Lefthanders exchange compliments

CHICAGO -- At 42 years, 138 days, David Wells today becomes the oldest pitcher to start a postseason game in the 105-year history of the Red Sox (122 games and counting).

The lefthander, who is 10-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 25 postseason appearances (15 starts), has worked 113 1/3 postseason innings -- or 113 more than his opponent, Mark Buehrle. The 26-year-old Buehrle's only postseason experience: a third of an inning in the 2000 Division Series vs. Seattle.

''I don't really think that helps," Buehrle said. ''I only had one-third of an inning."

Wells, though, has long held -- and earned -- a reputation for being an individual who lives for days like today.

''I'll agree with that," he said yesterday, talking the day before a start for the first time all season and only because he was forced to by Major League Baseball. ''How can you not want to be out there when the game is on the line?"

Wells debuted in the postseason in the 1989 ALCS. Buehrle, at the time, was a 10-year-old Cardinals zealot growing up in Missouri, where he still makes his home.

''Growing up, I watched David Wells pitch," Buehrle said yesterday. ''He's a lefty. I kind of follow what he does."

Today, though, Buehrle will be able to take the lead. He gets the ball first, and he's known as much for his mound tempo as he is for the cut fastball he runs in on righthanders.

The only time Buehrle doesn't work quickly, he said, are ''ESPN games, when there's 2:25 between innings. That usually slows me down a little."

Today's game, of course, is on ESPN. That aside, Buehrle has worked at a pace all his own this season. He led the American League in innings (236 2/3) and finished third in ERA (3.12), going 16-8, though he was 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA vs. the Red Sox.

Wells and Buehrle have much mutual admiration, dating to 2001, when they were teammates in the Chicago rotation. Wells, though, made just 16 starts that year before undergoing surgery to repair two herniated disks. Chicago declined a $9 million option for 2002, instead buying Wells out for $1.2 million.

''Mark, he's an exceptional pitcher," Wells said. ''The short time I spent with him, I talked to him a lot, and his ability was already there."

Buehrle, though, is no one-season revelation. He may be just 26, but he's started 172 regular-season games, compiling an 85-53 record and 3.63 ERA. Terry Francona tapped him to start the All-Star Game this year (perhaps the AL's starting catcher, Jason Varitek, took a few notes that day). Buehrle pitched two scoreless innings as the game's winner.

''The way he handled the responsibility of being the starter, we were all very impressed," Francona said. ''He seemed to take it as a huge honor."

Buehrle, in hindsight, said, ''I wasn't nervous for the All-Star Game. I thought I would be a lot more nervous than I was."

Wells acknowledged that he is not beyond feeling nervous. But he also said he might soon be beyond the game.

It remains hard to believe that Wells will turn down $4 million guaranteed -- and the chance to earn $9 million -- next season, but he's likely bound for offseason knee surgery, and 11 postseason wins by the Sox might be enough to persuade him to retire.

''I'm feeling pretty good right now," he said. ''But I hope we can just win the whole thing and I can run off into the sunset and say goodbye."

Would he really quit?

''It would make my decision a lot easier, yeah," Wells said. ''I mean, it would be an easy exit. But like I said, I'm not going to jump the gun now. I want to win it first. So when I do, it will be an easy decision for me."

That's 11 wins away. The Sox, meanwhile, are two losses away from elimination.