Red Sox closer: Papelbon or Foulke?
NICK CAFARDO
Globe Red Sox reporter
The point is moot because Keith Foulke isn't ready physically to be the closer, therefore Jonathan Papelbon must take the role. Papelbon is certainly a more prototypical closer because he throws 95 m.p.h. and can strike you out at the end of the game. That's always preferable to a finesse closer, though Foulke is proven in big-time situations. The problem with Papelbon being your closer is that it eliminates him, for now, from the more desirable role of starting pitcher. It also cuts into the options for set-up men. Right now, Foulke might not be ready for that, either.
DAN SHAUGHNESSY
Globe columnist
Give the ball to the kid. He is simply better. Foulke had his time here and could have been MVP of the World Series, but anyone who has seen the two men this spring can tell you that Papelbon should be the closer. It's truly awkward, given the contract differences and Foulke's past heroics, but if the Sox want to win now, they should stick with Papelbon. There was something absolutely Patriot-like about Terry Francona's move Wednesday night, and we should all be thankful that the manager is finally comfortable enough to make these kind of hard decisions.
GORDON EDES
Globe baseball reporter
The emergence of Jonathan Papelbon allows Keith Foulke some time to gird himself both mentally and physically to prove he can close again, to gauge for himself whether he is capable of doing so at the highest levels. Of course, Francona should go with Papelbon at this stage, and perhaps Papelbon never relinquishes the job, but Foulke's track record should not be thrown out on the basis of one bad year.
CHRIS SNOW
Globe Red Sox reporter
The job should be Papelbon's. He has stuff, heart, and will, and Foulke, at age 33, on two knees lacking sufficient cartilage, has only two-thirds of the requisite formula. This could be an explosive situation, except that Foulke has never embraced his job. Recall what he said last summer to the Hartford Courant: ''I like to pitch. Honestly, what I like about closing, I love the 1st and the 15th. It's payday." Well, he has his payday, this year and next, so keep paying him, keep pitching him in whatever role his stuff dictates, and keep giving Papelbon the ball in the ninth.
JOHN M. DAMON
Everett, Wash.
Keith Foulke does not have the swagger or confidence required to be the closer yet. He lost that last year. Jonathan Papelbon takes the mound with so much confidence. He knows he is going to blow pitches by whoever comes to the plate, and so does the batter. He puts the hitters in a defensive posture. When Tito put Papelbon in on Wednesday night, I cheered so loud I think my parents could hear me in Maine. This is what I expect out of our manager. Play to win. Put the team ahead of personal feelings. I also applaud Foulke for his attitude of team first.
