RockRaines Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Report: Papelbon to return as closer Sox expected to make announcement after Thursday's game By Ian Browne / MLB.com The Red Sox drafted Jonathan Papelbon as a starter in 2003. (Brita Meng Outzen/MLB.com) More Coverage MLB Headlines • Report: Papelbon to return as Sox's closer • McCann, Braves agree to six-year extension • Dodgers' Furcal injures ankle in collision • Injuries to Phillies' Garcia, Ruiz not serious • Griffey all right with position switch • No shoulder damage for Mets' Sanchez • Complete Spring Training coverage • Braves blow away Mets in five-run seventh • More MLB Headlines ADVERTISEMENT print this pageprint this page | e-mail this pagee-mail this page • Papelbon's career stats • Watch on MLB.TV | Listen on Gameday Audio • Get an official new Red Sox cap • Red Sox Spring Training coverage • Complete Spring Training coverage CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Red Sox will reportedly announce a resolution to their much-discussed closer dilemma with a retro decision following Thursday's exhibition game against the Phillies. ESPN is reporting that Jonathan Papelbon will return to the role he was so masterful in a year ago. Julian Tavarez, who did a solid job in the rotation when given the chance in September, is a likely candidate to take Papelbon's starting slot. This, after a winter and spring in which the Red Sox and Papelbon both said numerous times that the hard-throwing right-hander would go into the season as a starting pitcher. The reason Papelbon was moved out of the closer's role in the first place was for health reasons. Papelbon suffered a subluxation of his right shoulder on Sept. 1, 2006. Shortly thereafter, the Red Sox, citing advice from the medical staff, announced that Papelbon would be best suited, at least in the short term, to go back to starting. With nobody emerging in a wide-open closing derby and Mike Timlin ticketed to start the season on the disabled list, perhaps the Red Sox got the medical clearance necessary to move Papelbon back to the bullpen. Manager Terry Francona said he would address the media on the closer's situation after Thursday's game. The Red Sox drafted Papelbon as a starter in 2003. Until last spring, that was how the club viewed him for the long-term. But things changed last Spring Training, when Papelbon impressed the brass so much in relief that he supplanted Keith Foulke as the closer in the third game of the 2006 season. Papelbon responded by pitching his way on to the American League All-Star team. He finished the year 4-2 with an 0.92 ERA, which was the eighth-lowest in Major League history among pitchers with at least 50 innings. Spring Training News and features: • Sox notes: Manny wants more spring action • Dice-K almost untouchable in latest start • Matsuzaka shines for Red Sox in win • Tale of two nights for Beckett vs. Twins • Ortiz leads Red Sox past Twins • Sox notes: Stiff shoulder sidelines Crisp Multimedia: • Matsuzaka fans seven: 350K • Red Sox update with MLB.com's Browne • March 20 photo gallery • March 17 photo gallery • Drew's homer: 350K • March 12 photo gallery Spring Training info: • MLB.com coverage | Schedule | Ballpark | Tickets Papelbon converted his first 20 save opportunities of the season and was 35-for-41 overall. As for Tavarez, he seemed to become reinvigorated when Francona moved him to the rotation in September. The righty went 3-0 with a 4.01 ERA in six starts. He fired a complete game, 7-1 victory at Toronto on Sept. 22. Tavarez, along with Timlin, Joel Pineiro and Brendan Donnelly, had been viewed as the four closing candidates for Opening Day. But all that changed with Thursday's announcement. "If you ask me what I want to be, I'll tell you I want to be a starter because at least I know what day I'm going to pitch," Tavarez said in February. "I've always been thinking I wanted to be a starter since I started my career in 1992. I was a starter in the Minor Leagues also. If you leave it to me, I'd say I want to be a starter." He now apparently has his wish, thanks to a game of role reversal with Papelbon. Both pitchers seemed to be gearing up for their new -- and old -- roles on Thursday. Tavarez pitched 3 2/3 innings in a Minor League game back in Fort Myers, scattering four hits and allowing no runs while striking out four. He threw 63 pitches. Papelbon worked in relief of Tim Wakefield in Boston's game against the Phillie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I think everyone has Balta on ignore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan101 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 They saw how good their rotation could be and how bad their bullpen will be, so this makes sense. Surprised it took this long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 03:31 PM) Surprised it took this long. That's what I'm saying. It would have been a terrible mistake to have him start. Damn I thought the Red Sox could have been morons for once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockRaines Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 04:15 PM) That's what I'm saying. It would have been a terrible mistake to have him start. Damn I thought the Red Sox could have been morons for once. Why, good sp's are not only harder to find, but they are worth more. Closers are a dime a dozen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Chappas Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Gammons on ESPN this morning reported that his velocity dropped way off in the third and fourth innings he pitched and that Papelbon felt this was the best move for him. Of course Pete had on his rose colored glasses telling that they can easily get a 5th starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerhead johnson Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Durrrrrrrr, check page 2 of the catch-all thread. QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 22, 2007 -> 09:36 PM) Closers are a dime a dozen. Pure geniusness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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