Tiant isn't expecting call

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Luis Tiant is not optimistic about his chances when the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee announces the results of its voting tomorrow.

Tiant is among those on a ballot of 27 former major league players nominated for election by the committee, which is comprised of the living Hall of Fame members, as well as the Ford C. Frick (broadcasters) and J.G. Taylor Spink (writers) winners, currently a voting body of 84. There is an additional ballot of 15 former managers, executives, and umpires.

Any candidate named on 75 percent of the ballots cast will be elected, but the veterans committee has not elected anyone in the last two elections, which are held every two years.

In a 19-year big league career, Tiant won 229 games, struck out 2,416 batters, had an ERA of 3.30 and a winning percentage of .571. And, of course, he went 3-0 in the postseason in 1975, when the Sox lost the World Series in seven games to the Cincinnati Reds after sweeping the Oakland Athletics in the American League playoffs.

"I don't even know when their vote is," Tiant said dismissively. "Whatever they want to do, that's fine.

"I know my numbers, they can't take them away from me. I don't want to tell you I don't want to be there, because I should be there. It's hard to make a group of people change their minds, or whatever. Check the records: 'If he's there, why isn't he there?'

"That's embarrassing, what they've done [no selections]. I don't know if it's true, but some people have told me these guys think that if you were not voted in the regular way, by the writers, then you don't belong there. That's BS."

Tiant said Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, who just missed (eight votes) in the last ballot, deserves entry as does fellow Cuban Tony Oliva, the Twins outfielder described by Tiant as the best hitter he ever faced.

For the second time in three days, manager Terry Francona wasn't able to make his appointed rounds at the team's workout, instead staying home to deal with a flu bug that has hit him hard. A team doctor saw him twice yesterday morning after a visit Saturday night. Francona had come out Saturday to view the workout, but may not have given himself time to recover from a 100-degree temperature the day before. There was some concern that he might be dehydrated . . . Mike Timlin had to cut short his bullpen session after 10 pitches or so when struck by either a cramp or spasm in his left side. "I just cramped up," Timlin said. "I thought it would go away for a second, but it was still there, so I shut it down." He came in for heat, ice, and a rub and said he'll have to wait to see if he will make his scheduled exhibition debut Wednesday. Timlin is the second reliever to come up with a back problem, joining Craig Hansen, who will take it slow for a few days after sustaining a slight strain. The difference is, no one raises the issue of Hansen's age as they do with Timlin, who turns 41 next month. "Old guy, starting to fall apart now," Timlin said, tongue in cheek. Asked if he and the other members of the 40-plus fraternity -- Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield -- might form a club within the club, with their own T-shirts and the like, Timlin said, "No, that would be a clique, and this team has no cliques." Timlin reiterated his desire to get a shot at closing, which he didn't get in the famous bullpen-by-committee in 2003. "You know how we all got a vote in the committee, I got left out," Timlin said . . . Jason Varitek tried out a pair of infrared contact lenses, but only because they might help him with contrast in colors, especially in Fenway Park shadows. Varitek's eyesight is exceptional: He said it's 20-10 . . . There's a chance David Ortiz will be hitting against Daisuke Matsuzaka when the Japanese star throws another round of live BP today. "You know what?" Ortiz said. "Dice-K is on my team now, so I don't have to worry about him. But right now, I don't feel like getting in the cage against anybody." . . . Former Sox general manager Dan Duquette today will be formally announced as the director of player development for the fledgling Israel Baseball League . . . An aside to Leslie Epstein: Dick and Rose Furgal of neighboring Naples send word that Nathan's is about to open a hot dog stand in the Fort Myers airport.

Gordon Edes can be reached at edes@globe.com.