For US, bullpen call goes to Timlin
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Despite appearing in more major league games than all but 16 pitchers, Mike Timlin could never call himself an All-Star or an Olympian. But yesterday, the proud Texan received an honor that will occupy that void, as he, along with Jason Varitek, made the final cut of 30 for the US team for the World Baseball Classic team.
''I know he'll be excited," Sox manager Terry Francona said yesterday morning, before Timlin's spot on the team had been solidified. ''Although I have reservations about pitchers, I'm pulling so hard for him because I think the honor would probably mean more to him than some other people."
As Francona indicated, injury prevention is of paramount concern, especially when the pitcher in question is the second-oldest on the US roster, behind only 43-year-old Roger Clemens, and appeared in a club-record 81 games last season. Dating to 2001, Timlin, who turns 40 March 10, has appeared in 368 games, less than only Ray King (401) and Paul Quantrill (391).
''I just want to make sure the way he leaves is the way he comes back," Francona said. ''But I've already yelled at him twice, about getting ready for this. We've had this discussion."
Francona, of course, didn't yell at Timlin, but has expressed to the veteran reliever his value to the Sox, and, therefore, his need to listen to his body. Francona said he'll alter the righthander's throwing sessions up until Timlin leaves the club in about two weeks to help prepare him for the 15-day tournament, which runs March 3-20.
''The thing is, he's a reliever, and on March 4 and March 5 he won't be doing a lot more there than he would be here, which is throwing one inning," Francona said. ''The difference is you're throwing with aggression, with some adrenaline.
''You're going to see a lot of general managers, managers, organizations hold their breath every time their pitcher steps on the mound."
Thank you, no
Keith Foulke played catch for about 15 minutes yesterday but declined when asked by multiple reporters if he could spare a few minutes. ''Not till Sunday," Foulke said. ''No one has to know I'm here. I'm on vacation until Sunday." Foulke made some of his throws using a changeup grip. At one point, he told the person he was throwing to, ''That's one of the good signs I saw when I started working on basic mechanics. Staying back, staying closed, the changeup's coming back big time." The closer's job, Francona said, is Foulke's to lose. ''I think as long as he's healthy, that's his job," Francona said. ''I think that's the best way to get the best out of not only him but our ball club. That's why we signed him. If he can't do it, that's one thing. But I think going into it you hope he can and you expect him to. That's the best way to approach it." . . . Pitching coach Dave Wallace, hospitalized at Massachusetts General with an infection in his hip that spread through his body, hopes to be released tomorrow, Francona said. However, Wallace is staring down six weeks of rest and IV-administered antibiotics at home. ''We probably won't see him, at best, until the middle of March," Francona said. ''And that's at best. He might be in for a long haul."
