Papelbon Will Close...Jenks Happy...Bullpen Comments From Theo

Hello on this bitter cold Tuesday morning, the first day I will venture out since the snow started Sunday afternoon. Recently Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein had a few words to say about the excellent bullpen he has put together. First of all, Jonathon Papelbon WILL be the team's closer. Here's Theo...

"I sent Pap a voice mail after we signed Jenks to let him know that obviously we still see him as our closer and that now we've got two power set-up guys to get him the ball in the ninth inning. Pap I'm sure is fine with this."

Theo, say a few syllables about another power arm acquired during the off season, Bobby Jenks...

"We felt really lucky that Bobby wanted to pitch here and we were able to get someone of his caliber to join our bullpen and help Daniel Bard set up for Pap. Bobby is someone who has great stuff and we see him as more than just a thrower. He really knows how to pitch as well and goes right at guys and throws strikes and brings the kind of fearlessness to the mound that we look for in a market like Boston. We think he's going to fit in great and hopefully be part of a pen that's one of the best ones we've had around here in a long time."

I think the three set up men (Bard, Jenks and Dan Wheeler) will absolutely shut down opposing batters in the late innings of a close game, and there will be many of them. As for the lack of lefties in the 'pen, Epstein said he has all the faith in the world that Felix Doubront, Andrew Miller and Rich Hill can do the job. The team is still looking at any available lefty relievers, though, but that would be the final piece of a darn good looking puzzle solved by Theo. While I'm on the bullpen subject, here's some of the thinking going on inside Bobby Jenks' head...

"I'm just excited to get the opportunity to come here. Obviously the team they're putting together this year is very exciting and appetizing. I've always wanted to play in Boston. Once the opportunity was available I jumped on it. I feel 100 percent right now. The whole elbow thing going on last year, it was more of scare than something that was actually wrong. It's going to be exciting working with Bard and Paps. We also have Dan Wheeler. "

Yes, don't forget about Wheels. So to sum up, the Boston Red Sox are an infinitely better baseball team now than they have been in quite a few years. And with the injured super guys coming back, the Boston Red Sox will field a potent lineup. Their starting pitching is up there with the best of 'em, especially if Josh Beckett rebounds from a couple disappointing seasons. The reserves all proved themselves during the injury epidemic of 2010 and they'll just be better this year although they'll be playing a LOT less. I really like this team's chances as it stands right now. They'll be fun to watch as they try to make the 2011 season one for the record books and all of our personal memory banks.

Thanks for stopping by and please click on this post's title for more on the Sox. As always, BE WELL and remember...let's be careful out there.