There is always some story to be played out when it comes to a Red Sox season. Why change now?

Jonathan Papelbon is now the closer for the Sox. That, of course, is exactly where we left him last year.

The plan was to make him a starter. That had been the plan of the Sox since he was signed.

Last year he was moved to the bullpen when injuries left them without a closer. This year he began with words about how he wanted to take the experiences of a closer and incorporate them into the role of a starter.

This past week all of that changed and he said he went to manager Terry Francona and told the manager he wanted to be a closer – not just for this season but forever.

Francona had said all spring that if he had his druthers, he wanted Papelbon in the closer role again. That was not happening.

The Sox were trying out others for the role, but no one was grabbing the end of the pen ring. Papelbon was starting and stretching out his outings, perfecting the changeup for his new role.

The doctors were in on this, too. Last year Papelbon was shut down for the last month of the season because there was a problem with a joint in his pitching shoulder that kept slipping.

The doctors said that he should not be a closer because he needed the rest that a starter gets between starts. The doctors said that would give him time to recover, time to rest the shoulder.

A closer is called on almost daily to at least get ready in the pen, even if not used. That, said the doctors, could lead to further problems with that shoulder.

Suddenly, this month the word was his arm felt strong and he was able to consider the closer role again. Francona argued within the organization that was the role Papelbon should assume. The Sox desperately needed someone to fill that position.

Francona said the doctors were saying Papelbon’s offseason work to strengthen his shoulder had worked and he was now strong enough to handle a closer’s duties.

The idea of a closer by committee is one no manager likes, especially if there is an arm ready to assume the task.

Papelbon said last week that he went to his manager and said he wanted that role back. Papelbon said it was his decision. The Sox relented, or at least that is the feel the Sox wanted Red Sox Nation to have.

Make no mistake, the decision changes everything. The Sox now have a dominant closer whose ERA last year was minuscule. He is a power pitcher in that role and will be compared to the work of the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera for the foreseeable future.

The Sox rotation will not be as good as it would have been were he a starter, but their middle relief is strong and if they can get to Papelbon for that one inning to wrap up a game, they will win those games.

What the baseball world will be watching is how this plays out regarding his shoulder. Was this really his decision or one made under the pressure of a team that was looking to enter a season without a closer?

If the shoulder does not hold up, the Sox will be railed at for not listening to the doctors.

If the shoulder remains strong, the decision will pay big dividends.

Just another story to add to the many that are Red Sox baseball.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.