When Curt Schilling spent a few minutes with the media on Friday to provide a progress report on his rehab, there was a sound and a pace to his voice that portrayed excitement and optimism. It is as if the big right-hander is getting to the point where he can envision a payoff to all of the work he’s been doing in the weight room virtually every day for more than two months.”

Bartolo Colon is also getting closer to competing for a spot on the Red Sox pitching staff. Already with a solid 1 through 5 the Red Sox will have some decisions to make if one or both are impressive in their return. Not a bad problem to have. Pitching depth can vanish quickly.