Thumb things evil to Fenway comes.
Yes, projected Red Sox closer Bailey will likely need surgery and Beckett is also heading to the doctor with his bum thumb for a digital exam, but before citizens of Red Sox Nation panic and are up in arms and the finger-pointing starts, let’s give a big hand to GM Ben Cherington, who had the prudence to arm the team with four closer-capable pitchers.
If another team, say the Reds [Madsen] or the Royals [Soria], came up short-handed, when their closer went DL, their GM might have been forced to pay an arm-and-a-leg for a new closer; but not our Ben with Bailey, Melancon, Bard, and Aceves–all credible closers.
The much-maligned Melancon mise is making Mr. Cherington look like a prescient palm reader for acquiring the former Astros’ closer, formerly the prospect the Yankees were grooming to take over after Rivera retired, who was 8-4 with 20 saves, 2.78, 1.224, and 2.54 K/W ratio last season.
In the unlikely event that Melancon contracts the Bum Thumb Syndrome, Ben has a closer and a set-up guy in Bard and Aceves, or Aceves and Bard on hand.
So, although there may be two thumbs down today, GM Cherington’s four-armed foresight, gets two thumbs up.
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