempts to regroup and again become a key component to Boston’s relief corp. Personally, I think he’s lost the job for good. Whether Uehara becomes the long-term solution or the Sox look to a bona fide closer by the trading deadline is in question. What is not in question is Bailey’s abject failure in the role.
All closers live life on the edge. You’re either a stud or a goat. Lately Bailey has decidedly been the latter. Bailey was acquired in 2011 as part of the deal that sent Josh Reddick to the A’s.