Doubront, Bowden start in on new roles

With no outside movement to aid their bullpen at yesterday’s trading deadline, the Red Sox instead turned toward a pair of internal options. The team is hoping the conversion of starters Felix Doubront and Michael Bowden to relievers in Pawtucket could pay dividends in Boston.Doubront was told Friday of the move, beginning a process that could add a significant lefthanded arm to a Boston bullpen in desperate need of one.“I think everybody involved thinks that this kid has a chance to impact us, going forward this year, in the bullpen,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “We also view him as a starter. He’s going to be a starter, a major league starter. But I think for the rest of the year, we think he has a chance to maybe impact us out of the bullpen.“Bringing a kid right from starting, especially when the majority of his innings are in the minor leagues, putting him in the bullpen with runners on, that’s not fair to him. So we’ll give him some time to get his feet wet in the bullpen.’’In three starts with Boston this season, Doubront went 1-2 with a 4.11 ERA. With Portland and Pawtucket, he was 8-3 with a 2.88 ERA. He had expressed reservations earlier in the season about making the transition, but will now be expected to perform in the role.“He throws strikes, he’s quick to the plate, the game doesn’t speed up [on him],’’ Francona said. “The only thing is, he hasn’t done it. He’s been groomed as a starter, so getting up in the middle of the game, there’s some things to get used to, mind-set. Just want to give him a chance to do that. It’s the only way that’s fair.’’Though they returned Bowden to the minors, the Sox were pleased with the development of his breaking ball and his potential as a reliever.“[He’s] someone that from a mental standpoint identifies with the role of a reliever,’’ pitching coach John Farrell said when Bowden was sent down. “The ability to know that he’s got a chance or an opportunity to pitch every day, I think is more in line with the competitor that he is, rather than a four-day layoff where a lot of that anticipation has a chance to build up and take away from his strengths.“That’s not to say that he couldn’t be a starter at some point. But the ability to come in, know that he’s got a chance to pitch, be more aggressive in a shorter stint allows that two-pitch mix to play up a little bit more.’’Bowden and Doubront could be major factors in how the Sox do down the stretch, especially after the team deemed the prices of relievers on the open market too rich for their taste.“I think when you’re acquiring bullpen help, there’s certainly some amount of a crapshoot with it,’’ Francona said. “That’s what I’m sure Theo [Epstein] and those guys are discussing right now, and it’s very difficult decisions. You’re probably going to overpay for a reliever, and that is very difficult.’’Now the question is whether the Sox can find answers to their bullpen problems within the organization.As Francona said, “They’d better be.’’Lowell awaits fate Even though the Sox wanted to get through the trading deadline to make their decision on Mike Lowell, there was still no news after the game. So Lowell continues to wait in limbo. Lowell spoke to Epstein and Francona after the game, but nothing was resolved — or at least not anything that the sides wanted public last night.“I’ve got nothing to say, so it’s not necessary,’’ Lowell said.Since the Sox were not able to find a place for Lowell, it seems likely that the Sox are planning on designating him for assignment. The Sox had told Lowell to remain in a holding pattern through the trading deadline, while they attempted to unload him.“We probably need to talk a little bit,’’ Francona said. “We’ll kind of talk about that some more. It’s certainly something that needs to be addressed, and we will.’’Drew returns J.D. Drew, who was scratched from Friday’s lineup though he did make a pinch-hit appearance in the ninth and was intentionally walked, was back in right field for the Sox’ 5-4 win yesterday. Drew said his hamstring was much improved, though it’s likely something he’ll have to deal with for the time being.“Something I hopefully won’t deal with for too much longer, but manage it as far as being able to stay on the field,’’ said Drew, who went 1 for 2 with two walks before coming out in the seventh inning for pinch-runner Eric Patterson.Asked what the MRI had shown, Drew said, “Just some mild hamstring strain.’’Cameron sits Mike Cameron was out of the lineup, after having a tough game Friday night in which he missed a catchable fly ball, grounded into a double play, and struck out three times, including the one to end the game. Francona acknowledged that Cameron came in sore yesterday, and the team decided that it would be in the outfielder’s best interests not to play . . . Kevin Youkilis’s double in the sixth was the 200th of his career. Youkilis also scored his 500th run . . . David Ortiz surpassed 900 RBIs with the Sox on his bases-clearing double in the ninth. Ortiz has a season-high nine-game hitting streak, during which he’s hit .308 with 12 RBIs.Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.