Who knew that an impingement could affect so many lives? (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

The bus/plane from Pawtucket to Boston and back has been busy recently. Since Joe Kelly hit the DL with a right shoulder impingement, a word that somehow sounds scary and boring simultaneously, it’s been all plans and backup plans and counter-plans from Sox management. And it’s all been fueled by the minor leagues.

On 4/20, Boston recalled sidearm reliever Noe Ramirez from Pawtucket, only one day after the team had sent him down to bring hard-throwing Heath Hembree up from AAA (Hembree had gone 5 innings in Pawtucket without giving up a run at that point. He’d also struck out 9 and allowed only 2 hits).The Sox also called up pitcher William Cuevas in exchange for utility man Marco Hernandez, and I’m gonna be honest, I hadn’t heard of him before this move. While only 25, he hasn’t done much to distinguish himself at the minor league level so far. It seemed that Boston intended for Cuevas to start in Kelly’s place.

But that wasn’t to be. After David Price was chased from an afternoon slugfest on 4/21, Cuevas was forced into long relief just in time to get saddled with his first major league loss. And with that, his purpose had expired, and he was sent back to Pawtucket on 4/22. In his place? Lefty Roenis Elias, who lost the 5th slot in the starting rotation to Steven Wright after coming to Boston from Seattle in the Wade Miley/Carson Smith trade.

But with an inning and two-thirds left in a 5-2 ballgame on 4/23, John Farrell elected to use Elias, too, in long relief. The lefty got out of the jam he’d been sent in to clear up in the 7th, but he blew up in the 8th, giving up 4, count ’em, 4 doubles. And so yesterday, he was summarily sent back to Pawtucket. So where does that leave us now?

Well, poor Noe Ramirez, whose WHIP has now climbed above 2.00, was on the bus with Elias. So the Sox filled the 2 open spots with 1. that freak with the big hands, Henry Owens, and 2. another player I’ve never heard of: Pat Light. Stats-wise, he seems to be lacking: he’s never really figured it out, with a career minor league ERA of 4.63. But since Owens officially got the start in Kelly’s place, maybe Light will get the chance to really own a long relief role for a week or two. Anyway, I’m sure he’ll be sent down before I can blink.

Notes:

a. Former Patriots DT Ron Brace died at the age of 29. I spent some time around him during college, and he seemed like a really nice, gregarious dude. Someone once told me that his patented pass rush move was to hold his palm out in front of a lineman’s face like he was holding a plate, and then use that same hand to initiate a swim move. Or, as Ron put it, “Show them the hamburger, take it away.” So awesome. RIP.

b. Rich Hill update: he had 10 strikeouts against the Yankees the other day. He’s back (maybe)!