Another good outing for Paps

Wake & Paps combine for 6 scoreless innings

Although Boston still does not have a closer for the upcoming season, its former closer continues to progress quite nicely in his new role as a starting pitcher.

Mind you Jonathan Papelbon has yet to start a spring training game (that might come next, according to the Globe), but his spring work so far has proven that the shoulder trouble that sidelined Paps at the end of last season and forced him top forgo the closer's spot seem to be a thing of the past.

After Tim Wakefield pitched the first three scoreless innings, Papelbon took over and matched the knuckler with three scoreless of his own. Paps allowed one hit and one run while striking out four in his second impressive outing of the spring since relinquishing his closer role. Maybe.

No one in the organization is absolutely ruling out a return to the pen for the 26-year-old, but unless something drastic happens (like, say potential closers Pineiro getting lit up the other day and Brandon Donnelly allowing 4 runs on 2 hits & a walk in 2/3 of an inning in today's 9-5 win over the Mets), look for Paps to start the season in the starting rotation.

All we here in the Nation care about is that the kid is healthy again and showing his dominant, early-2006 form, no matter where he pitches.

Oh, by the way, the Sox won the game on a 9th inning, walk off grand slam by former Orioles infield prospect Ed Rodgers off the immortal Ambiorix Burgos. ManRam also got his first hit of the spring (finally!); the mercurial one had been 0-6 coming in before singling in the 4th.