Mueller ahead of schedule

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Bill Mueller stretched, ran, and hit yesterday, just 15 days removed from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He did everything but take ground balls.

"He probably could have been out there," manager Terry Francona said. "He's so far ahead of where we thought he'd be."

At the time of the surgery, Francona said he didn't expect Mueller to be on the field until March 8, 9, or 10.

"We don't want to do too much and have it swell up," Francona added. "We'll slow him down a little."

Mueller, who now has had four knee operations, said he does not expect to have to go easy on his body once the season begins.

"I'll probably miss the first week [of spring games]," Mueller said. "After that I hope to be ready to go. My goal is to play the most games I've ever played in my career."

Mueller played in just 110 games last season. His career high is 153, in 2000 with San Francisco. The odds are not good that Mueller tops that, given that he's had two surgeries on his right knee in the last nine months. He also had reconstructive surgery on his left knee in 2001 and follow-up surgery in 2002.

Mueller, in his third season with the Sox, can become a free agent at season's end. He'll be 34 next month but said he won't be thinking about his contract status at all this year.

"Those days are over," he said. "I'm going into my 10th season. I'm happy to play and be a part of the team and worry about helping this team." He said he has not had any discussions with the team about negotiating an extension this spring, which is highly unlikely.

"As of right now nothing has been said," Mueller said. "I'm very comfortable playing out the year and dealing with that when the year is out."

Mueller is a new dad, by the way. His son, Ashton Tucker, was born just after the World Series.

Ringing in the year
Sox executives John W. Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, and Charles Steinberg were scheduled to meet yesterday afternoon to come to a consensus on the date for the World Series ring ceremony.

"It wasn't at the top of our agenda," Henry said earlier in the day. "It doesn't have to be resolved today or tomorrow."

Through conversations with them, it has become clear where each stands. Werner, Lucchino, and Steinberg all want the ceremony to take place before the home opener April 11 vs. the Yankees. General manager Theo Epstein would prefer the rings be handed out the Saturday before the season starts (April 2) so that 2004 can be put to bed before 2005 begins. Henry, whose say matters most as principal owner, does not want the rings to be handed out at the home opener, which is against the Yankees.

The question becomes: Can Henry be persuaded otherwise?

Henry yesterday mentioned that he received a congratulatory note this offseason from Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, adding, presumably as a joke, "That's why we're not handing out the rings [at a game against the Yankees]."

Many teams, including the Marlins last year, have handed out rings on Opening Day. Other teams chose to give them out at the second home game to ensure a large crowd.

The Diamondbacks, for example, received their rings for the 2001 championship before the second game of the 2002 season. Randy Johnson pitched the opener that year against San Diego, and Curt Schilling pitched the next game. Because Schilling was in the bullpen warming up for his start, his son, Gehrig, accepted the ring in his place.

"It was one of the most memorable moments of my career," Schilling said.

Blistering pace
Francona said Keith Foulke has a blister on a finger on his right hand and will be relegated to long-tossing for a while . . . Schilling is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session tomorrow or Friday . . . Schilling will shoot an "I Live For This" commercial for Major League Baseball today. Kevin Millar will tape a public service announcement promoting MLB's partnership with the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of America . . . Sox personnel were fitted for World Series rings yesterday. Manny Ramirez joked that he'd be selling his on eBay . . . Word is that 200 people -- players and club employees -- will be going to the White House . . . Trot Nixon wore Millar's No. 15 jersey yesterday, leaving Millar to wear a warmup jacket.