The team doctors advised the team that starting is the way to keep Papelbon healthy.  Boston may be sacrificing this kid's future to help win now.  Not a good idea IMO.

Oh, and the "have him start in spring, then move him to closer if noone reliable steps up" is about the dumbest of all solutions.  It's like saying "let's really mess with this kid's already fragile arm and see what happens."

Gordon Edes also has a way to get answers out of someone like "If Papelbon was the last pitcher on earth and you had to start Louie Anderson, would you then consider Papelbon as your closer?". then of course it gets edited on television without that question so it looks as if Epstein is saying sure. No news here. Late last year it was the same schtick with Epstein considering bringing in Marcus Giles to play 2nd

Being a Red Sox fan, I feel secure in saying that we, collectively, not to stop overreacting to every little thing the GM or owners say.

Gordan Edes made a post on boston.com today that Theo did not say Papelbon will be the closer. That the comments made by Werner were clearly in jest. And that the situation is the same as it has been for six weeks. The Sox have plenty of options and they'd only consider Paps if NOTHING else worked out AND the doctors said his shoulder had improved to the point where it wouldn't jeopardize his career.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

The chances of Paps being the closer, given everything that has been said, is very slight. Not impossible. But likely improbably.

Red Sox City State, I call it that to annoy my wife and tell her that it occupies a land mass smaller than Illinois so it cannot be a nation, gets so worked up over ever little mumbling out of the mouths of Red Sox brass.  

That said, who do you think will be the closer at the start of the season and the end of the season?  I think Hansen ends the season as the closer, but not before some early year innings at Pawtuckett.  

Thoughts?  

Given the way management feels about relievers -- i.e. your best reliever should be used when the games on the line -- I bet they start with Pinero as closer. They'll stick with him unless he faulters. They'll go with a cadre of set-up men who will pitch the important innings but won't get the saves. Pinero will only be used when the team has a lead.

By mid season Delcarmen and Hansen will be the team's best relievers but they won't the getting the saves or be annointed closers unless Pinero crashes and burns.

The Sox brass won't make the same mistake they made in 2003. They'll name some one the "closer", but won't neccessarily have him pitch in game tied siutations.

Theo's a smart man too.  First thing I thought when I read this was it can't hurt any negotiating they have with, say, Washington.  Saying something like this covers all their bases, tons can be read into it, and can do nothing but help when talking to other teams.