Comments are not a hit with Kazmir

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff  |  April 20, 2006

Tampa Bay lefthander Scott Kazmir didn't care for comments Curt Schilling made this week on WEEI radio, when Boston's ace said the reason the Red Sox and Devil Rays have had numerous bench-clearing incidents is because of Kazmir ''hitting multiple batters every time he threw against us. I don't know if any of it was intentional, but he kept hitting players."

Kazmir, who will pitch the series finale tonight against Tim Wakefield, responded to Schilling's comments in today's St. Petersburg Times.

''I don't know why he would say that," said Kazmir. ''I never tried to hit anyone ever.

''What can you do? Why would I, of all people, get thrown into everything? I was looking at a video before of past things with the Red Sox and Devil Rays and they had all this other stuff before I was even in pro ball. And all of a sudden it's all because of me? OK.

''It was very surprising to hear that."

Schilling, who improved to 4-0 with last night's 9-1 win over the Devil Rays, went on to say in the radio interview, ''We made it clear to them, for the most part, that we were only throwing at guys on their team because their young pitchers couldn't throw inside. Obviously, he's getting better and he's learning. But you don't learn to pitch in the big leagues inside, you learn how to do that in the minor leagues. And you can't do that here because you get people hurt."

Kazmir responded, ''So, I guess I don't know how to pitch inside if I hit a guy or two? It doesn't make too much sense. It's his opinion. He wants to be heard."

Kazmir is 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA this season. In seven career starts against the Red Sox, he's 2-1 (with both wins coming at Fenway) and has allowed only 12 earned runs and 29 hits in 38 2/3 innings (a 2.79 ERA) while striking out 36.

Keith Foulke pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with a strikeout last night, but said prior to the game that the benefits of the Synvisc injections he received in his knees during spring training have begun to lessen, as he's feeling some of the same aches he felt before the injections were given.

Foulke said there's nothing he can do except push himself while his knees heal naturally, though one orthopedic physician with familiarity of the procedure said the injections can be repeated.

Foulke said the knees are ''still feeling uncomfortable." He said the good feeling he had in the knees not long after the shots has ''regressed over the last three weeks."

''There was a lot of benefit to it for a while and I was really excited about how I felt," Foulke said. ''There's no doubt I have a better range of motion than I did. Now it's back to the point where they're bothering me again."

Asked what he could do to improve the situation or if he could take another round of shots, Foulke shrugged and indicated he just needed to keep pushing himself to get through it.

The Sox' medical staff recently put lefthander David Wells on the injections, which are an artificial joint lubricant used in the absence of cartilage, providing pain relief while promoting quicker healing.

Julian Tavarez struck out two in his inning of work last night. The righthander showed good velocity and movement, and was encouraged by his outing. ''It was just good to get some work," Tavarez said. ''I've got to get used to not getting as much work in the American League as I used to in the National League. The starters go longer here, so there aren't as many opportunities." While Tavarez said he doesn't get his fastball up to 94-95 miles per hour anymore, ''I still have pretty good movement." . . . Wells told the Sox' publication staff he would not be commenting further on his apology to commissioner Bud Selig. A major league source with familiarity with the apology said Wells had to issue the public apology to avoid a suspension or a fine. It was similar to last season when Wells made comments directed at Selig concerning his handling of steroids, which required Wells to meet with Major League Baseball and union officials and also issue an apology to avoid disciplinary action.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez says he's pleased with the Fenway infield and likes the fact the grass is kept higher to help the fielders. ''I think it's very good," Gonzalez said. ''I suggested to the groundskeeper to keep it wet. It shouldn't be any problem as long as that happens." Gonzalez said he's enjoyed his first experience in Boston. ''People care about baseball," he said. ''It's like Venezuela when we were playing for the Caribbean World Series. . . . People appreciate the little things that we do at the plate or in the field. They really know baseball. I love the atmosphere."

The ball, obtained from an umpire Tuesday night, will probably reside in Mike Timlin's office, along with all the other balls from all the other memorable games and all the other milestones. This one, though, the one that smacked off the bat of Kevin Youkilis for the two-out, two-run double that beat the Devil Rays, signifies his biggest number yet: Nine hundred appearances, something replicated by only two other active players. So what, exactly, does it mean? ''It means I've been around a long time," the 40-year-old Timlin said. ''When you start this game, you believe you're going to play forever. That's the reason you play this game," said Timlin, is tied for 15th on the all-time list, just six games behind Cy Young. ''It becomes a part of you. It's what you do. It's a gift from God."

Mike Port, the supervisor of umpires, said David Ortiz's comments concerning the umpires' consistency and the many pitches he takes that are called strikes, received some attention at his office. Port said he's never discussed the matter with him, though Ortiz did have a meeting with league disciplinarian Bob Watson on the topic in Philadelphia just prior to the start of the season. Ortiz claimed he was 90 percent accurate when he argues a pitch that's called a strike. In response, Port said, ''David Ortiz is a great player, and an even better person. Yes, sometimes an umpire will miss a pitch or a play. However, happily for the Red Sox, if David did his job to the extent the umpires statistically do theirs, he would be hitting over .900." . . . Ortiz will receive the 2005 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award tonight. In addition, Silver Slugger Awards will be handed out to Ortiz, Manny Ramírez, and Jason Varitek by former Sox star Jim Rice. Both Varitek and Mike Lowell will receive their Rawlings Gold Glove awards by Sox great Frank Malzone, who won three of them playing third base . . . Draft orders were announced for the June 6-7 amateur draft. The Sox will select 27th and 28th (from the Yankees for Johnny Damon) and also receive a compensatory pick at 40, also for the loss of Damon. The Sox also receive a compensatory pick, the 44th pick, for the loss of Bill Mueller to the Dodgers . . . Coco Crisp will be evaluated by doctors today and he could have the splint removed from his left index finger.

Amalie Benjamin of the Globe staff contributed to this report.