Sox lefty David Wells performs admirably in a side session yesterday, then takes issue with Boston's supposed plan to sit him out for the first two weeks of the upcoming season.

01:00 AM EST on Friday, March 17, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The mound session went fine. The rehabilitating lefty routinely dropped his trademark curve over the plate for strikes, threw his fastball as high as 88 mph and moved around adequately enough on his surgically repaired right knee.

But as usual with David Wells, what he said was nearly as newsworthy as what he did. And when Wells' first stint on the mound this spring was complete, Wells, predictably, said plenty.

After going three innings in a simulated game against Red Sox minor leaguers, he again signaled that he was willing to battle the Red Sox if they hold him back at the start of the regular season.

"I'd have a problem with that," said Wells after giving up two runs on five hits over three innings. "If they're going to go with four (starters in the first two weeks) and I'm going to be the odd man out, that doesn't sit well with me."

Wells insisted that he had been joshing with Terry Francona last week when the manager broached the subject of starting the season on the disabled list and said he hadn't been told of the team's plans for him.

"Until they do (say something), we'll see," he said. "I want to go out and pitch. I'm not the type of guy who wants to sit around for two weeks."

Wells may not have much choice in the matter. The schedule gives the Red Sox two off-days in the first eight -- one after the opening series in Texas, April 3-5, and another on April 10, before the home opener. Wanting to get Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Matt Clement regular work, the Sox had said they won't need a fifth starter until April 12th at the earliest, and perhaps not until April 15.

Placing Wells on the DL would help the Sox two-fold, since it would give him more time to ready himself -- he's yet to face major league hitters, with just 17 days before the season opens while giving the Sox an extra roster spot to play with.

But Wells won't sit without a fight.

"We've got to wait and see," Wells said. "It's too early to speculate. If they still feel the same way after a few more outings, we're definitely going to sit down and talk. I don't see myself waiting until April 15."

Francona, aware of the sensitive nature of the issue, declined to say when Wells might pitch in the regular season, saying he wouldn't play out the matter in the media.

In the meantime, teams continue to show an interest in Wells. Seated directly behind the backstop yesterday were scouts from the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. While neither team would satisfy Wells' desire to pitch on the West Coast, either would be considerably closer to his San Diego home.

In the case of the Rangers, the unbalanced schedule takes them to Anaheim three times. Arizona, meanwhile, would travel to San Diego for three series and on another three occasions to Los Angeles.

With the Sox shopping for right-handed hitting outfielders, the Rangers could offer Layne Nix or switch-hitting Gary Matthews Jr. As for the Diamondbacks, the Red Sox have long coveted first baseman/outfielder Conor Jackson, though it's unlikely that GM Josh Byrnes would part with his top prospect for a soon-too-be 43-year-old pitcher intent on retiring after this season.

As for yesterday's initial session, Wells pronounced himself mostly satisfied.

"I felt pretty good for the first time out," he said. "I was just rushing everything. I was not able to hit my spots with the fastball. I was all over the place. I'm not bringing the ball down and I'm flying way open. But I know why I'm doing it."

His curve, with which Wells gets most of his outs, was "the best pitch I threw," an encouraging sign.

As for his right knee, wrapped in ice afterward, he said: "It felt great. If I was going to feel anything, I'm going to feel it on the follow-through, and I didn't. It didn't hinder me at all."

The Red Sox' plans for him, on the other hand, might not be as trouble-free.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340