Top 5 Questions to be answered at Spring Training

Pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers by the end of this week. The Sox' roster is nearly set. There are no starting position battles. We don't have to worry when or if Pedro or Manny will show up. One would think that this will be a ho hum spring training.

There are five huge questions that need to be answered before the team opens its season against the Yankees on April 4th.

In descending order of importance:

5. Who gets the last spot in the bullpen?

Let's look at the roster. The Sox will take five starters north. There will be six relievers that make the club out of spring training. Barring injury the first five figure to be; closer Jonathon Papelbon and set up men Hideki Okiaima, Daniel Bard, Ramon Ramirez, Manny Delcarmen. That leaves one spot between a couple of guys. Newly acquired Boof Bonser will be the team's long reliever but he may not be ready to start the season. Tim Wakefield's role is still undefined (we'll address that shortly). Youngster Dustin Richardson will get a shot this year but not yet. My money is on non roster invitee Brian Shouse. Shouse is a lefty, sidewinder that will come in handy during that first series.

This last spot is going to be very liquid. Theo will be calling Pawtucket frequently this year. Like in years past there will be no less than eight to ten relievers helping out in the pen.

4. What to do with Wake?

The starting rotation is set. Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Dice-K and Clay Buchholz are virtually locked in. Where does that leave the veteran knuckle baller Tim Wakefield? No team's rotation out of spring training provides 150 starts a year, let alone 162. It just does not happen. Pencil Wake in for in the neighborhood of fifteen starts. He could absolutely pitch out of the pen. The team will be very careful with the forty-three year old. My guess is that the team leaves Wake behind in Florida and he uses the time to further his conditioning.

3. How sharp is Dice-K?

If the 2008 Dice-K shows up this year, the Red Sox' rotation is very, very good. The 2009 version brings the team back to the pack. The fact that he worked out in Arizona and has reportedly lost weight is good for the team picture but does not guarantee effectiveness.

Dice-K's failure to disclose his unhealthiness last year is troubling. When the team forked over the money to negotiate and ultimately sign the Japanese pitcher the team hoped to obtain a front line starter without losing a future or current player. The results have been mixed. As much as he needs to be physically fit, Dice-K needs to be mentally right. He needs to trust his stuff and pound the strike zone.

2. Can Papi find the fountain of youth?

Seriously, is there a more pivotal player that needs to get off to a fast start? Though his final numbers (28 hr, 99 rbi, .794 OPS) were not as bad as they could have been last year, David Ortiz may not be able survive another slow start. If Ortiz can be a force in the middle of the line up, the team's offensive production will certainly not miss Jason Bay as much.

A repeat of last year's early struggles will force Terry Francona and possibly management to make the difficult decision of replacing a man that has been the cornerstone of two world championships.

1. Will Mike Lowell be traded?

Easily the question of the spring. The Lowell saga has been well documented. How would you feel if you had to show up to work knowing that your bosses tried to get rid of you not once but twice? Lowell is a professional and all around good guy so we don't have to worry about him being a distraction.

Lowell needs to prove his surgically repaired wrist and hip are not hindering his ability at the plate and in the field. It is not a given that he gets traded. The Sox should not give him away (see Lugo,Julio). He can still help the team. Out of respect, I do believe the team will seek to trade him. Whether or not he heads north with the team is the question of the spring.