01:00 AM EST on Sunday, February 27, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Curt Schilling's body language suggested he was not happy with the mound surface or with the quality of his work yesterday in his second bullpen session of the spring.

And he didn't address his mood or his performance in the side session with the media.

But while Schilling clearly is expecting more from himself, manager Terry Francona knows it's going to take longer for his ace right-hander to round into peak form after offseason surgery to repair a ruptured tendon sheath in his right ankle.

Schilling's ankle appears sound, permitting him to throw two side sessions in three days. But the recuperation altered the workout routine Schilling normally undergoes before spring training, causing him to be rusty.

"He's got some work to do," said Francona. "He's used to showing up and hitting his spots. That's not going to happen. This will be a battle for him. He's used to doing things perfect and right now he's not able to do that."

For the record, Schilling threw 43 pitches in about 12 minutes. He threw 47 in about 12 minutes in his first workout off the mound two days earlier.

Yesterday he backed off after starting his delivery seven times, appearing uncomfortable with either the mechanics of his motion or the condition of the mound. He threw only two breaking balls. He also threw only three pitches from the stretch position.

Only the beginning

Francona named his starting pitchers for the first five days of the exhibition season, which begins Thursday night with a game at City of Palms Park against the crosstown rival Minnesota Twins.

And David Wells was not on the list.

Don't read anything into that, said Francona.

"There are no red flags," said Francona, referring to the health status of the 42-year-old veteran left-hander, who signed a two-year free-agent deal with the Sox in the offseason.

"It's not necessary that he need a certain amount of innings," said Francona. "That's just the way it is for him."

Another free agent signee, Matt Clement, will pitch the opener. On Friday, Tim Wakefield will face Northeastern in the afternoon and Mike Timlin will start against Boston College in the nightcap. On the split-squad Saturday schedule, Anastacio Martinez will start at home against the Twins in the afternoon, with Bronson Arroyo starting that night in Sarasota against the Reds.

Jeremi Gonzalez will get the start Sunday at home against Philadelphia, and left-hander Abe Alvarez will start at home against the Yankees on Tuesday night.

No need to rush

Bill Mueller, who had a arthroscopic procedure performed on his right knee in early Fenruary, continues to progress.

Yesterday marked the second time he has been allowed to field ground balls. The Sox starting third baseman was not permitted to participate in the rundown drills.

"The knee is feeling wonderful, but they don't want to push it right now," said Mueller, who has been hitting, throwing and jogging since arriving camp. "I'm not going to start running hard until two more weeks, or something like that. It will depend on how things are going. So far, I don't feel any hiccups."

Mueller said he still was hoping to get into games in the second week of the exhibition schedule.

Around the horn

Right-hander Wade Miller (frayed right rotator cuff) will increase the distance of his long-toss session from the 180 feet he has been doing to 210 feet today. Then the plan is to have him play catch tomorrow, take Tuesday off and get on the mound for his first spring side session on Tuesday. . . . Wakefield, Clement and Timlin will throw batting practice tomorrow without the protective screen in front of them, to get ready for their initial spring starts. . . . Byung-Hyun Kim drilled Roberto Petagine in the side with a rising fastball that got away during batting practice. Petagine stepped back in the cage the next time his turn came around. . . . Shortstop Hanley Ramirez hobbled around a bit after fouling a pitch from Arroyo off his right ankle. But he also shook it off and continued the workout. . . . Former Red Sox second baseman Luis Alicea, who will be back for a second year as Lowell manager, was back in camp along with other minor-league coaches and managers with a select group of minor leaguers who worked out when the big-league team was done.

White House trip set

Traveling secretary Jack McCormick wasn't sure yesterday exactly how large the Red Sox contingent will be for the team's quick trip Wednesday to the White House to meet President Bush, but he did know that former Sox Pedro Martinez (Mets), Derek Lowe (Dodgers) and Mike Myers (Cardinals) would be unable to attend.

The Sox will end their workout Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., hop on a charter flight that will get them to Washington, D.C., at 2:15 p.m. for a 3:15 meeting with President Bush on the South Lawn, weather permitting. McCormick expects the return flight to touch down around 8:30 that night.