Alfredo Aceves Continues To Do His Best Ramiro Mendoza Impression

The hope among Yankee fans was that Alfredo Aceves would turn into what Ramiro Mendoza was for the Yankees--a jack-of-all-trades swingman who could excel at any part of the game from starter to closer and every place in between. Mendoza has a certain place in Yankee lore from the late 90s as "El Brujo" worked his magic for four championship teams. For about 2 years, that's exactly what Aceves was as he went 14-1 with a 3.21 ERA (142 ERA+) in 59 games. Those 59 games spanned 126 innings and included 5 starts and 2 saves. His only full season was 2009 and he was certainly one of the reasons the Yankees won the World Series as his 4.31 SO/BB ratio helped to solidify the bullpen for the Yankees.

Yankees fans are hoping that Alfredo Aceves is the new Mole in Boston

But after getting shut down in early May due to back pain and then breaking his collarbone in a bicycle accident during the off-season, the Yankees decided to non-tender Aceves and take a chance that they could resign him on a minor-league contract due to his injury timetable. But instead the Boston Red Sox swept in yesterday and signed Aceves to a major-league contract with the desire to make him a starter--and with an improved injury timetable. At first glance, many wondered whether the Yankees had made a mistake non-tendering Aceves, especially judging by the gaping holes at the back of their rotation.

The Yankees have to hope that Aceves turns into Mendoza one more time, but this time for the Red Sox. The toll on Mendoza's arm from the workload the Yankees gave him worried the Yankees and in 2003 Mendoza signed with the Red Sox. The 31-year-old Mendoza stuck up the join in 2003 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.770 WHIP. When the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in that year's ALCS, Mendoza became known in Boston (especially on sports talk radio station, WEEI) as "The Mole".

Mendoza would improve his numbers greatly in 2004 and got a World Series ring for his efforts but the Red Sox fans would never forgive him. When he came out of the dugout to get his World Series ring on opening day of 2005, he was the only player to get booed. Some of that probably had to do with the fact he had resigned with the Yankees, but the memory of the Yankees dropping off damaged goods in Beantown has not been lost on Red Sox fans.

Yankees fans need to hope that Aceves brings out the same type of ire from Red Sox fans. Although I agree that Aceves presents a low-risk starting pitching option for the BoSox, Aceves hasn't shown the ability to be an effective starter in the Majors since 2008. He started one disaster game in 2009 (and seemed to have health issues after that) and the rest of his past two years have been in relief. Although the Red Sox can waive or even option to the minors Aceves if he doesn't work out, a few bad starts in Boston may be all the Yankees need to take the American League East.

I don't think it will be that drastic, but I'm at least hoping that non-tendering Aceves doesn't cost the Yankees a playoff spot. Because the Yankees sure could use another dependable starter right about now.