Juan

Acevedo

Those NL-only leaguers that drafted Acevedo with the hope of cheap saves can safely drop him off their reserve list.

Acevedo retired four straight batters before giving up a walk, a stolen base and a single with two outs in the ninth inning. On the stolen base, Manny Ramirez, thinking he had ball four, walked right in front of the catcher as he was trying to throw to second base. A game-ending interference call probably should have been made, but it wasn’t, and the Red Sox won in extra innings.

Acevedo was pulled after loading the bases in the ninth. All three runners scored off Dan Reichert. Acevedo is a shell of his former Tiger-self, but the Blue Jays don’t have many choices in late inning situations. They expect Cliff Politte back next week, and he should get his job back.

Acevedo has been a bust the last two years, but there’s a chance he could reemerge as an average middle reliever. It’s not very likely that he’ll make the Diamondbacks out of spring training.

Acevedo had a 19.80 ERA in his attempt to win a spot in the Arizona pen.

''The velocity is there, the cutter is sharp, and he’s got good movement on his change-up,’' Snyder said. ''Yeah, I’ve been impressed.’' If he does manage to make the team he’ll be used in middle relief.

Jason Ellison hit a grand slam off him. Acevedo still has a chance to win a bullpen spot, but he’s something of a longshot.

Antonio Osuna could be activated on Wednesday, so someone will have to be demoted. It probably won’t be Acevedo, but the former closer won’t be kept around much longer unless he begins to improve.

As he should be. It looks like Steve Karsay’s injury may prevent the Yankees from making a foolish mistake, like keeping Sterling Hitchcock over Acevedo.

Acevedo is a candidate for the Pittsburgh closer job, but didn’t help himself here.