09:22 AM EST on Friday, March 3, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- John Flaherty has caught hundreds of pitchers over his 14 years in the major leagues.

AP photo

Jonathan Papelbon showed great promise in 2005, and his size, poise and talent already have people comparing him with former Red Sox ace Roger Clemens.

Just last year, for instance, Flaherty was the personal catcher for Hall-of-Fame-bound, flame-throwing five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson on the New York Yankees.

Flaherty doesn't get impressed early. But this spring, he has been very impressed by Boston Red Sox' phenom, Jonathan Papelbon, the 25-year-old right-hander who blew through the organization's farm system and showed great promise as both a starter and a reliever in the pressure of the 2005 pennant race.

Flaherty caught Papelbon in his first bullpen session of the spring. He was behind the dish for his first round of batting-practice pitching.

And to say Papelbon opened Flaherty's eyes is an understatement.

"He had a plan of what he wanted to do when he was throwing on the side," said Flaherty. "He was telling me where he wanted to put the ball and then he put it there. He wasn't just throwing to get ready. He had a plan. You don't see that much with young pitchers.

"Then when he was throwing BP, he took a veteran's approach. He threw the fastball away to give the guys some swings, and then he started working on what he wanted to do, making nasty pitches. He's got four quality pitchers. Most starters look to have two or three," said Flaherty.

The veteran catcher paused, clearly wanting to say more but unsure if it would be fair to Papelbon to say it. But he did.

"I hate to throw out a name, but Roger Clemens (Flaherty's teammate in Boston and New York) used to do it the same way," said Flaherty of his Hall-of-Fame-bound former Red Sox and Yankee teammate.

It was not the first time Papelbon has been compared to Clemens, though Flaherty hadn't heard of the comparison.

And whether Papelbon starts or relieves this year in Boston, which may depend on the health of closer Keith Foulke, he is being counted on to carry a big load for the Red Sox' pitching staff.

Last night, Papelbon started Boston's first exhibition game of the spring against the Twins. He threw 38 pitches before being pulled with two runs in and two on base with two outs in the second inning.

The early spring results, though, won't matter much one way or the other. Papelbon is a stud pitcher, the vanguard of what the organization is hoping will be an influx of quality young talent to lead the Red Sox to glory for many years.

He had two stints with Boston after beginning his season in Double A Portland and moving quickly through Pawtucket. His first appearance was a start against the Twins on July 31. His gave up three runs, two of them earned, in 5 1/3 innings in his debut.

Papelbon was optioned to Pawtucket two days later but returned for good on Aug. 16. He had two solid starts, allowing only two earned runs in 10 2/3 innings before being shifted to the bullpen. Over his 14 regular-season appearances and two in the postseason, Papelbon, who had been a closer at Mississippi State, acquitted himself quite well.

Overall, Papelbon was 3-1 with a 2.65 E.R.A. with 34 strikeouts in 34 innings during the regular season. And he was unscored upon in his four postseason innings.

"The whole deal was that I didn't want the season to end," said Papelbon, a powerfully built 6-foot-4, 230-pounder.

"The first time I felt comfortable came after my third start, against the Angels. They were doing all sorts of things, bunting on me, trying to steal bases, but I was able to hold down their running game. From doing that, that gave me confidence that I could pitch in this league," said Papelbon.

But in which role for the Sox in 2006? Clearly, Boston ultimately wants him to start, which is why manager Terry Francona will be stretching him out this spring, giving him innings reserved for starters. But the health of Keith Foulke could force the Sox to thrust him into the closer's role.

Veteran starter Curt Schilling, for one, doesn't view that as a good idea.

"I think he's a guy you'd benefit more by giving him 200 innings instead of 60," said Schilling. "I think of him as a guy, makeup-wise, who's not far from being a consistent winner in the big leagues. He's got to pitch (to learn). I've been lobbying for the guy to be a starter."

Papelbon said he's willing to do whatever Francona wants, though he would prefer not to yo-yo from the rotation to the bullpen, as he did in 2005.

Less than a year ago, Papelbon wasn't even in big-league camp. But, as Nook LaLoosh, the young pitcher in Bull Durham tried to do, Papelbon "announced his presence with authority" in a spring training game in Ft. Lauderdale against the Orioles.

In that game, Baltimore's Daniel Cabrera threw one high and tight to Jay Payton and then hit Payton on the hand with a pitch. Papelbon, without being told, responded by waiting for slugger Sammy Sosa's turn at bat. Then he unflinchingly buzzed Sosa, who took offense with Papelbon, who didn't back off an inch.

It was a Clemens-like moment, the first of many linked to Papelbon in 2005.

"It's flattering," Papelbon said. "It's nice to be compared to him. I've never met him but I love the guy. But I just have to be Jonathan Papelbon."

And that promises to be plenty good enough.

skrasner@projo.com / (401) 277-7340