BOSTON -- Don't let the standings or the calendar fool you. In a way, the Red Sox take a 3-4 record to the field on Wednesday night when they meet the Yankees. But in a bigger way, this is the official starting point of 2005 for the defending World Series champions.

This is the first time ace Curt Schilling takes the mound in 2005, meaning it is the first time the Red Sox will be whole. The fact that it comes against the Yankees and before a packed house of Schilling worshippers at Fenway Park only increases the drama factor.

"He's been waiting for this; we've been waiting for this," said Red Sox first baseman Kevin Millar. "He's our bulldog, and we know that. I'm excited for him; I'm excited for us. Hopefully, we can get him going and get this thing rolling."

The first week of the season has been roll free for the Sox. Instead, they've been stuck in the mud, and it's almost as if people have lost sight of the reason why.

Schilling, as he proved most dramatically last October, is a huge part of what the Red Sox do. That is true more than ever now, with Pedro Martinez's departure to the Mets.

"We've been missing our No. 1 starter," said Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon. "We lost Pedro in the offseason. Schilling has been on the shelf. Now we get him back and now we really get to see how our team is. Now the other guys can understand their roles. Guys tried stepping up for us. We just haven't been able to score runs for the Wells's and Clement's. We asked them to do a lot for us. Getting Curt back, it just makes our team stock go way up."

Last year, Schilling came to Boston and boldly pronounced his mission was to put the Sox over the top in their quest for a World Series championship. Like only the great ones can do, he backed it up.

Now that he's back, the Sox can officially begin their aspirations of returning to the promised land.

"You can get back there again," said Schilling. "It takes a committed effort. You have a little extra incentive on the other side of the field, it seems like at times, for teams to play you. It's a long ride. It's a grind. It's as much a grind, if not more, than it was last year."

In that magical postseason of 2004, Schilling proved he would do anything to win, including pitching twice after having a loose ankle tendon sutured into place. Of course, there was a price to pay, which was ankle surgery on Nov. 9, 2004, and a grueling rehab.

The ankle is no longer on his mind. Now, he's just ready to get back to action.

"I'm ready to pitch," said Schilling. "I feel like I did what I needed to do, work-wise, and I'm ready to go."

There obviously was concern among the masses when Schilling was hit hard in his final rehab tune-up last Thursday, when he gave up seven earned runs on 11 hits in six innings in Indianapolis. But pitching coach Dave Wallace insisted that the performance was much more encouraging than the stat line would indicate.

And there seems to be little doubt among the Red Sox that Schilling will be up to the challenge when the lights come on for real on Wednesday night.

"It's easy to spin something positively when a guy is coming back, trying to get healthy," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "Now he comes back and faces the Yankees. Whatever that linescore is, that's what it is. But it will be nice to have him out there."

Curt Schilling  /   P
		Born: 11/14/66 Height: 6'5" Weight: 235 lbs Bats: R / Throws: R More info: Player page Stats | Splits Gallery Team Site | Shop

Missing two starts might not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of a season. But to Schilling, one of the game's preeminent competitors, it has felt like an eternity.

"I'm ready," said Schilling. "It's been a long time, a lot of months."

The Red Sox are ready, too.

"It will be good," said Sox right fielder Trot Nixon. "It will be good for him; it will be good for this ballclub. I think, especially for Curt, he's probably champing at the bit to get back out there on the mound and get his season started. He's our ace; he's our horse."

But Schilling wouldn't be human if he didn't have at least some curiosity about how he will perform against the heavy-hitting Yankees, who will be in full battle mode after being stifled by Tim Wakefield's knuckleball on Monday.

"I'm nervous, very nervous," said Schilling. "First start of the year, at home, against the Yankees -- I'm nervous. I'm nervous for every [start], first one or not."

What are his expectations?

"To win," said Schilling.

Any limitations?

"None," said the 21-game winner of a year ago.

Now that Schilling is back in the saddle, the Sox hope they can say the same thing about themselves as a team.