]Sox's backup catcher allegedly says Schilling's sock from '04 was staged More than two years after the fact we still don't truly know whether that really was blood on the sock of Boston's pitcher / publicist Curt Schilling during the 2004 postseason. But last night we may received the most credible evidence that it was staged with - get this - red paint. Red Sox officials are incensed this morning it's even a question, and Yankees fans surely have to be bothered by this, as well. Every time that darn Schilling sock is mentioned, it reminds Yankee fans of perhaps their worst week in franchise history, when they became the first baseball team to blow a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series, to the Red Sox, no less. The latest sock controversy came about during the Orioles' telecast of their game at Fenway last night when Gary Thorne said on the air that the bloodied sock was in fact red paint. Thorne, the former Mets broadcaster who also does work for ESPN, even outed Red Sox backup catcher Doug Mirabelli as his source. So why would Thorne lie about this, especially on the air? When the Boston Globe's Red Sox beat writer Gordon Edes approached him in between innings, Thorne stood by what he had said, telling the reporter, "Go ask him." That makes us believe Mirabelli did tell Thorne the blood on the sock was in fact paint. But was he saying it in jest? Messing around with Thorne, thinking the broadcaster knew it was a joke? Or perhaps he was serious? Mirabelli vehemently denied that to Edes, saying, "What? Are you kidding me? He's --- lying. A straight lie. I never said that. I know it was blood. Everybody knows it was blood � I honestly don't know who Gary Thorne is." But, seriously, why would Thorne lie? Makes no sense. Lest we forget Schilling's reputation for seekng out the spotlight. He calls into a Boston sports talk radio station, has his own blog and has been known to post comments on both Red Sox and Yankee fan message boards. Schilling, manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein all seemed insensed by what they deemed absolutely false accusations, according to this morning's Globe story. And Red Sox owner John Henry, who is almost always willing to offer comments through e-mail, was noticeably mum today. "I have no information on this subject," he said. Maybe former Red Sox players Johnny Damon and Mike Myers, who both crossed over to the dark side and signed with the Yankees before the 2006 season, will speak publicly about this later this afternoon. But probably the only way to put an end to this may just be to test the sock, as silly as that may sound. There were two (allegedly) bloody socks, from Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the World Series, but only one sock exists today. Because Game 6 of the ALCS played at Yankee Stadium, the bloodied sock was handled afterward by Yankee Stadium visiting clubhouse attendants. They have no recollection of what happened to it, so they believe it was tossed away into the garbage, where surely many Yankee fans believe it belongs. But the bloodied sock from World Series Game 2 is still on display at baseball's Hall of Fame, according to its Web site. So then maybe it's time to take a day off from drug testing and do some sock testing. Because if it is paint, as Thorne insists Mirabelli said, wouldn't it be fun to see Schilling explain that? Oh, and by the way, Schilling and the Red Sox visit the Bronx for three games beginning tomorrow night. Good timing, eh?