Papelbon as closer, Tavarez/Lester as No. 5 starter, make Sox a better team

This post is just a taste of what you will find at Sox and Pinstripes (http://www.soxandpinstripes.com), a web site and blog where readers discuss, debate and learn about all things Red Sox, Yankees and baseball. Visit Sox and Pinstripes to read more about the Red Sox from Jeff Louderback's perspective.

Jonathan Papelbon is back in the closer's seat and Julian Tavarez will be the No. 5 starter, at least until Jon Lester is ready. This is a brilliant move by Theo Epstein and Terry Francona. Would you rather have Papelbon start and Tavarez close, or Papelbon close and Tavarez or Lester start? The answer to that question is obvious. Joe Torre himself said that he was "delighted" that Papelbon was starting and not closing. Boston answered its' most prominent question with the decision.

The bottom line? With Papelbon as the closer, and the depth Boston has in its rotation, the Sox will have a starting five and a bullpen that is superior to the Yankees. Tavarez, Lester, Gabbard and even Hansack are better options than Kei Igawa and Carl Pavano, whose days as an effective starter have long passed. Believe me, if the Yankees had Lester and Gabbard, they would be No. 4 and No.5 rather than Igawa and Pavano. Even Tavarez would make the Yankees rotation as it currently stands. Beyond Mariano Rivera and Scott Proctor, the Yankees bullpen is mediocre. Give me J.C. Romero, Hideki Okajima, Brendan Donnelly and Kyle Snyder over any set-up man in the Yankees bullpen than Proctor. A healthy Mike Timlin will make a positive difference as well, as long as he waits until he is truly healthy to return.

Will 'Tek regain his hitting stroke?

In an injury-plagued 2006 season, Jason Varitek hit just .238, including a .213 mark in 61 at-bats after returning early from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. This spring, he has just two hits in 25 at-bats for an .080 average. In an article written by Gordon Edes in today's Boston Globe, Varitek says he is concerned. That, in itself, is reason for concern.

At any level of baseball, confidence is an important element of hitting success. If you walk to the plate burdened about what will happen, chances are you will fail. A player at his best in the big leagues gets a hit just three out of every 10 times. Varitek doesn't have the luxury of solely focusing on perfecting his swing. He is helping Dice-K adjust to the bigs and learning several new pitchers in the bullpen.

The captain turns 35 in April. Like every big league catcher in his mid-30s, Varitek isn't as spry as he once was. Still, he is a valuable part of this team with his leadership and game-calling abilities alone. Yet the Sox do need more production than last year's .238 average. It's crucial that Doug Mirabelli hits much better than .193 as well since he will see more at-bats to give Varitek days off beyond Wakefield starts. Varitek has more left in the tank. A multi-hit opening day at Kansas City would certainly help his confidence.