Column: Price could prove an asset in relief

With time running out in the regular season, the Red Sox have made the right call on utilizing David Price in relief for the final two and a half weeks.

But his real value could come next month when the post-season begins.

In a perfect world, Price would have continued to build arm strength and returned to the Red Sox with the ability to start. That, after all, is why the Red Sox are paying him $31 million per season.

But the calendar wouldn't accommodate such a path. On Wednesday, Price made his second sim game appearance and threw 48 pitches over three innings. His next step would have been four innings and approximately 60 pitches.

To build up for a start, he would have likely needed one more to get him to five innings and 75. That test would have come on the second-to-last weekend of the year, leaving Price time to make one start in the final week.

And what would that have told them? How much could they learn about Price's readiness by watching him pitch one time, with three or four games left in the season?

The answer: not much.

Nor would they have much of an idea about how well Price responded to starting for the first time in two months. By then, they'd be putting their post-season rotation together in the dark, hoping -- but not knowing -- that he could be counted upon for a Division Series start,.

By shifting him to the bullpen now, they give him time to acclimate and be comfortable for his role as October nears.

Don't misconstrue this: Price will not be taking on an Andrew Miller role. He won't be brought into a first-and-second, one-out jam in the fifth inning and he doesn't have the history or versatility that Miller has. He's not accustomed to pitching in such a capacity, and the Red Sox would be foolish to expect that, given what he's been through since March.

"(He'll be) starting an inning,'' said John Farrell. "Given all that he's come off of, what he's strictly been doing the last few years -- and that's pitching in a starter's role...With the change in role, (he'll get) advanced notice as much as possible. Ideally, he'll get to stretch (his arm) out with an outfielder an inning beforehand to replicate some of his normal routine...that's where we are.

Price indicated Wednesday that he didn't have a clear preference on his role for the remainder of the season.

"He feels good physically,'' said Farrell. "That's where he spoke from today. He recognizes the limited ability of time to build back up. So, logically, this is the spot and he's accepting of the role. He wants to get back and pitch, get back and compete.''

Twice in the last two days, Farrell referenced how Felix Doubront in 2013 and Derek Lowe in 2004 helped contribute to past Red Sox championships by navigating important middle and middle-to-late innings. If a starter in the post-season is lifted after six innings, Price could be used as a one-man bridge to get to closer Craig Kimbrel. When he's healthy, he can be equally effective against both lefties and righties, with no concern for matching up or limited his exposure to righthanders.

There may be another factor at work here, too. Price has never won a post-season start in his career and that failure appeared to weight heavily on him last fall when the post-season began. In his one start in the Division Series against Cleveland, he lasted just 3.1 innings and was charged with five runs on six hits.

After that Game 2 loss, Price interrupted a reporter's question about his struggles in the post-season to point out that he had, indeed, gained playoffs wins in the past -- pitching in relief.

Removed from rotation consideration, there's now less pressure on Price. And indeed, he's pitched well in post-season relief appearances in the past.

That may be setting bar low for the game's highest-paid pitcher, but it also may make him more relaxed and confident.