Schilling sounds more like a man who will pitch again - Details

"Our plan right now is to raise our kids here [in Boston]," Schilling said. "Thats one of the reasons I think that the play a half-year decision was the only one that made any sense. The more Im home, the longer I think they could tolerate it, but I think we could tolerate a half-season somewhere. It would be a lot easier traveling, which pretty much opens up where I would go play to any team at that point."

In a way, Schilling feels liberated these days.

"I think the attraction right now is I can do it if I feel like doing it," he said. "Obviously, Ive got to answer a lot of physical questions, from playing catch and getting my arm healthy and throwing. Theres part of me wondering, What am I actually going to have? Could it be better than it was over the last two years? Or is it just going to be a 42-year-old arm? I did what I did for the longest time because of the way my arm was put together.

"My arm isnt put together the same way anymore. Thats the attraction to me, is if I want to, I think I can; if I dont want to, I wont. I dont feel any pressure, which is good. I dont have to come back."

Schilling said that hell make a decision in the near future, for the obvious reason that hed have to start training if hes going to get back on the mound.