Epstein spells out his defense of move

Theo Epstein and his former mentor, Kevin Towers, routinely exchange e-mails and phone calls, most social, some business. A round of business exchanges began about a week ago and intensified after Thursday's game, in which Josh Bard allowed four passed balls.

Yesterday morning, the San Diego and Boston general managers finalized their discussions, with the Red Sox dealing Bard, Triple A reliever Cla Meredith, and either $100,000 or a player to be named to the Padres for Doug Mirabelli, who was back caddying for Tim Wakefield at 7:13 last night, exactly 25 minutes after touching down at Logan Airport.

The Yankees, according to a major league source, ''were active players as well," attempting to block the Sox. Epstein wasn't sure of that, but said, ''There was one other team the Padres said they were talking to. You never know; sometimes that can be a smoke screen or a play for leverage, but even afterwards, they kind of told us that there was some competition."

Why do the deal now?

''It was sort of an ongoing evaluation process," Epstein said. ''How long was it going to take Josh to get up to a certain level? What's the acquisition cost of Mirabelli? What are our other options? We were assessing all the variables that seemed to make sense. The acquisition cost was pretty reasonable. We were at a point where it was getting into the season enough where we thought it was time to do something."

''First, let me say I'm ecstatic to have him back," Wakefield said. ''Secondly, I feel just horrible for Josh Bard. This kid is a true professional. He worked his tail off throughout spring training. He cared a lot. I kind of feel like he was in a no-win situation here."

Did Wakefield feel a move had to be made?

''I didn't feel that way," he said.

The cost was low. Meredith, at this time last year, was rocketing through the Sox system. On May 8 of last year, when he was called up less than one full year removed from college, he'd allowed only four runs in 47 minor league innings for a 0.77 ERA.

But the righthanded sidearmer gave up a grand slam to Richie Sexson in his debut, soon returned to Pawtucket, and has yet to be the same. He posted a 5.59 ERA at Pawtucket, saved 10 games but blew 10 as well, and was effectively batting practice for lefthanded hitters.

''You know, I'm still kind of kicking myself," said Sox manager Terry Francona, who politicked for Meredith to be called up last May. ''Theo kept telling me, 'Let's not do this, let's not do this.' I know he's the boss, but he kind of relented.

''I thought some of that set him back in his development and I felt really bad about that. I think it took him a little while to rebound. I think he did. I think he has a chance to be a major league pitcher."

This year, the 22-year-old Meredith had a 5.27 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. His velocity, 86-88 miles per hour last year, has been in the 85-86 range. He'll join the Padres' Triple A club but stands a good chance of pitching in San Diego this season.

''We have no doubt [Bard] would have eventually figured it out with Wake," Epstein said. ''It might have been three days from now. It might have been three months from now. We didn't necessarily have the luxury of time. The single best solution was available now and we didn't want to wait.

''Wake was very professional and understanding and a big supporter of Josh's efforts. He didn't make any demands or ask us to do anything. We just feel that Tim is a very important part of this team and we wanted to put him in a position to be successful as possible. We felt that there's probably no one better on the planet, no one better suited than Doug to do this."

''A week ago," David Wells said, ''I was ready to go home." As in, go home and call it a career. ''It was frustrating," he continued. ''I couldn't even walk to the bathroom because it hurt so bad."

Wells since has completed the three-shot series of Synvisc injections in his right knee. And, yesterday, after he played catch for the first time in about 10 days, he sounded encouraged.

''I felt pretty [expletive] good," he said. ''Did some throwing today, long toss, short toss, threw some breaking balls, got over it, and it felt pretty [expletive] good."

Wells said he will leave his rehabilitation schedule up to the medical staff.

''I'm just happy I feel good," he said. ''I'm going to let them dictate what else goes on and go on how I feel."

He promises he won't rush himself back, even though he's been known to do so.

''Why would I?" he asked.

For the money, it was suggested. He can pocket $200,000 per start for starts 11-20 and $300,000 per start for starts 21-30.

''If it were about the money, I'd be out there pitching and complaining," he said. ''That is not a factor. The factor to me is being healthy and being able to help the team any way I can. If I can get out there without being hindered, I feel I can help. That's my main objective. The team, the team only.

''Today's been the first day I've been able to put any pressure on it. To me that's huge progress. It's huge. Because I can do that, I should go out in a game? No. I'd rather have longevity than a moment."

He said he'll throw again today, then listen to the trainers' recommendations.

Greg Rybarczyk, creator of the home run tracking device Hit Tracker, offered the following insight on David Ortiz's eighth-inning homer off Mike Myers, the only extra-base hit on a 46-degree night with a 16 mile-per-hour wind blowing in: ''Using 46 degrees and 16 m.p.h. wind in from CF, Ortiz's homer left the bat at 120.7 m.p.h., at an angle of 37.7 degrees (a very nice hit speed and angle for distance). It actually traveled 395 feet, and the impact from atmospherics were as follows: Impact from wind: -54 feet (as compared to no wind). Impact from temperature: -12 feet (as compared to a 70 degree day). If there had been no wind and 70 degrees, the ball would have gone 460 feet (this is what I call 'standard distance'). So far this year, there have only been 10 homers hit that had a longer 'standard distance.' Another stat: if the wind had been blowing out to CF at 16 m.p.h. instead, the ball would have gone 509 feet, and it would have landed about 25 rows up in section 37 of the CF bleachers."

Coco Crisp, echoing what Francona has said for about a week, expects to be back in about two weeks. ''Hopefully," he said, ''I'll be back before mid May." Crisp, injured in the fifth game of the season, is scheduled to have an X-ray Friday on his left index finger. ''We'll see if that allows him to do more baseball activities," Francona said. ''Hopefully, he'll get the OK." What has Crisp done? ''Nothing two-handed baseball-wise," Francona said. ''He's done bat drills only one-handed. He's done nothing where he'd make contact with a baseball or put any stress on that. A lot of throwing, running, conditioning." Crisp revealed that the initial timetable he was given was three to eight weeks. He's on pace to miss five. He doesn't know how long a rehab assignment he'll need . . . Odd sight of the day: Before Johnny Damon sat down in a press conference room at Fenway Park, a Yankees banner was put up as a backdrop. One of the men hoisting the banner was Paul Williams, the former part-time groundskeeper involved in the October 2003 bullpen melee with Yankees Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia.

Wakefield recorded his 1,500th strikeout with the Sox and received the game ball to commemorate the achievement. He trails only Roger Clemens (2,590) and Pedro Martínez (1,596) on the club's all-time K list . . . Manny Ramírez singled twice and walked twice. He's batting .353 with 12 RBIs in his last 15 games, improving his average from .205 to .289 . . . Gary Sheffield, who bruised his left wrist Saturday in a baserunning collision with Shea Hillenbrand, was not in the lineup. Bubba Crosby played right field and batted ninth . . . David Riske, who has pitched only once this season because of a bad lower back, could throw a bullpen session as soon as today.