Sox may catch lightning

At the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh this week, Jonathan Papelbon talked about his future role, and whether he'll remain a closer or wind up a starter, as he had been projected by the Red Sox prior to his success this season.

Papelbon says a decision will be made during the offseason.

Whatever is decided, the Sox, who have a nice arsenal of young relievers, including Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen, may have one more pitcher who could impact Papelbon's role -- Double A Portland righthander Edgar Martinez.

This Edgar Martinez, not to be confused with the former Mariners designated hitter, has a special story. A catcher signed out of Venezuela in 1998, he had the skills to be a top receiver, but ``I wasn't making a lot of progress as a hitter and I think I made the best decision."

Martinez pitched in the Futures Game for the World team at PNC Park last Sunday. The 25-year-old allowed one unearned run in one inning and showed the tools -- among them a deceptive delivery and a hard-sinking fastball -- that have the Sox excited about his future.

``I think I can pitch in the big leagues," Martinez said after the World team's 8-5 loss to the United States squad. ``I have a good arm, I throw hard, and I can get hitters out. I just want to keep getting better and better and show at every level that I'm good enough. I hope I can get to Triple A and then show I can pitch in the big leagues."

The radar gun wasn't hitting 99, 100, or 101, like some of the other closers in the Futures Game , but Martinez's mid-90s velocity coupled with the movement on his pitches is sufficient.

Martinez, at 6 feet, 230 pounds, has a thick body, including big legs. He's able to hide the baseball during his delivery, which makes it tougher for hitters to pick up.

Martinez said that when he caught, ``I always threw the ball hard back to the pitcher." Everyone knew he had a good arm, but the Sox would have left him behind the plate had he balked at a position switch.

``I took a few days to think about it," Martinez said. ``I talked to my family and friends and the Red Sox organization and heard what they had to say. When all the thinking was over, it made sense to me. I could catch. I knew how to handle pitchers, but I just wasn't making any progress with my hitting."

That was during the 2004 season, when Martinez hit .163 in 53 games with Portland, and had a .223 career average in the minors. He changed positions later that year and pitched well last season at Single A Wilmington and then at Portland. He's 2-3 with a 3.05 ERA for the Sea Dogs this season. In 41 1/3 innings, he's allowed 36 hits, but has 39 strikeouts and only 12 walks.

``I think they like what I'm doing," said Martinez. ``I want to be a closer. I think I can do that job, but I just want to be able to help the team any way I can. I just need to keep getting better."

Former first-round pick David Murphy, who is hitting .299 with four home runs and 21 RBIs for Triple A Pawtucket, has thrust himself into a position where he could be considered for major league duty should a need arise. ``Over a period of time now he's been putting up some impressive numbers, playing good defense, running the bases well, and hitting the ball very hard," said Sox general manager Theo Epstein. ``He's really blossoming. He's worked really hard. He's found something offensively where he's able to stay back on balls more. He's hit the ball very hard against good pitching. We feel, like most prospects, he needs his at-bats at Triple A. He's starting to show that he's very close." . . . Another player to keep an eye on is pitcher Kason Gabbard. The lefthander had struggled at Triple A (1 -3, 4.97 ERA) until he held Charlotte to two hits and no runs in seven innings of the PawSox' 3-0 win last night. Gabbard had an outstanding run at Portland before he was promoted. He throws in the high 80s to low 90s and has a hard sink to his ball. He also has a plus changeup and curve. Good lefties don't fall from the sky, but the organization likes his poise . . . Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was promoted to Double A from Single A Wilmington, a sign that last year's top pick (23d overall) is on the fast track. Ellsbury was hitting .293 with 4 homers, 5 triples, 32 RBIs, and 25 steals for Wilmington . . . Papelbon isn't the only closer in the system who is dominating. Wilmington righthander Mike James is 15 for 15 in save opportunities after a perfect ninth inning in Wednesday night's 5-4 win over Frederick. Ten of his 15 saves have come on the road, but at home he also has a 1.80 ERA and has held opponents to a .135 average. He has struck out 10 and walked none in his last seven outings . . . Benefiting from Ellsbury's promotion was 24-year-old outfielder Jay Johnson, who moved up from Single A Greenville to Wilmington. He was hitting .356 (16 for 45) with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 8 RBIs, and 8 runs in 10 games this month. As Boston's 16th pick (13th round) last year, he hit .283 with 16 doubles, 11 homers, 43 RBIs, and 58 runs in 73 games for Greenville . . . Lefthander Tim Cox, a 20-year-old Australian, has allowed only three earned runs in 32 innings over his last 10 appearances (0.84 ERA) for Greenville. Overall, he's 3-4 with a 2.05 ERA in 23 games . . . Joshua Papelbon, Jonathan's brother, has two saves and has not allowed an earned run in his first six appearances (7 1/3 innings) for short-season Single A Lowell. Selected by the Sox in the 48th round this year, Papelbon, 23, has a twin, Jeremy, who is in the Cubs' system with Single A Boise. ``Neither of them have allowed an earned run," said Jonathan Papelbon of his brothers. ``I'm very proud of them. It's been a blast to follow them."