While manager Terry Francona continues to say that he and general manager Theo Epstein will sit down and discuss Papelbon's future with him, that conversation already has been initiated, Papelbon said after last night's Sox-Yankees game was rained out.
``They know I can start, I know myself I can start, I've done it before," said Papelbon, who was the ace of the staff in Double A Portland in 2005 before the Sox promoted him to the majors and used him as a reliever at the end of that season. ``This'll be another notch on the belt, I guess.
``Theo knows. He's thinking about me going into the rotation. So is Tito. [But] right now it's a thought."
A thought that has been endorsed by all parties involved, it appears, the Sox going so far as informing Papelbon's agent of their intentions.
``I think they like it," said Papelbon, who also indicated that while he plans to start playing catch here this weekend, he won't pitch again this season ``unless something crazy happens."
``I like it. It's a mutual agreement, and hopefully we'll be able to run with it. I'll take my offseason as a starting pitcher in training."
Actually, that was the plan on paper headed into this season, as the Sox nominally held onto the conceit that Keith Foulke would reclaim his closer's job, even though privately club officials expressed little confidence that would be the case.
That charade lasted until the third game of the season, when the Sox were in Texas and passed over Foulke to bring in Papelbon to record a save against the Rangers. Papelbon went on to record saves in his first 20 opportunities, and by July 2 he'd broken Radatz's record for saves by a rookie with his 25th. Papelbon was named to the American League All-Star team, and at the time his right shoulder slipped slightly out of its joint Sept. 1 during a game against the Blue Jays, Papelbon had posted a 4-2 record with 35 saves and an 0.92 ERA.
