Red Sox Pitching Staff Is Taking Shape

Jon Papelbon is going to the bullpen, Keith Foulke is headed for his first appearance on the mound and Boston’s bullpen is finally taking shape 11 days before opening day.

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said Thursday the promising and versatile Papelbon will start the season as a reliever, and Foulke, who had off-season knee surgery, will pitch in a minor league game today. He could work in his first major league game this spring on Saturday.

“Our bullpen looks really good,” Francona said.

Last season, Papelbon made 14 relief appearances and three starts after being called up from triple-A Pawtucket and making his major league debut July 31. He finished the season with a 3-1 record and a 2.65 earned-run average.

As a reliever, he gave up no runs in nine of his last 10 regular-season games. He also pitched twice out of the bullpen in the playoffs with five scoreless innings.

Foulke had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July and was 5-5 with a 5.91 ERA and four blown saves as he struggled with the knee condition and personal problems.

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New York Yankee catcher Jorge Posada was released from the hospital, one day after being admitted for a broken nose.

Posada was hurt before Wednesday’s game against Boston when he was hit in the face by a ball while playing catch. X-rays revealed a fracture.

Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman said Posada could be out up to a week but said he wasn’t worried about his status for opening day.

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Barry Bonds plans to sue the authors and publisher of a book that alleges the San Francisco Giants’ slugger used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds’ attorneys sent a letter to an agent for the authors of “Game of Shadows,” alerting them of plans to sue the writers, publisher Gotham Books, the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, which published excerpts this month.

The letter, signed by Alison Berry Wilkinson, an associate of Bonds’ lead attorney, Michael Rains, was posted on the Chronicle’s website.

A hearing was tentatively scheduled for today in San Francisco Superior Court.

“We certainly stand by our reporters and the reporting they did for us,” Chronicle Executive Vice President and Editor Phil Bronstein said.

“Nothing that’s happened will change that.”