Sharpness his point

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- He promised the results would be better this time, and they were.

Rookie Jonathan Papelbon allowed just one hit, a bunt single, in five scoreless innings yesterday against the Florida Marlins, a faceless bunch who came without former top Sox prospect Hanley Ramírez and left with a 5-5, 10-inning tie against the green-shirted Red Sox before a St. Patrick's Day crowd of 7,987 in City of Palms Park.

Afterward, manager Terry Francona acknowledged the time is fast approaching for the club to decide whether Papelbon will open the season in the starting rotation or be moved to the bullpen. That could hinge on whether the Sox trade another starter, a move widely expected in camp, and on the health of incumbent closer Keith Foulke.

''We'll sit down this week," Francona said of deciding Papelbon's role. ''We're getting to the point where we need to sit down as a staff. We have some ideas what we want to do."

The Sox opened a 5-0 lead on two unearned runs in the second and Kevin Youkilis's three-run home run in the fourth before the Marlins rallied against minor league pitcher Chris Smith and rookie Craig Hansen, who gave up a tying two-run single in the eighth.

Although the Sox are willing to entertain offers for three starters -- David Wells, Matt Clement, or Bronson Arroyo -- the most likely pitcher to be dealt looks like Wells, who made a to-do about rescinding his trade request two weeks ago but has no control over whether the Sox deal him. Given his age (43 in May), uncertain health, and attractiveness on the market -- Texas and Arizona had scouts present for his appearance in a minor league intrasquad game Thursday -- he could be the one to go. Clement, who has a price tag ($9.5 million) that scares potential suitors, is having an outstanding spring and is an innings-eater, and Arroyo has value as a starter and reliever.

Wells's carping about the Sox' plans to skip him for one or two turns in the rotation -- a seemingly reasonable proposition given his delayed return from knee surgery and two open dates in the season's first eight days, but a point of contention for a pitcher whose payday depends on the number of starts he makes -- led to a meeting yesterday morning between Francona, general manager Theo Epstein, and the pitcher.

''This makes sense for the team," Francona said. ''I explained it to him, and Theo did, too.

''I like Boomer as a pitcher a lot, but I have responsibilities for the team that I have to enforce. I don't know if 'enforce' is the right word. Responsibilities that I have to look out for.

''It's not a respect thing. I don't work like that. We don't work like that."

Behind closed doors, Wells did not challenge his bosses, but the issue isn't likely to go away soon -- unless he does.

Papelbon, meanwhile, had been knocked around for six hits and five runs in 3 1/3 innings in his previous start, against the Twins, and was 0-2 with a 10.12 ERA going into yesterday's outing.

''The last time I came in here, I said the next time I go out there it would be different, [that] I would be more worried about results, and I was today," Papelbon said. ''I really went out there and focused on trying to get the first hitter of every inning, and set the tempo. Early on in spring training, I wasn't thinking about results, but near the end, you want to get your confidence high and take that into the season."

Papelbon said he will continue preparing as a starter until told otherwise.

''If they decide they want to put me in the bullpen, I'm sure they won't just throw me out there. I'm sure I'll get a touch and feel out of the bullpen before they just throw me in there. But like I said, one day at a time and we'll see."

Francona planned to stay back from today's exhibition in Dunedin against the Blue Jays to watch Foulke, who will be throwing a simulated game this morning for the first time in eight days. He has yet to appear in an exhibition. Foulke last threw a simulated game March 10, then had injections of the lubricant Synvisc in both of his surgically repaired knees the next day. Foulke has downplayed the significance of not appearing in a game yet, but the Sox obviously want to see him pitch in the remaining two weeks before Opening Day . . . The Sox' spring roster was reduced by seven players. Reliever Cla Meredith was optioned to Pawtucket, and six players were sent to minor league camp: lefthanders Craig Breslow, Mike Bumatay, and Phil Seibel, righthander Matt Ginter, infielder Jed Lowrie, and outfielder Luke Allen. Breslow is the Yale grad who pitched for the Padres last season after being released in Single A ball by the Brewers the previous season. There are only two lefthanded relievers still in camp: Lenny DiNardo, who is scheduled to start today against the Blue Jays and could wind up in Pawtucket's starting rotation, and Mike Holtz, the 33-year-old journeyman who pitched in Japan last season. Holtz has made an impression by striking out 12 and walking just one in six innings.

David Ortiz and Julián Tavárez, playing for the Dominican Republic in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic today against Cuba, are the only Sox representatives still playing in the tournament. Infielder Alex Cora, who played for the Puerto Rico team eliminated by Cuba in the second round, was expected to fly into Tampa last night and join the Sox for today's game. Francona said he expected Mike Timlin and Jason Varitek, members of the United States team bounced by Mexico Thursday night, to return to Fort Myers last night, with Varitek likely to split catching duties with Josh Bard in tomorrow's exhibition against the Orioles. Timlin planned to throw a side session today, according to the manager . . . Ken Huckaby, who caught Wells Thursday, reported no soreness in his left knee and is scheduled to catch tomorrow . . . Youkilis now has three home runs this spring after launching a drive off the center-field screen off Marlins starter Josh Johnson. In his previous at-bat, he fouled a ball off his right instep. ''I'm sure he's going to be sore," Francona said . . . Center fielder Coco Crisp was credited with an assist when he doubled off Marlins runner Reggie Abercrombie, who had advanced to second on a fly ball. The throw was not particularly strong, Crisp jokingly comparing his arm to a water gun. ''Had the Supersoaker there," he said.