FORT MYERS, Fla. – With a week remaining in preseason, it’s time to take a serious look at the Red Sox pitching.

Boston’s front office took a big step when it traded Bronson Arroyo to Cincinnati on Monday.

That deal served as a reminder that the Red Sox feature one of their deepest pitching staffs in years. Arroyo, a 14-game winner who led the Sox in quality starts last season, was not going to crack the starting rotation.

Another sign of Boston’s pitching depth came Friday when Keith Foulke took the mound to face opposing hitters for the first time this spring. Admittedly, Foulke was facing Triple-A hitters, but his 13-pitch inning reminded us that he is the most important member of the Boston bullpen for 2006.

Curt Schilling started that game against the Ottawa Lynx, and stayed in the dugout an extra inning to watch the once-dominant Boston closer perform.

“He was phenomenal,” said Schilling. “That’s as good as I’ve seen him look since October of 2004. That’s exciting.”

We all remember how good Foulke was that fall. He pitched in 11 of Boston’s 14 postseason games, winning one while saving three others and posting a 0.64 ERA. His six innings of one-hit shutout ball in the ALCS allowed the Sox to rally from a 3-0 deficit and beat the Yankees.

Last year, all that changed. Knee injuries ruined Foulke’s season, and he finished 2005 with a 5-5 record and 15 saves (in 19 chances) with a 5.91 ERA.

Since coming to Boston, Foulke has seen it all. He went from the heights of a World Championship to the depths of baseball despair in an eight-month span.

“It’s one of those deals where you learn a lot about yourself after the 04 season,” said Foulke. “I also learned a lot about myself after the 05 season. It’s one of those things where you see the highs and lows. One season I was on the top, and the very next season I was Public Enemy No. 1. But I learned about myself. I’m going to fight. I fought all winter to get back here, and I’ll continue to fight for the rest of my career. I want to kick this game out of my life instead of the other way around.”

Friday was one small inning of baseball, but one giant step for Keith Foulke.

His change-up was once again baffling hitters, and his post-game smile reminded us once again why Theo Epstein signed him to a four-year contract for top dollars. Foulke appreciated the team’s confidence in him then, and he knows he has to win that confidence back.

“I have to prove myself to my teammates,” said Foulke. “Most of them know that I am a pretty good pitcher and last year was just something in the past, but it’ll be nice when they have that confidence in me again, when I come running out to the mound and you can almost put it in the books.”

Foulke has a ways to go before getting back to that stage, but he’s on the right track. He has time to get three or four more appearances in before the season begins. Manager Terry Francona has already told him he will be the man coming into the ninth inning with a lead in Texas, another sign of confidence.

The closer is always at the center of attention, and Foulke heard his share of boos last season. In addition to struggling on the mound, he struggled to explain his on-field problems. His comments often added fuel to fans’ anger. Foulke believes his actions will win those fans over again.

“I better think of my words carefully here,” said Foulke. “I’m not going to say I’m stronger mentally. I’ve always been very mentally strong. That’s one thing that’s helped me get by, going on nine years now with mediocre stuff, being able to go out there and compete and think under pressure and make your pitches.”

When he’s on his game, Foulke’s stuff is much better than mediocre, and the Sox need him to be his best if they’re going to get their best shot at a competitive 2006 season.

Lewiston native Tom Caron is studio host for Boston Red Sox telecasts for NESN.