Boston has three spots open -- two in the bullpen and one on the bench -- and just a few short weeks to decide who will fill them.

01:00 AM EST on Monday, March 22, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- When the Red Sox reported to camp just over a month ago, the number of roster spots up for grabs were minimal. Fresh off a 95-win season and a trip to the ALCS, the club's major personnel decisions had been made over the winter, leaving little room for additional turnover.

Now, with less than two weeks before Opening Day, the few decisions left are beginning to crystalize. Realistically, just three spots have yet to be claimed -- two in the bullpen and another on the bench.

A look at those all but guaranteed a spot for April 4.

STARTERS (5) : Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, Derek Lowe, Tim Wakefield, and Bronson Arroyo.

RELIEVERS (4): Mike Timlin, Scott Williamson, Alan Embree and Keith Foulke.

CATCHERS (2): Jason Varitek and Doug Mirabelli.

OUTFIELDERS (4): Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Gabe Kapler and Ellis Burks.

INFIELDERS (7): Bill Mueller, Nomar Garciaparra, Pokey Reese, Mark Bellhorn, Kevin Millar, David Ortiz and Brian Daubach.

David McCarty, who homered for the third time in the last four days yesterday in the Red Sox' 4-2 win over

the Baltimore Orioles, has the clear edge for the final utility spot.

McCarty is a superior defensive first baseman and at least adequate in right, no small consideration given that the Sox will spent the first month of the season without Trot Nixon and with Millar and Kapler splitting time in Nixon's spot in right.

If McCarty makes the team -- along with Daubach -- the Red Sox will begin the year with just one player backing up second, shortstop and third -- Bellhorn.

Should Garciaparra's right heel take longer to heal, that could complicate matters. But assuming Garciaparra is fully healthy for the start of the season, the Sox have Reese as a capable alternative at short, with Bellhorn backing up second and third, and Kapler capable of playing third in an emergency.

Otherwise, McCarty holds a clear edge over Terry Shumpert, whose battle for a spot may have ended yesterday when he strained a hamstring in the ninth inning. Though an infielder by trade, Shumpert, 37, is a defensive liability. He also doesn't possess the power of McCarty.

"We'll do what best fits our roster," said manager Terry Francona.

If the final bench spot is trending one way, then the bullpen battle is still wide open.

Ramiro Mendoza, who is scheduled to make his first game appearance of the spring this afternoon following a pulled abdominal muscle, must be given an edge merely for the existence of his guaranteed $3.6 million contract.

It's perhaps hoping against hope that Mendoza can rebound from a disastrous 2003 season, his first in Boston, that saw him twice stashed on the DL with knee tendinitis. In 37 appearances, Mendoza compiled a 6.75 E.R.A. and allowed nearly two baserunners per inning (98 hits and 20 walks in 66 2/3 innings).

"I understand he struggled last year," Francona said, "but he's had tremendous success at the major-league level in the same kind of (pressurized) atmosphere, so we owe it as organization to try to bring back what he can do."

In a perfect world, Mendoza could do what the Sox had penciled in for Arroyo -- the ability to pitch multiple innings in relief and fill in as a starter when needed -- before Byung-Hyun Kim's shoulder woes forced Arroyo into the rotation.

If Mendoza makes the roster by contractual default, that would leave approximately five other pitchers -- Bobby Jones, Mark Malaska, Tim Hamulack, Frank Brooks and Jason Shiell -- competing for the final spot. All but Shiell are lefthanded.

Francona said the Sox won't automatically select a lefty for the role ("We may not have a lefty specialist. We're going to take the two guys who can do the job"), but based on his experience, the lefthanded Jones may be at an advantage.

"He's made an impression, that's for sure," said Francona. "His stuff used to be electric, but he couldn't command the fastball enough to have success. Now, his fastball is what it was four or five years ago, but he may be a better pitcher."

Shiell hasn't helped himself with a disappointing spring (16.20 E.R.A.), and Brooks is a unique case as a Rule V pick, meaning the Sox would have to keep him on the major league roster all year or offer him back to Oakland.

That leaves Malaska and Hamulack to compete with Jones over the final 11 games in Florida. As drama goes, it's not much, but for the Sox, it's about the only roster battle left.