Foulke's back still in lockdown

NEW YORK -- Keith Foulke, who hadn't been speaking with the media this week, was asked yesterday how his back felt and said, ``Peachy. Feels like I could build me an Eiffel Tower."

Foulke then relaxed, acknowledging that his back ``locked up" last weekend, ``and until it lets go it's going to be tough for me to do anything. [The pain] is in between the middle [of my back] and the top of my butt. It hurts to turn, it hurts to bend, it hurts to pitch. It's the first time it's bothered me since probably the playoffs in '03."

Manager Terry Francona acknowledged the Sox gave ``some thought" yesterday to putting Foulke on the disabled list. He has not pitched since May 31 in Toronto, meaning a visit to the DL could be backdated to June 1, allowing the club to activate him June 16 at Atlanta. If that move had been made Foulke would have missed tonight's game, the four-game weekend series vs. Texas, and the three-game series at Minnesota next week. In that case, the Sox would have recalled Jermaine Van Buren, who was optioned to Pawtucket Tuesday night to make room for Craig Hansen.

But, the Sox elected not to go down that road.

``We're going to stick with Foulkie," Francona said. ``We told Keith, whether it's one day, two days, three days, we'll just stick with him, not pitch him until he's ready. We have the extra pitcher here, so that's kind of the way we go about it. [He] probably needs at the most two, three days, so that doesn't make sense. He's getting better."

Even though last night's game was postponed Foulke intended to throw in the late afternoon.

``I may go out there, it may feel great, and I may have been available," he said before throwing. ``I don't know."

Foulke, despite a 4.34 ERA, has given up only one run in his past six appearances covering 4 2/3 innings.

Mike Timlin's schedule continues to change by the day.

When put on the DL because of a strained shoulder, Timlin was expected to be ready Saturday. Two days ago, Francona said Timlin probably would not pitch until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. But yesterday, if not for the rain, Timlin would have thrown a side session, a step he wasn't expected to reach until tomorrow. So, a Sunday or Monday activation might be possible. ``He's feeling good," Francona said. ``That's good news. Now weather has to cooperate enough for him to get out there."

The Sox and Yankees have met 80 times since the beginning of 2003, with each team winning 40 times. Perhaps the most glaring stat in those games: the Yankees have converted just 20 of 35 save opportunities . . . Had Melky Cabrera not reached over the wall and denied Manny Ramírez a home run Tuesday night, it would have been Ramirez's 47th career homer vs. New York and would have moved him into a three-way tie with Harmon Killebrew and Rafael Palmeiro for fifth most against the Yankees . . . David Wells apparently will make a visit to San Diego today to see Dr. Jan Fronek, the surgeon who operated on his right knee during the offseason, Francona said. Wells, who has a deep contusion and no cartilage in the knee, is seeking an answer to an alarming question: Why is his knee not improving?

Gabe Kapler, who has been playing in extended spring training, will report to Double A Portland today to begin a rehab stint of an unknown duration . . . Derek Jeter (sprained right thumb) remains day to day. The Yankee captain was injured when hit by a pitch Sunday and will play once he's able to grip and throw a baseball . . . The Sox, in the 48th round of the draft, selected righthander Josh Papelbon, a University of North Florida sidearmer and brother of the Sox closer. The Sox, who made 54 selections in 50 rounds over two days, selected one New Englander, taking Franklin Pierce second baseman Michael Chambers of Londonderry, N.H., in the 32d round . . . The Sox and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund are asking fans attending Saturday's day-night doubleheader or Sunday's game to donate used baseball or softball equipment to area youth organizations. Fans who make a donation will be eligible to win Sox tickets, autographed memorabilia, and other prizes . . . Believe it or not, the Sox, at 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees, have not been this far out of first place in nearly a year. They were 2 games back June 21, 2005 . . . The Sox, since beating the Yankees, 3-2, April 24, 2004, are winless in five one-run games vs. New York.

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