Masterson up - for anything

Versatile pitcher awaits Sox' decision on his role

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Through all the times Justin Masterson has heard the question - the one whether he's going to be a starter or a reliever - there has been one query unasked. Where will he be Opening Day? That has not been an issue.

"That's the coolest thing," Masterson said yesterday after pitching in a minor league game. "That's the neatest thing - we're standing here talking about whether or not I'm going to be starting or relieving and never has there been a mention of, 'Oh, are you going to be in the big leagues or Triple A?' That's really cool that there's a spot."

Yes, there is a spot. It might be in the bullpen. It might be in the rotation.

Though Masterson has been waiting patiently, the Red Sox have not made that decision publicly, despite manager Terry Francona's assertion that a resolution would come this week. The time for that will come, as pitching coach John Farrell said, "as soon as we have as much information as possible on all the others that are vying for that other spot in the rotation.

"We know one thing - that regardless of the role, Justin will be with us and providing meaningful innings. It's still too premature to say if that's going to be in the starting rotation or late-inning, multiple-inning type reliever for us."

Masterson is working on necessary secondary pitches if he is asked to fill in as the fifth starter in Brad Penny's absence.

"[Masterson will] throw a bullpen two days from now," said Farrell, "and I think in large part because of how Brad gets through his start [tomorrow] against Minnesota, provided there's no health issues there, I think once we gather that additional information, we'll have a better read on what we do with Justin in the final week of spring training."

Will Masterson's role be determined by Penny's health?

"Not only his health, but will he be ready for that start on the 12th [of April], or do we take a more conservative approach that would free up or create one or two starts for a fifth starter?" Farrell said. "Certainly Clay Buchholz is in that mix as well."

Buchholz has been among the most impressive pitchers in camp this spring. He has a 0.46 ERA in 19 2/3 innings over five starts, with 12 hits, 3 walks, and 15 strikeouts. He has allowed one earned run.

But Buchholz seemed resigned to starting the season in Triple A.

Masterson has continued to earn starter's innings, going 4 2/3 innings yesterday in a Triple A game at the player development complex, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 6 in a scoreless outing. He threw 81 pitches, 50 for strikes. He threw nine changeups, a pitch Masterson uses with his slider and sinker, the key to getting ground balls.

"Slider, I feel really good with," Masterson said. "The changeup, overall I feel good. There was about three or four today where I just kind of took the whole body and left the arm behind, but I do that on some sliders, too. But overall, I'm really, really excited about hopefully what the stuff will be. I have confidence in the changeup and the slider.

"I'd like to hopefully carry that on to the season."

But it has been a long time since Masterson started in the big leagues. His last - of more than the 4 2/3 he went yesterday - came July 5 against the Yankees, more than eight months ago.

"There is an oddness to going back out again, going back out again, going back out again," he said. "I feel strong and I think I'd be able to help the team out for five, six, seven [innings], whatever we need."

Or he'll be ready to bring relief, saying, "There will just be that adrenaline rush of going out there and throwing an inning or two-thirds or even two innings and standing there going, 'That's it? That's all?' The body's revved up for even more. I experienced it a little bit last year within the week or two that the transition was made."

Yet there's no anxiety about the pending decision, perhaps because the dates when a decision was supposed to be made have already come and gone. So there's a new date in place, after Penny's start tomorrow. That might bring the news Masterson's been waiting for - but he's not counting on it.

"I understand the chain and what they're doing," he said. "I mean, whatever - as long as everything's put together and we can have a winning season this year, I'm going to be happy."

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.