The soaps

Oh man, it wouldn't be an enjoyable baseball season without some Soap Opera action up in the Fens, and there's no more reliable star to add pathos and bathos than the Drama Queen.

The guy can't get minor leaguers out, but of course, being a closer is no big deal for him. Damron's right.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Johnny Damon wasn't afraid to give his opinion on Curt Schilling being added to the bullpen before last night's 7-4 victory over the Rangers. And when Damon was told after the game that Terry Francona said Schilling, along with Mike Timlin, would share the closer's role, Damon didn't back down.

''You've got a lot of upset people in here," said Damon about the feelings of teammates on the decision to insert Schilling and bypass what other team members feel are more deserving candidates.

''I don't think he's ready to be our closer," Damon said of Schilling. ''I think Bronson [Arroyo] or Timlin are the choice as the closer. Mike Timlin deserves to be it. All his years in the big leagues -- the fact that he came into [Tuesday] night's game, threw six pitches, and we were done. That's pretty good. He's going to throw strikes, he's going to make the plays. I think Mike Timlin definitely deserves that spot. It would be perfect for Timlin. He's going into a free agent year, too. Teams know he can be a setup man, closer. I hope that's the case for us."

When told that the decision to have Schilling pitch out of the bullpen would likely mean he'd be appearing at the end of games, Damon didn't change his opinion.

''The whole team wants Timlin, and if not Timlin, Arroyo," said Damon. ''I don't know where it came up. It's just the kind of thing our team doesn't know yet. You guys [the media] know before us."

Damon offered reasons why Timlin or Arroyo would be a better choice than Schilling.

''He's never done it," Damon said of Schilling. ''He throws 60 pitches to get loose for a game. He needs to get loose. Two outs in the eighth, a home run is hit. Get ready, 10 pitches. He can't do it. Timlin could, Bronson could. I don't think it's a good move for us. We've always talked about all year he'd come back and be a starter, and be a good starter. He can't just walk in and be a good closer. He's not ready yet. He's not ready."

When I first heard of this, I thought this was a decision the Boston organization made. But that makes no sense. Schilling must have walked into Francoma's office and said, "I'm your closer." An ego bigger than the great outdoors.

And I'm sure he didn't care for Damon's calling "bullshit" on him.