Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, left, shares a laugh with new teammate Daisuke Matsuzaka yesterday at the team’s minor league training complex in Fort Myers, Fla.

AP / Steven Senne

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Curt Schilling met with the media for his annual, first-official-day-of-camp State of the Schill Address.

Schilling, in the last year of his contract, slumped in the second half last season, but still finished 15-7 with a 3.97 earned-run average, notching his 200th career victory and 3,000th strikeout along the way.

In the offseason, Schilling turned 40. A year ago, he said the 2007 season would be his last. Now he’s not ready to retire after this season.

Yesterday, Schilling was asked about competing at an advanced age, contract talks for an extension, his views about being a candidate for the Hall of Fame, his progress in learning Japanese in an effort to welcome Japanese pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima and his goals for the 2007 season.

• His age

"You have to listen to your body more as you get older. It might take me a little longer to do things, like warm up, but they pay me to pitch. I have to get my body ready to pitch every fifth day. I feel good. I’ll be ready to go Opening Day."

• Contract talks

"We’re talking right now (about one more year). We’ll continue to talk. I had long discussions with my family and they’ve become comfortable (with the idea of another season) so I’m comfortable with it. (By the end of spring) I’ll either be signed (to an extension) or not. It’s that simple."

• Hall of Fame

"It’s not something I think about because it’s not in my control. I see players deserving of being in, (pitcher) Bert Blyleven and (Red Sox slugger) Jim Rice, and they’re not in. It’s out of my control."

• Japanese lessons

"I’ve gotten some software, some audio stuff and a bunch of different books. I’m trying to learn conversational Japanese. It’s a challenge. It’s a very difficult language. I said hello to Dice-K (Matsuzaka) and Oki (Okajima) in formal Japanese. There are times we’re on a bus or on a plane, and we want to get know each other. There’s a fun group of guys here and I don’t want them to miss out on that fun."

(Schilling later met with the Japanese media and related his Japanese greeting to his teammates. His pronunciation and word choice earned him approving nods, a few "oohs" and "aahs" and light applause from the Japanese media.)

• His goals

"Hopefully I can pitch here two more years and win another World Series or two."

Tavarez takes it slow

Right-hander Julian Tavarez, who suffered a sprain of the outside of his right foot while playing in the Caribbean World Series a week or so ago, played catch and did some stretching drills, but was held out of any running drills.

Tavarez has been mentioned in offseason trade talks, notably as part of a package in the deal the Sox proposed to the Rockies for first baseman Todd Helton.

Yesterday Tavarez, who blossomed as a starter late last year after a rocky season out of the bullpen, said he had no idea if he’d be traded. But the 12-year veteran, who has pitched for eight organizations, didn’t seem overly concerned with the prospect of being shipped out.

"It’s a piece of cake," said Tavarez of a trade. "If you go somewhere, you get an opportunity. You play in front of 40,000 people, you’re on TV, you’re just in a different uniform, but the money’s still green."

Learning the language

Matsuzaka has been picking up a little English since signing with the Red Sox.

Yesterday he showed he’s starting to understand it as well as speak it.

He was asked, through interpreter Sachiyo Sekiguchi, what he thought of Curt Schilling’s Japanese greeting to him.

Before the question could be translated by Sekiguchi, Matsuzaka answered, "Very good."

Around the horn

Matt Clement, who had shoulder surgery late last year, has been in camp working with the medical staff. Manager Terry Francona said he was impressed with Clement’s work ethic to return, and added that the right-hander would be playing catch at some point late in spring training, beginning his long rehab throwing program . . . The Sox, who already have split-squad games scheduled for March 1st, 2nd and 8th, have added a "B" squad game at Minnesota on March 5, a 10 a.m. game that will allow the Sox to give pitchers some work. Boston has 29 pitchers in camp . . . Eric Hinske made his first appearance in camp.

skrasner@projo.com