Baseball - Battle For Positions Begin In Red Sox

One thing that the Red Sox have been missing at Spring Training all these years is a fight for a position. However, it is anticipated that one would begin in February, continue into March and April when the actual games begin.

The closer spot for the 2007 Boston Red Sox is up for taking and the Red Sox are just going to sit back and let the multilayered situation sort itself out. Papelbon will be rotation and this make the closer spot available. Before the Red Sox fans start panicking and think that there will be a replay of a closer by committee similar to the one in 2003, they can be assured that it will not happen.

The new pitching coach John Farrell said an opportunity exists and there are now quality players in the Red Sox who could get the job. According to Farrell, a year ago nobody thought Jonathan Papelbon could be the player to fill in the closer spot. However, Farrell thinks that there are other candidates for the spot and once that is done and the rest of the bullpen will fall into place.

Theo Epstein, the general manager, did want to get a real closer from outside this winter. However, it looks like he has chosen the wrong offseason for it. Last year Billy Wagner and B J Ryan were available and unfortunately this year there are none. Instead Epstein has stockpiled depth in the bullpen with a hope that a closer will emerge.

We can be sure of one thing that we will witnessing an enthralling battle during the Red Sox Spring Training which is bound to go beyond that.