LOCAL WATCH: CASE NOT CLOSED BECK THINKS HE STILL CAN BE EFFECTIVE AS A CLOSER.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Rod Beck wants what he can't have.

As a rookie, he detested the idea of becoming a closer. Now that he is being asked to change roles after a decade of being one of the most effective closers in major-league baseball, he wants his old job back. And he'd just like to play.

The right-hander, who in 1998 became only the fifth pitcher to record 50 saves in a major-league season and is 40 away from his goal of 300 career saves, is expected to be a set-up man this season for the Boston Red Sox, who opted to let Derek Lowe replace injured closer Tom Gordon.

Today, Beck is on the disabled list, sidelined by a nerve problem in his neck that's left him with little strength in his throwing arm. It's the second consecutive season he's been on the DL.

``I'll close somewhere again,'' Beck said. ``There's closers jobs out there.''

Drafted by Oakland out of Grant High of Van Nuys, Beck spent five seasons in the minor leagues as a starter. When he was called up to the San Francisco Giants in 1991, manager Roger Craig told him the bullpen needed help. They'd discuss starting later.

``Never talked about it again,'' Beck said.

``I didn't ever expect to be a relief pitcher; didn't want to be. I was a starter, that's what I did. I was like `I don't know how to relieve, I'm a starter.' They said you're in the bullpen now. . . . Well, I sucked in the bullpen, so I got sent out. They made me a closer in Triple-A. I was like, `Oh great, now I'm in the bullpen in Triple-A. Now I can't even start in Triple-A anymore.'

``The next thing I know, I'm in the big leagues again and I'm closing. I'm getting saves and saying this is really weird.''

Beck was a three-time All-Star with the Giants and established the club career record for saves. He signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent in 1998 and led the National League with 81 appearances that season, converting a career-high 51 of 58 save opportunities.

He had just seven saves and a 7.80 ERA before being sent to Boston at the trading deadline last season. He attributes much of his ineffectiveness to arm problems that eventually required surgery to remove scar tissue, two bone spurs and four bone chips.

The Red Sox staff admits closing is not out of the question for Beck, who is expected to come off the disabled list within a week, but he needs to prove he can be effective with a fastball that has slowed to the mid-to-upper-80-mph range and against deep American League lineups. Beck's out pitch is his split-fingered fastball, and he must get ahead in counts to be able to use it.

Beck tries to approach each outing as ``closing out whatever inning you're pitching,'' no matter what his role is and said once he reaches 300 saves ``they can do whatever the heck they want with me.''

``I'd rather be the closer,'' Beck said. ``But on this ballclub we've got a young guy they want to do the job. I was that young guy once, so I understand it from his point of view also.

``When I came up to the big leagues we had Dave Righetti and Jeff Brantley - two of the best closers to play the game - and I ultimately took over for them. They weren't real happy about it, but they were my friends and to this day they're still some of my closest friends in the game. To some extent I want to pass that on. But I'm still young. I'll close again.''

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Photo: Although the Red Sox want him to be a set-up man, Rod Beck wants to remain a closer.

John Dunn/Associated Press