BLUFFIN FOR BARTOLO?

Theo Epstein's Great Arm Chase has apparently hit a snag, according to an article in today's Boston Globe. But I won't be convinced Boston is out of the running for Colon, or Javier Vazquez until they are traded to team not called the Red Sox.

''There's been no progress with Montreal and I don't expect there to be,'' Epstein said. ''I don't see light at the end of the tunnel. This is as pessimistic as I've been in a long time.''

Though he vowed not to abandon the talks, Epstein indicated the Expos have steadfastly insisted on acquiring two Sox regulars - commonly known to be third baseman Shea Hillenbrand and lefthander Casey Fossum - in exchange for Colon. And unless Montreal modifies its proposal, Epstein suggested, there was little left to discuss since the Sox will not part with the two players and none of the third-party proposals have proven satisfactory.

The Sox GM acknowledged the stalemate after speaking twice yesterday to his Expos counterpart, Omar Minaya, in the latest of several dozen calls between them since their negotiations began last month at the winter meetings in Nashville.

''The proposal from Montreal really hasn't changed much in the sense that what we have to give up is not only two big pieces of our major league club for this year but two big pieces of our future,'' Epstein said. ''We just can't do a deal that's shortsighted. We can't do a deal that sells out the future of this club.''

''It's discouraging in the sense that I'd like an opportunity to improve this club every day, but that's not happening right now,'' Epstein said. ''It may happen with this particular club, but it's not there yet.''

Minaya indicated he was not surprised by Epstein's comments, given ''the good days and bad days'' that occur in lengthy negotiations. But he appeared uncertain about how the talks would be affected by Epstein's pessimism.

''After Theo said those things, I guess there's less of a chance [of completing a deal], but we're not giving up on it,'' Minaya said on WEEI. ''I hope we continue to make progress, but if it's not with the Boston Red Sox, there are some other teams I'm speaking to.''

Epstein could be posturing, trying to ratchet up the pressure on Minaya, who is under an edict from Major League Baseball, which owns the Expos, to cut his payroll to $40 million by Opening Day. Epstein emphasized, for instance, that he would be more than comfortable opening the season with his current rotation of Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Tim Wakefield, John Burkett, and Fossum.

''I think we have one of the top five rotations in baseball as it is,'' Epstein said.

The Yankees have not ruled out taking a run at Colon. The Mariners and several other teams may also take advantage of the stalemate between the Sox and Expos to make a bid for the Montreal ace, who is scheduled to earn $8.25 million next season.

RED ASS REDUX

Orlando Hernandez is not the only member of his extended family with a volatile temper. According to a report from espn:

Giants pitcher Livan Hernandez was arrested Wednesday for allegedly trying to hit an elderly man with a couple of golf clubs during a street fight, police said.

Hernandez, 27, was charged with felony aggravated assault after he got into a "violent" scuffle Wednesday with a man, who recieved a minor cut on the back of his head, according to a witness account cited in a police statement.

The pitcher, who won the 1997 World Series MVP with the Marlins, then went into his car's trunk and pulled out a golf club...

Maybe the old man was a Pro-Castro Cubano. Either way, some things are funny enough without needing to comment on them too tough. I thought watching Livan leg out a triple late last summer against the Braves---complete with a crash-landing, half-slide, was as good as it got.

I stand corrected.