Schilling Gets Back on the Mound

Curt Schilling’s sock was bloodless, his ankle was stable and his manager was encouraged.

But the perfectionist Boston pitcher was less than thrilled Thursday after throwing off a mound for the first time since his gritty performance in Game 2 of the World Series, which was followed by surgery 16 days later.

“This was a day when I didn’t feel as good as I wanted to feel,” Schilling said after his 47-pitch, 16-minute workout at Fort Myers, Fla. “My ankle didn’t hurt, so I guess that’s a positive for people other than me.”

Important people such as Red Sox Manager Terry Francona.

“I think he looked terrific,” Francona said. “He wants to be dotting every corner right now and throwing splits, and that’s just not going to happen.”

Pitching opening day against the New York Yankees on April 3 -- probably against former Arizona teammate Randy Johnson -- remains a possibility, and Schilling’s competitive nature is driving him toward that. But he wants to make sure he’s healthy at a much more important time.

“I know that the goal’s to be on the mound in October again,” said Schilling, who expects to pitch again Saturday. “I still expect ... to be as ready as I can be on April 3, but I’m not going to sacrifice the latter half of the season for the early half.”

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The Baltimore Orioles’ Rafael Palmeiro is leaving open the possibility of filing a lawsuit against Jose Canseco, who said he introduced the first baseman to steroids in 1992 when both players were with the Texas Rangers.

Palmeiro issued a statement last month in which he denied he ever used steroids, and he emphatically backed up that assertion Thursday after his first practice of spring training. Palmeiro also said he was considered hiring the law firm of Oriole owner Peter Angelos to take legal action against Canseco.

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Former American League rookie of the year Marty Cordova retired, a day after he was scheduled to report to spring training with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 10 seasons with Minnesota, Toronto, Cleveland and Baltimore, the oft-injured outfielder batted .274 with 122 homers and 540 RBIs.

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The Florida Marlins’ financing plan for a $420-million ballpark won unanimous approval from the Miami city commission.

In a nonbinding agreement, the city agreed to contribute $28 million to cover the cost of land near the Orange Bowl and infrastructure needed for the 38,000-seat stadium, which would open for the 2008 season.

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A senior House Democrat urged that Canseco and others the former slugger accused of using steroids, including Mark McGwire, be called before Congress to testify on the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), the top Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, said representatives from Major League Baseball and the players’ association also should explain how they planned to stop the use of dangerous drugs by players.

Waxman made his request to the committee chairman, Rep. Thomas M. Davis (R-Va.). There was no immediate response from Davis’ office.