Schilling targets solution to problem

ARLINGTON, Texas -- There are parts that are simple. Like, say, recognizing that there's a problem. Then there are parts that are more complicated. Like, say, fixing the problem.

Though Curt Schilling is well aware of "little bitty things," some of them mechanical, that have crept into his pitching, that doesn't mean that correcting them will immediately follow.

"You can watch the video, as I have, I mean, I'm not commanding my fastball and my split is not splitting," Schilling said before the Red Sox' 10-6 victory over the Texas Rangers last night. "It really is simple. There's mechanical things you need to adjust and mental adjustments you need to make, but it really is that simple. I'm getting killed in the middle of the plate. If I throw 20 fastballs to the corner, I'm getting 10 to the corner, and the 10 I'm missing with, I'm missing right down the middle.

"There are little bitty things. I knew going in the other day [against the Yankees, an 8-3 loss Wednesday]. I was aware of them and I still did it sometimes. That's a combination of not being locked in, not being completely confident, a lot of little things that add up."

Over his last four starts, Schilling has allowed 14 earned runs (and his first unearned run in 69 starts) in 24 innings, causing his ERA to jump from 3.15 to 3.94.

As Schilling continues to criticize himself harshly, Red Sox manager Terry Francona maintains that command of his fastball, as with most every pitcher this side of Tim Wakefield, will take Schilling back to success. Francona said, "I thought the ball was coming out of his hand pretty well the other night," though the manager added that the pitch Hideki Matsui hit for a two-run, first-inning home run was a mistake.

"I said [to pitching coach John Farrell], 'Make sure Schill takes out of this outing that those last three or four innings were pretty good,' " Francona said. "Got a couple of eight-pitch innings [eight in the fourth, 10 in the fifth] against the Yankees. And I knew Schill, as hard as he is on himself and as much of a perfectionist as he is, I knew the comments he said, you could kind of see that coming. He doesn't like when he pitches like that or gives up runs. I don't think he has to reinvent himself. He just needs to locate his fastball."

While earlier in the season, Schilling said, his off-target pitches would find their way out of the strike zone, those pitches are now being left out over the plate -- where big league hitters don't miss.

"I know there's a change in stuff," Schilling said. "I'm consistently throwing the ball 89 to 91 [miles per hour] instead of 92 to 94, and those mistakes that were foul balls are now doubles and homers, and that's what's killing me."

Roger Clemens's next start will be in the minors.

Clemens will pitch Monday at Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Toledo. It's still not certain when the 44-year-old righthander will return to the Yankees.

"We'll take it start by start," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said last night. "We want him to come up here when he's ready to help."

It did not appear Clemens would join the Yankees by next weekend for their series against the Sox at Fenway Park.

"Fenway, as they used to say in football, is piling on," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Clemens had a bullpen session yesterday away from Yankee Stadium. Torre was still waiting to talk with Clemens to see how he felt.

Clemens pitched for Double A Trenton Wednesday and struggled. He gave up three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, throwing 102 pitches. He walked four, struck out five, and threw a wild pitch.

After a start Thursday in which he allowed one run in five innings and threw 65 pitches, Jon Lester projects to make his next start for Triple A Pawtucket Tuesday, throwing 80-85 pitches.

Addressing Lester's program -- which has prevented him from throwing his cut fastball early in his second rehab stint -- Francona said there could be two potential benefits from such a limitation.

"As his progression goes, so will that," Francona said. "There's a few reasons. One was that he's cramping. The other one was while he's in Triple A, going away from a pitch that can be his go-to pitch, I think we all think [it] might help him develop his other pitches."

While making his weekly appearance Thursday on Providence radio station WSKO, Coco Crisp said Alex Rodriguez apologized to Dustin Pedroia Wednesday for a questionable slide into the Sox' rookie second baseman in the eighth inning of Tuesday night's game at Yankee Stadium . . . Mike Timlin pitched one inning last night in his first rehab appearance with Pawtucket, allowing one walk while throwing 16 pitches (seven strikes) . . . J.D. Drew was back in the lineup after sitting out for a mental-health day Wednesday against Andy Pettitte. Drew was 0 for 4 with a walk, dropping his average to .230 . . . Jason Varitek hit his second triple in a week, bringing his career total to 12. The ball got lodged under the chair of a security guard sitting down the right-field line . . . Julio Lugo stole bases No. 13 and 14.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.