Manager Terry Francona said Schilling needs to experiment with any new equipment without the benefit of a painkilling injection in his ankle. Doctors fear a painkiller could mask more serious damage during the test, and Schilling wants to be able to feel his ankle rather than experience numbness when he pitches.
"He's just a little too sore," Francona said after Schilling was examined at Fenway Park while the Sox, winless in Games 1 and 2 of the series, prepared for Game 3 tonight. "The medical staff and training staff will continue to work on Schill, but as far as Sunday goes, he is not our starter. And after that, it's just -- that's as far as we go."
Francona, with his customary dose of optimism, added, "It's not over. He's going to continue to try to prepare."
A Reebok endorser since 1995, Schilling -- pain permitting -- plans to try out the new custom cleat today under the supervision of the Red Sox medical staff. The shoe, a redesigned version of Reebok's Vero baseball cleat that Schilling has worn since the beginning of the season, looks part hi-top sneaker and part baseball cleat.
Reebok pattern engineer Don Jones spent this week figuring out how to increase the ankle support provided by the baseball cleat and stabilize Schilling's foot. A sheath covering two tendons in Schilling's ankle is torn, allowing one of the tendons to slip out of its groove and rub against the bone. Jones added 2 inches of supportive foam padding creating a hi-top version of the cleat. He widened the shoe through the ankle and heel to make room for Schilling's brace.
When Schilling first began having ankle problems during the regular season, Reebok designers widened the ankle area on his right cleat to make room for a brace. Among the brace, the taping, and the new shoe, Reebok's director of promotional footwear Don Gibadlo said, Schilling's foot should be securely held in place.
