Schilling OK with outing

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Theo Epstein told one reporter Curt Schilling looked ''all right" in six minor league innings yesterday. The Sox general manager told another that Schilling was ''OK." Epstein wanted to be consistent, and he was, consistent in saying that Schilling's results still generate more wonder than awe.

That makes it awfully difficult to gauge what Schilling will offer come April 3 and beyond, because while Epstein's reviews were tepid, Schilling continues to feel pleased with his work.

Yesterday, in yet another minor league game -- he will make only two spring starts against major league clubs in order to avoid American League East opponents -- Schilling consistently worked at 89 to 92 miles per hour. He threw 80 pitches, and approximately 10 reached 92 miles per hour.

He called his velocity ''all right," saying, ''I thought I threw some balls good. That's probably my No. 1 question all season going into the spring, where that's going to be. I'm comfortable with where I'm at. Come April you get a little bit more. I felt stronger in the sixth than I did in the first."

That wasn't false bravado. Schilling's 73d and 74th pitches registered 92 on the gun, representing the only time he put together two pitches at that velocity.

Meanwhile, Schilling, who said he showed up at 252 pounds last year, said he now weighs 242.

''I showed up this spring at, I think, exactly what I showed up at in '04 -- 242," said Schilling, who allowed four hits, walked one, and fanned six yesterday. ''And that's right where I need to be because a lot of my power comes from my disproportionately built body. And that will never change.

''But I also have to be very careful about going the other way. Because it's something that will wear on me, with my foot being the way it is and my knees. It's something I pay attention to a lot more than I was in the past."

The Sox, Epstein indicated, are not close to moving man-without-a-position Tony Graffanino. And Graffanino, a gracious and likable teammate, is beginning to struggle with the unknown.

''As much as I try not to think about it, it's constantly on my mind," he said. ''I'm still confused why I was offered arbitration. That forced me to come back."

The Sox offered Graffanino arbitration in December to receive draft-pick compensation if he signed elsewhere. But, once arbitration was offered, teams interested in Graffanino backed off, unwilling to give up a pick.

''That's what I'm struggling with," he said. ''I had no choice but to accept arbitration. As much as I loved being here, I was forced to be re-signed. It makes you angry, but there's no sense getting mad. I know Theo's trying."

Graffanino said he's been told there are about a handful of genuinely interested teams, but his initial hope, to get a starting job somewhere, is all but quashed, ''unless," he said, ''a guy completely falls on his face or is injured."

He's been auditioned at second and third base this spring, and he'll move to first base today in a split-squad game against Tampa Bay.

''I haven't done any work over there this spring," he said. ''So it may not be pretty."

At the plate, he's hitting just .100 (2 for 20).

''I don't know if I've put more of a burden on myself," he said. ''But unintentionally this has been a burden. If I hit really well, I might make myself more attractive."

The Cubs, Marlins, and Mets, among other teams, are believed to be interested in Graffanino.

At long last, David Wells makes his spring debut today. He's expected to pitch only two innings in a minor league contest scheduled for noon, but he's expected to draw several representatives of teams potentially interested in dealing for him. Though Wells rescinded his request to be shipped out West, the Sox still have a surplus of starting pitching and would be willing to move Wells, Matt Clement, or Bronson Arroyo in the right deal . . . Keith Foulke threw batting practice to three hitters, including Graffanino. Foulke needs one more injection of Synvisc (artificial knee fluid) in his left knee, and one more batting practice session, before progressing to a game. Expect that long-awaited Grapefruit League debut to come in about a week, barring a change of plans . . . Ken Huckaby's left knee has progressed to the point that he caught Foulke yesterday and will catch Wells today. He could make his spring debut as soon as tomorrow . . . The Sox managed only a run off Kris Benson and three Baltimore relievers at Fort Lauderdale, losing, 3-1, to fall to 3-10 this spring. Mark Loretta went 2 for 3, upping his spring average to .611, and scored the run. David Pauley, a member of the Double A Portland Sea Dogs last season, started for the Sox and allowed two runs in four innings . . . Last year's top pick, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, made the play of the day in the minor league game. David Murphy launched a Schilling changeup to the base of the wall in right-center, and Ellsbury, on a dead run, dived, reeled in the ball in midair, and hit the warning track, sending up a plume of dust as he rolled into the wall. ''That was a fantastic catch," Schilling said. ''To someone who's as terrifically slow as I am, he looked even faster." Later, Ellsbury reached on a bunt single against Tim Wakefield, even though Wakefield knew Ellsbury would be bunting. The reason: He jammed his wrist late last season, and the Sox have brought him along slowly this year. Ellsbury, the former Oregon State star, is hitting in a cage and soon should progress to taking cuts in games . . . Jon Lester will make his second spring start today, at St. Petersburg vs. Tampa Bay. Josh Beckett will make his home debut today vs. the Twins' Brad Radke.