Papelbon starting next season

[thedude]

This is the first of any real value in this whole thread. Thanks GF.

GF? Girlfriend?

George_Foreman. Grow up...

[mikekim2121]

:-b calm down guys.

even tho he didnt provide a link, the story has been out there.

[George_Foreman]

This is the first of any real value in this whole thread. Thanks GF.

GF? Girlfriend?

ZOMG WHO TOLD U?!?!?!!!11

[Surfs up]

I believe Papelbon will be just a decent starter. Nothing special.Pitching six, seven or eight innings is a lot different from one or less.The hitters get to see him two to three more times.

[Secret Avatar]

The reports out of Boston are that Papelbon will move into the rotation next year, but I'm skeptical. Why mess with a good thing by taking one of the year's most dominate closers and move him into the rotation?? Based on what I've seen so far, Hansen seems like he's got a ways to go before he can close.

There's a LONG way to go before opening day, so I'm not putting too much stock in these reports.

[soxfan364]

This is what Theo told Gordon Edes in a recent interview, in the Boston Globe. You have to be a registered user on the Globe web site to read it now.

Another critical decision facing the Sox is whether Papelbon, who set a club rookie record for saves with 35, will return to the bullpen or become a starter. Papelbon said in New York a couple of weeks ago that he expects to start, and that is the team's plan for him. Epstein was not ready to say that decision has been made, but he said that if health issues were not involved, the inclination would be to keep him as closer.

``If it's determined that [starting] is what's best for his long-term health, that that is what keeps him pitching for the next 15 years, gives him a chance to pitch for 15 years, that's what we're going to do," Epstein said.