Tim Wakefield Feeling ‘Phenomenal’ After Surgery

With names like Roy Halladay and John Lackey popping up in many hot-stove debates throughout Red Sox Nation this offseason, many are forgetting that Terry Francona already has five healthy and reliable starters to make up an already dangerous 2010 rotation.

Rounding out that rotation is the old vet himself, Tim Wakefield, who is feeling great after a recent     successful back surgery. Wake, who also signed a two-year deal this offseason, addressed his back and his future at David Ortiz's charity golf tournament in the Dominican Republic.

"I feel phenomenal,'' the 42-year-old told ESPN. "The surgeons did a great job, and I'm getting my strength back as we speak. I will be 100 percent by spring training, I promise you that.''

Wake went under the knife in October to address a herniated disc in his back. The veteran knuckleballer was limited to just four games following the
All-Star break — the first All-Star selection of his career — and finished the season with an 11-5 record to go with a 4.58
ERA.

If the knuckler can hold up this season and next, he is on pace to claim the honor of owning the most wins as a Red Sox pitcher — a goal on which he has his sights set.

"I have some goals that are set in my mind — I want to get to 200 wins," he added. "I want to try to break Roger Clemens' and Cy Young's records of 192 wins — I think I'm 18 away from that. I'm getting to that age where I want to spend some time with my family and watch my kids grow up so we'll see after these two years as to where my plans are."