Executive vice president/general manager Theo Epstein, left, and Red Sox manager Terry Francona talk to the media at the minor-league facility yesterday.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

FORT MYERS, Fla. — About to begin their fifth season, in tandem, as the manager and general manager of Red Sox, Terry Francona and Theo Epstein emerged from the clubhouse at the team’s minor-league facility yesterday morning after pitchers and catchers reported on the first day of spring training. With two recent world championships to their credit, there was a quiet sense of accomplishment by the pair, tempered by the realization that the new season will present its own challenges.

Already, the Sox have lost veteran starter Curt Schilling for at least half of the season, and other American League rivals — the Detroit Tigers, most notably — committed themselves in the offseason to closing the gap that exists between the defending champs and the rest of the league. “We’re in a tough division and a tough league,” Epstein said. “We’re going to have to work hard and play well to compete at the highest level.”

Perched on the top of a bench, alongside his manager, Epstein invited reporters’ questions and addressed a wide range of issues.

After a nasty dispute with Schilling that surfaced last week regarding the best course of treatment for the shoulder and biceps injuries that jeopardize his 2008 season, and by extension, his career, Epstein said the organization and the 41-year-old pitcher are “on the same page.”

Schilling’s longtime orthopedist, Craig Morgan, recommended surgery, while the Sox urged a more conservative approach, or rest and rehab. Eventually, the Sox won out.

“Curt’s here in camp to work hard and rehab and do everything in his power to get back in a position to contribute and help this team on the field,” Epstein said. “What we’ve kind of been through in the diagnosis process is really behind us. There were some bumps along the road because both parties care so much about the team and his career and doing what’s right. But now that we’re here in spring training, it’s pretty simple — he’s here to rehab and get back in a position to help the club.”

Epstein added that it was “way too early to put any kind of timetable on” Schilling’s potential return.

“It’s step by step,” the GM said. “He’s at the very beginning of the process. He got a cortisone shot on Monday. He’s going to start work tomorrow. It’s not really our place to put a timetable. He’ll be rehabbing and strengthening for at least the next six to eight weeks and we’ll see where we go from here.”

Epstein said the origin of Schilling’s injuries was unclear.

“There’s no black-and-white incident,” Epstein said. “His shoulder didn’t respond to his throwing routine … His shoulder was strong at (the time of signing his contract last November). We certainly knew what we had with any pitcher of that age. But his shoulder was strong. He took an MRI. I wouldn’t put fault on our medical staff at all for that.”

Francona was asked if the season were to start tomorrow who his center fielder would be — Jacoby Ellsbury or Coco Crisp — and was non-commital.

“I don’t know,” he said.

It’s widely assumed that the Sox will go with Ellsbury and deal Crisp, who has two years and $11.5 million remaining on his deal, plus an option for 2010. A number of teams are in the market for a center fielder (Rangers, Cubs, White Sox) and Crisp is relatively affordable.

Since he remains on the Sox roster for now, perhaps it’s not surprising that Francona went out of his way to praise Crisp. Anything less might lessen his trade value.

“I think it’s important to not look past what Crisp did last year,” said Francona, taking particular note of the outfielder’s outstanding defensive play. “We got a point (in the postseason) where we thought we needed to make a change. But we’re not going to forget he’s the incumbent.

“We also know what Ellsbury can do.”

Open competition for a starting job in spring training is difficult under any circumstance (“The numbers are always skewed,” Francona acknowledged), but it will be even more difficult this year, since the team’s exhibition season will be shortened by about 10 days by their trip to Japan. “We’ll speak to them both,” Francona promised. “We’re going to treat the players like we always do. We’ll make it work. We’re dealing with two professional guys. I’m not worried — I have a lot of confidence in their abilities.”

Epstein addressed the team’s catching situation, which appears somewhat precarious.

Veteran Jason Varitek had a productive season (.255-17-68) but is in the final year of his four-year deal. Reserve Doug Mirabelli was re-signed when the team couldn’t find a veteran backup alternative, and George Kottaras struggled for most of the year in Triple A.

“Every team in baseball is looking for catching,” said Epstein. “It seems like there’s not enough out there to stock everyone’s major-league roster and farm system.

“We’re mindful of the fact that Jason’s not going to catch forever, but he’s our captain for the present and the foreseeable future.”

Epstein didn’t answer a question about the team’s interest in signing Varitek to a short-term contract extension this spring, but said Kottaras improved in the second half of last year, and lauded both Dusty Brown (scheduled to split time with Kottaras in Pawtucket) and Mark Wagner, who will move up to Double-A Portland.

“Sometimes out of quantity comes real quality,” Epstein said of the three prospects. “These guys have a chance to be major-league catchers.”

smcadam@projo.com