Schilling ready to make spring debut
Red Sox ace will face Twins at City of Palms Park
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Those fans with tickets to the Red Sox-Twins contest at City of Palms Park on Friday will have an unexpected treat. Boston ace Curt Schilling will take the ball, making his first start against a Major League team since Game 2 of the 2004 World Series.
The game will be one of six broadcast live Friday on MLB.TV.
Schilling threw three innings in a minor league game on Monday, and the original plan was that he'd do the same thing again on Friday. But, in large part because Matt Clement has already faced the Twins three times this spring, he will pitch in the minor league game while Schilling makes what might be his only exhibition start against a Major League team.
Jason Varitek will catch Schilling at City of Palms and backup catcher Doug Mirabelli will make the two-mile trek to the minor league complex with Clement.
"Clement's faced Minnesota almost every time," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He didn't mind going down and doing it, and it's good for [Schilling] to get in a real game."
Schilling is slated to pitch again next Wednesday, though he might go back to the minor leagues for that one. Part of the reason for that is that Schilling might be on the 15-day disabled list by then, and, thus, he would be ineligible to pitch in a game where there is paid attendance.
The fact that Schilling is pitching in a Major League game Friday instead of in the minors has nothing to do with the progress he's made over the last few days, though it has been steady.
The timetable remains roughly the same, as Schilling -- who had right ankle surgery last Nov. 9 -- should be ready to make his 2005 debut sometime in the middle of April.
Schilling will accompany the Red Sox to New York for the much-anticipated Opening Night against the Yankees on April 3. Instead of pitching, he will watch David Wells face Schilling's ex-Diamondbacks teammate Randy Johnson. The next day, Schilling will likely fly back to Florida and pitch in a minor league game.
Red Sox ace will face Twins at City of Palms Park
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Those fans with tickets to the Red Sox-Twins contest at City of Palms Park on Friday will have an unexpected treat. Boston ace Curt Schilling will take the ball, making his first start against a Major League team since Game 2 of the 2004 World Series.
The game will be one of six broadcast live Friday on MLB.TV.
Schilling threw three innings in a minor league game on Monday, and the original plan was that he'd do the same thing again on Friday. But, in large part because Matt Clement has already faced the Twins three times this spring, he will pitch in the minor league game while Schilling makes what might be his only exhibition start against a Major League team.
Jason Varitek will catch Schilling at City of Palms and backup catcher Doug Mirabelli will make the two-mile trek to the minor league complex with Clement.
"Clement's faced Minnesota almost every time," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He didn't mind going down and doing it, and it's good for [Schilling] to get in a real game."
Schilling is slated to pitch again next Wednesday, though he might go back to the minor leagues for that one. Part of the reason for that is that Schilling might be on the 15-day disabled list by then, and, thus, he would be ineligible to pitch in a game where there is paid attendance.
The fact that Schilling is pitching in a Major League game Friday instead of in the minors has nothing to do with the progress he's made over the last few days, though it has been steady.
The timetable remains roughly the same, as Schilling -- who had right ankle surgery last Nov. 9 -- should be ready to make his 2005 debut sometime in the middle of April.
Schilling will accompany the Red Sox to New York for the much-anticipated Opening Night against the Yankees on April 3. Instead of pitching, he will watch David Wells face Schilling's ex-Diamondbacks teammate Randy Johnson. The next day, Schilling will likely fly back to Florida and pitch in a minor league game.
