Andrew Bailey headed to surgery
Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey will have surgery on his right thumb on Wednesday
to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament, the team said Tuesday.
Although the Red Sox have not placed a timetable on Bailey's return, manager Bobby Valentine
said he was told by the training staff that Bailey should not be expected to return before the
All-Star break.
Bailey was examined Monday in Boston and Tuesday in Cleveland. The surgery is scheduled to be
performed by Dr. Thomas Graham in Cleveland, the Red Sox said in a statement.
The UCL is located at the base of the thumb.
"We won't use him until he is fully recuperated. Guys we have set up in the bullpen will hold down
the fort," Valentine said.
Valentine isn't sure how Bailey was injured. The manager initially said it began bothering the closer
during a game against Pittsburgh on March 21, but Valentine wasn't aware of it until Friday.
"When I talked to him before he left, he was unknowing," Valentine said. "He felt a little something.
There really wasn't a defining moment, in the last conversation I had with him."
Valentine did not name a new closer, but he said that Mark Melancon is among those who will get
the chance to close games out.
"It is unfortunate Bailey is out," Melancon said. "I just heard the news. We have a good bullpen. We
will be all right. We are going to figure it out. I am ready (to pitch the ninth if need be)."
Melancon, who pitched in nine games this spring, posting an 0-1 record with a 5.59 ERA, and had
20 saves last season with Houston, said he had not been told by Valentine that he would be the
closer.
Another candidate for the job would seem to be Alfredo Aceves. Aceves, who also said he was
unaware of Valetine's plans for replacing Bailey, appeared in six Grapefruit League games, going
1-1 with three saves and a 5.21 ERA. He has four career saves over four major league seasons.
Daniel Bard, who was moved to the rotation, has been mentioned as a candidate to go back to
the bullpen, but Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington shot that down earlier Tuesday.
"(Bard) is going to pitch Game 5 in Toronto and we're committed to him as a starter right now,"
Cherington said, according to NESN.
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Here is the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Twins:
RED SOX
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Cody Ross, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Ryan Sweeney, RF
9. Mike Aviles, SS
SP -- Vicente Padilla
“I’ll bet that’s the lineup you’re going to see during the season," manager Bobby Valentine said. "Those are some pretty good players. I’ll take my chances with that lineup.”
Joe(we're all betting)Nation
