Donnelly's deliveries can be biting

The low moment? That's easy. He was pitching for the Ohio Valley Redcoats of the Frontier League in Parkersburg, W.Va., in 1994. And a young woman stepped to the plate against him.

"I said to myself, 'If I don't get her out, I'm gonna quit,' " Donnelly recalled yesterday after throwing live batting practice at the Red Sox spring camp. "I actually went up and in on her and I got booed by all 12 people that were at the game. I know I got her out. A strikeout, I think. But it's been so long. Those are days I try to forget."

There's a lot to remember. Donnelly was drafted by the White Sox in the 27th round in 1992 and endured a 10-year odyssey en route to the majors. He was released by the White Sox, Cubs, Reds, Devil Rays, Pirates, and Blue Jays. He pitched a couple of innings for Nashua. He pitched in Charleston, Winston-Salem, Indianapolis, Durham, Altoona, Syracuse, and Salt Lake, to name a few. He was let go by the Devil Rays so they could clear a roster spot for Jim Morris -- a publicity stunt that became the major motion picture, "The Rookie."

"Every time you get released it's basically like they are saying you're not good enough," Donnelly said. "It looks worse than it is because there were a few times when I was released that I actually asked them to do it. I had to step aside for Jim Morris and they knew that wasn't fair. Jim Morris is a solid guy, but about half of that movie actually happened."

Donnelly was the real rookie when he was 30 years old with the Angels in 2002. By the end of that season, he had a World Series ring. A year later he was an All-Star.

He's 6 feet 3 inches, 245 pounds, wears prescription glasses, and scares the hell out of righthanded batters. Watching Donnelly wind up and throw is somehow like watching Reggie Jackson swing and miss. Let's just say he puts a lot of effort into his delivery.

Donnelly was 6-0 with a 3.94 ERA last year, but the Sox were able to get him in exchange for lefty pitching prospect Phil Seibel. Why so cheap? Word is that Donnelly has lost something off his fastball. Plus, the Angels have long relievers stacked like cordwood.

He has never closed. He has four major league saves. But he'll do it if the Sox give him a shot.