If the new shoe fits, Schilling may wear it

The suspense surrounding Curt Schilling's possible return to the mound in the American League Championship Series intensified yesterday as the Red Sox indicated Schilling has found the footwear that would enable him to pitch if his injured right ankle permits it.

Manager Terry Francona said Schilling was experiencing normal soreness in his ankle the day after he tested a customized high-top cleat in his first bullpen session since his injury-shortened start in Game 1. The only problem was the shoe, built by Reebok, was too small and hurt Schilling's toes. He received a new pair of cleats yesterday.

"I think he's real comfortable with that high-top as long as he gets the right size," Francona said, indicating Schilling could pitch without an additional brace. "That was Plan A going out to the bullpen, and I think it worked pretty successfully."

The only remaining question was whether the footwear and a dose of the anesthetic Marcaine would permit Schilling to pitch effectively with a dislocated peroneal tendon. The tendon, whose protective sheath ruptured Sept. 26, runs around the back of his ankle.

"I think he kind of feels like we do, that the door isn't closed," Francona said. "Until it does [close], you keep the hope and faith, and try to work hard and do what you're supposed to do. We'll kind of see how it goes."

The Sox had tentatively scheduled Derek Lowe to start a potential Game 5 tomorrow, but with their Game 4 starter, Tim Wakefield, pitching in relief last night, Lowe will get the call tonight. If the series gets to Game 5, Pedro Martinez would be available on four days' rest thanks to Friday's rainout, and the Sox would hope Schilling could start a Game 6.

But any scenario will hinge on the condition of Schilling's ankle, which will require surgery as soon as the season ends or he determines he no longer can pitch. "If he can pitch without endangering himself and he can also be productive, we would like to send him out there, but only under those circumstances," Francona said. "Regardless of our situation, whether we win or lose, I don't think we can let that dictate when he pitches. That's not fair."

Schilling was examined by the medical staff and took the day off from baseball activities, as he normally would after an extended bullpen session. Francona said the next step in Schilling's comeback effort would be determined by the medical staff and pitching coach Dave Wallace. Schilling surrendered six runs in only three innings in Game 1, his shortest start in seven years other than a game in 2001 in San Diego that was suspended because a light transformer exploded. The Sox lost Tuesday's game, 10-7.

"I think he's obviously very hungry to pitch," Francona said. "He looked forward to this matchup as far back as Thanksgiving last year, and when he went out there and was kind of not able to pitch like he wanted to, I'm sure that was very tough for him, and us, too. "

The new shoe could help, and Francona was all but certain Reebok would provide the correct fit.

"For all of the publicity they are getting," he said, "they ought to be able to get the right size."

Policy discussion Long after the Sox spent much of spring training responding to questions about the steroid controversy, the issue persists, particularly after former National League MVP Ken Caminiti died last week at age 41 and the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday published a story alleging that a weight trainer for Barry Bonds acknowledged the superstar used undetectable performance-enhancing drugs last season.

Bonds has denied using steroids and said after he was tested for the drugs last month as part of a program created by Major League Baseball and the Players Association that he welcomed the opportunity to clear himself.

Unlike last year, when many players were tested for steroids as early as spring training, much of the testing was deferred this year until late in the season to try to prevent players who passed the tests from using steroids the rest of the season. Several Sox players said yesterday they were not tested until last month.

Johnny Damon, the player representative for the Sox, strongly opposes the use of steroids but reflects the view of many players who are torn between opening the door to excessive testing for additional substances and going to any length to rid the game of steroids.

"The issue is twofold," Damon said. "On the one hand, you may not want a tougher policy because you don't know what's next. What are they going to ask to test next? But then again, we need to protect our players, and seeing what Ken Caminiti went through dying at 41, that's something that definitely needs to be considered."

Personally, Damon said, "Being a guy who has hardly even taken a protein shake, whatever it takes for us to live longer, healthier lives is what's most important."

It took time Anyone who watched Orlando Cabrera during his first week with the Sox remembers how much he struggled taking over for Nomar Garciaparra. "It was kind of tough, not because of Nomar, but because playing for a new team and being a free agent after the season, I wanted to give a good first impression," Cabrera said. "I was trying to do too much every game. I wanted to do just everything, and I realized that it's impossible." . . . Schilling, interviewed last night by Fox, said he felt OK after his workout Friday but it "doesn't matter how I feel today." Schilling said any talk of him pitching in this series was premature until the Sox found a way to extend it past four games . . . Francona, who grew up near Pittsburgh, spent some time before the game with former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who attended the game with the other regulars from the Fox football pregame show, including Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson . . . "The Teammates" -- Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Bobby Doerr -- tossed ceremonial first pitches . . . The Cowsills, who had a hit with "Hair" before many of the hair-happy Sox were born, performed the national anthem. The group is from Newport, R.I. . . . Friday's rainout forced a two-day layoff for the first time in the history of the League Championship Series. Tomorrow's makeup is expected to begin at 5:10 p.m. . . . Rose DiChiara, 100, of Revere, did the pregame honors in announcing through the public address system, "Play ball."