White Sox deny report

'Schilling' surgery never performed

FORT MYERS, Fla. - After spending more than a day checking with their medical personnel and reviewing their medical records, the Chicago White Sox say none of their players, either on the major league or minor league level, has undergone the type of surgical procedure Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling believes he needs to keep pitching.

Scott Reifert, Chicago's vice president of communications, expressed surprise and dismay that the White Sox had been drawn into the dispute between Schilling and the Red Sox.

That stance contradicts a published report that stated Tony Romeo, a member of the White Sox medical team, had performed the surgery on a Chicago minor league pitcher and that the pitcher was "back throwing successfully." Romeo had not named the player in the report, citing privacy considerations, according to the Boston Herald.

Reifert said Romeo told the club he had been misquoted, that he has performed the procedure on other patients, but never on a professional baseball player. Romeo was attending a conference in Bangkok yesterday.

The Red Sox, according to one club source, had been presented similar incorrect information in discussions with Schilling and his personal physician, Craig Morgan, who recommended that the pitcher undergo biceps tenodesis, which involves detaching the biceps tendon, moving it, and reattaching it to soft tissue or bone. The Red Sox were told two White Sox minor leaguers had undergone the procedure, but were not furnished the names when they asked.

The Red Sox, believing Schilling had little likelihood of pitching this season if he underwent the procedure, instead recommended that he undergo a regimen of rest and rehabilitation. The club's position was that no major league pitcher has had the procedure, unless it was part of a broader operation involving a torn rotator cuff or torn labrum.

A third medical opinion was sought to resolve the dispute, and Mets medical director David Altchek, who according to sources said he believed Schilling had a tear in his rotator cuff in addition to his biceps problem, sided with the Red Sox. Schilling reluctantly is following the Red Sox' program, submitting last week to a cortisone injection as the first step and undertaking an exercise regimen here. But in an entry Tuesday on his blog, 38pitches.com, Schilling made it clear what he thought of the club's position.

"At the end of the day, this really is and was a business decision on their behalf, and regardless of what you think, that's the way it is, and has been," Schilling wrote.

Schilling worked out yesterday and warmly greeted returning teammates, embracing Coco Crisp, among others.

No rush on Francona

Although Sox owners have expressed optimism that they will strike a deal with manager Terry Francona on a new contract, there are indications talks could continue for some time. Reports this week of coach Tom Coughlin quickly coming to terms on a new deal with the Giants just a couple of weeks after New York won the Super Bowl, and the Tigers extending Jim Leyland's contract and doubling his salary as soon as the season ended, underscore the difference in approach taken by the Sox. They chose not to negotiate with Francona last season, and waited weeks after the team won the World Series to initiate talks. Francona, whose salary of $1.65 million placed him in the top half of managerial salaries but well below the top echelon, is believed to be seeking a raise that would place him in the $4 million range, occupied by the likes of Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, Leyland, and Tony La Russa. It is reasonable to believe Francona is seeking a deal for at least three years. He has the leverage of two World Series titles in four years and, with his current contract expiring at the end of this season, could expect to be in demand on the open market . . . Alan Nero, agent for second baseman Dustin Pedroia and pitcher Jon Lester, is expected here next week to negotiate one-year deals for his clients . . . Alex Cora showed up yesterday afternoon, meaning all Sox players have checked in on time, with one exception. Nonroster outfielder Bobby Kielty is expected this weekend; his wife is having a baby.

Pitching plans

Francona gave the pitching rotation for the first few games of the exhibition schedule. Josh Beckett will start the first game, against Boston College, next Thursday in City of Palms Park, followed by Kyle Snyder. Minor leaguer Justin Masterson will pitch that night against Northeastern, followed by Craig Hansen and Michael Bowden. Daisuke Matsuzaka gets the start Friday in the opener of a three-game weekend series against the Twins (the first two games are at Hammond Stadium), with Julian Tavarez and Hideki Okajima following. Lester starts Saturday, followed by Devern Hansack and David Pauley. On Sunday in City of Palms, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz will pitch . . . Don't ask Sean Casey to take the place of Eric Hinske. Casey can play first base, of course. But the outfield? That's probably not a good idea. "You might have to bring the three-ring circus out there if you throw me in the outfield, but I can try," said Casey, who has played only first in the major leagues. "I've shagged some baseballs in [batting practice]; that's pretty much my extent in the outfield. In an emergency situation, I can go out there. Emergency. The city would have to be on fire." . . . Pitching coach John Farrell said Matsuzaka would be given some flexibility in throwing longer bullpen sessions, as he had expressed an interest in doing during the offseason. Matsuzaka's pitch count will be limited. "In the near future, [he's going to] get some extended bullpens," Farrell said. "A chance to work by himself . . . sometimes when pitchers throw in a group setting like that, it can be a little distracting at times. There will be opportunities where he'll get, with every one of our starters, individual sessions in between starts and leading up to the game schedule where there will be more focused time, more focused work, as we begin to schedule guys in for their starts. Within reason."