The Red Sox, who've lost closer Andrew Bailey for at least half a year to a thumb injury, now have issues in the pen as well as the rotation. Red Sox people say they have pitching depth. But that's really a nice way of saying they have possibilities. Which is a nice way of saying uncertainty.

The closing options for now are the versatile Alfredo Aceves, the set-up man mark Melancon and the veteran starter Vicent Padilla. Aceves is good wherever he's used, but if he's in the back end of the pen, he can't be elsewhere. The best choice probably still is Aceves, who's impressed Red Sox people, including new manager Bobby Valentine.

Daniel Bard won the final job in the starting rotation over Aceves, though not necessarily because he earned it. "He was OK this spring, not great,'' one A.L. scout said. Others outside the organization are even less certain Bard will be able to make the transition to the rotation. One positive devleopment this spring was the mergence of Felix Doubront, who shrugged off a wasted 2011 and won the No. 4 starting job.

Aceves, the loser of rotation roulette, becomes Boston's key guy right now, though. His versatility probably cost him a legit shot at the rotation. But it comes in handy here.

The Red Sox believe Aceves has the ability to go back and forth between the pen and rotation and view this as the one prime chance they have to see whether Bard can start, which would solve some of their issues. There definitely are a few issues, with the pen now at the top of the list now.

It's true they do have possibilities. But they also have some problems.