Injuries have opened the door a crack for one or two of the players -- Adam Hyzdu among them -- fighting for a slot.

01:00 AM EST on Friday, March 18, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- There aren't many decisions for the Red Sox to make when it comes to finalizing their 25-man roster for the April 3 opener in New York, but, with two weeks remaining in spring training, a few have yet to be sorted out.

When camp began, the vast majority of roster spots were spoken for. As is the case with many good teams, only a relative handful of jobs -- all of them of the backup variety -- were open to competition.

But some injuries have, temporarily at least, opened the door for one or two additional players. Specifically, Curt Schilling's inability to ready himself for the opener has created a spot on what is expected to be an 11-man staff.

A look at who might fill those 25 spots, broken down by position, for the first week or so of the long regular season.

CATCHERS (2): Jason Varitek and Doug Mirabelli.

This is the least-intriguing area on the team. There are no battles to be fought. When Mirabelli and Varitek re-signed as free agents last winter, the catching corps was set, probably for this year and next.

INFIELDERS (8): Bill Mueller, Kevin Youkilis, Edgar Renteria, Ramon Vazquez, Mark Bellhorn, David Ortiz, Kevin Millar and David McCarty.

Now that it's clear that Mueller didn't experience any complications with his surgery, he's set to open at third, with Youkilis as a backup at third, and occasionally at first.

Renteria and Bellhorn are the double-play combination, with Vazquez set for a utility role, able to play second, short and third.

With Ortiz pretty much limited to DH duty, Millar becomes the everyday first baseman.

McCarty is the likely choice as the 14th position player. He gives the Sox suberb defensive play at first, some righthanded sock off the bench, and once in a great while, an extra (lefthanded) arm in the bullpen.

He can also play the outfield, though the Sox will probably limit his exposure there to left field only. Don't discount the fact that he is a big favorite of manager Terry Francona. In tight competition, that can't hurt his chances.

OUTFIELDERS (4) Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon and Jay Payton.

The starting outfield is the same as last year, with Payton replacing Gabe Kapler. Payton can play all three outfield positions, with Millar and McCarty available for the corner slots.

Adam Hyzdu is still in the mix, but the Sox can always stash him in Pawtucket and summon him in the event of injury. Rule V pick Adam Stern might have stuck, but a broken thumb has taken him out of action and consideration. Same for Billy McMillan (shoulder).

STARTERS (4) David Wells, Matt Clement, Bronson Arroyo and Tim Wakefield.

No surprises here, either. Thanks to days off in the schedule, the Sox don't need a fifth starter until April 18, by which time Schilling will presumably be ready to return.

RELIEVERS (7): Keith Foulke, Mike Timlin, Alan Embree, John Halama, Matt Mantei, Byung-Hyun Kim and Jeremi Gonzalez.

Foulke, Timlin, Embree and Halama were locks to begin with, and now that Mantei has shown himself healthy, so is he.

Kim, slowed by the flu, has $6 million coming to him, and as such, the Sox aren't about to eat the money. As long as he gets enough work in over the next two weeks to be ready, he'll be with the team, if only to be showcased for a deal.

Gonzalez has started before and could get stretched out, giving the Sox another long relief option in the pen to go with the lefthanded Halama. Gonzalez won't stay long; just long enough to fill the 11th spot on the staff until Schilling is cleared to come back.

Others who might compete for that final spot include Lenny Dinardo and prodigal pitcher Josias Manzanillo.