Thank you Red Sox. You made me look smart. And as my wife and kids can attest, that is not easy to do. For months I've been saying the Red Sox should stick Jonathan Papelbon back in the bullpen. For a year I've been saying they should never consider moving him to the rotation. And for eternity, I think the Red Sox will be rewarded for their move today.

No, Terry Francona isn't going to heaven for making Jonathan Papelbon the closer again. But when big number 58 comes in to finish games this summer it will feel like a piece of heaven is descending on the mound for Red Sox Nation. Paplebon is that good.

The Red Sox decision to move Papelbon to the rotation officially changed with Mike Timlin going on the disabled list. But in my mind, it ended months ago when the Sox didn't land a big time closer in the off-season. The Red Sox have a team that can win the World Series. But not with a bullpen by committee. They've tried that. It doesn't work. And Mike Timlin, solid as he is, was never the answer either. Deep down I think the Red Sox always knew this. And deep down, Papelbon said today, he really wants to close.

So what about his shoulder problems that caused the Sox to move him to the rotation in the first place? Well, take it from this former left handed starter and closer, it makes no difference if Papelbon was a starter or closer. I'm not a doctor. But if the Sox are smart with Papelbon and don't use him too much, he'll be fine. I'm not buying this notion that as a starter his shoulder would be more protected.

Lastly, remember these two things. Papelbon closed games in college at Mississippi State. That is where his career took off. In his heart, he knows he is a closer. He has the stuff and the makeup to be a closer. And just because the guys was light's out of the pen last year (35 saves, .92 era) doesn't guarantee he would have dominated in the rotation.

In the last 30 years, the only guy I can think of who made the transition seamlessly was John Smoltz who went from starter to closer back to starter. Don't tell me Dennis Eckersly. Despite a 20 wins season in I think 1978, Eck was a journeyman before resurrecting his career in Oakland where he became a hall of famer. Jonathon Papelbon can also be a hall of famer. And today's decision by the Red Sox may help him get there. It was a no-brainer and one the Red Sox should never look back on even if Papelbon struggles at times and needs a rest. Just imagine their bullpen without him.