Mike and his wife Dawn have two children, son Jake (8/2/96) and daughter Mykala (9/29/00)...pitched at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas after graduating from Midland (Texas) High School...enjoys golf and hunting...Among the most community-minded members of the Red Sox, Mike has worked extensively with the Angel Fund, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting ALS research at Massachusetts General Hospital...since coming to Boston in 2003, Mike has donated $500 per appearance to the Angel Fund...he and his wife Dawn have also hosted the annual 5-K Sharon Timlin Memorial Run in memory of his mother to raise money for and generate awareness of the Angel Fund...in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Dawn ran the Boston Marathon in support of the Angel Fund...Mike and Dawn were honored by the Angel Fund at an event in July 2006...in recognition of his community spirit, was recognized as the 2005 BoSox Club Man of the Year.

SUMMARY: Compiled a 2.89 ERA (15 ER/46.2 IP) in 40 appearances for Boston after being activated from the disabled list on June 9...Had been disabled since May 3 with right shoulder tendonitis... Also opened the season on the D.L. with a strained left oblique muscle and made 2 rehab outings with Triple-A Pawtucket before being activated on April 10...Was also sent to Pawtucket on rehab assignment for the shoulder tendonitis on May 25 and compiled a 4.05 ERA (3 ER/6.2 IP) in 6 appearances...Had a 6.48 ERA (12 ER/16.2 IP) in his first 16 appearances through June 25, but compiled a 2.09 ERA (9 ER/38.2 IP) over the remainder of the season...Became a free agent at the end of the season and agreed to terms on a contract for the 2008 season on December 7, 2007.

SCORELESS STREAKS: Had a career-best 16.0-inning scoreless streak over 11 appearances from June 26-July 23...His previous high was 15.2 scoreless frames from April 18-May 20, 2005...Also tossed 11.1 consecutive scoreless innings in 10 games from August 6-29.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Was scored upon in only 3 of his final 34 appearances, but allowed 3 runs or more in each of those contests...Held the opposition to a .232 batting average, including a .173 mark against lefthanders...Was at his best when pitching on 2 days of rest, posting a 0.56 ERA (1 ER/16.0 IP) in 14 such appearances...Allowed 6 of his 25 inherited runners to score (24.0 percent).

MORE 2007 HIGHLIGHTS: Worked 2.1 innings twice in the span of 3 appearances (July 13 vs. Toronto and July 18 vs. Kansas City) after not going more than 2.0 innings in an outing since June 18, 2004 at San Francisco (2.2 IP)...Picked up the win on April 19 in Toronto in his 300th relief outing with the Sox...In his last major league outing before D.L. stint on May 2 vs. Oakland, earned his first save since September 29, 2006 vs. Baltimore.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

MILLENNIUM CLUB: Became just the 13th pitcher in major league history to appear in 1,000 games, August 31, 2007 vs. Baltimore...Finished the season with 1,011 career appearances, 10th on the all-time list, 11 behind Jose Mesa and Lee Smith...Now ranks 2nd in Red Sox history with 347 relief appearances, trailing only Bob Stanley (552).

WORK HORSE: Was limited by injuries to only 50 major league appearances in 2007, his fewest in a season since 31 games with the Blue Jays in 1995.

IN THE POSTSEASON: Has made 44 career post-season appearances, 4th most all-time behind Mariano Rivera (76), Jeff Nelson (55), and Mike Stanton (53)...Is 0-2 with one save and a 3.94 ERA (21 ER/48.0 IP) in his post-season career...Is 2nd in LCS history with 23 appearances, 2 behind Mariano Rivera.

Has pitched in 26 playoff games with the Red Sox, a club record for post-season outings...His .200 (20-100) opponents batting average in the postseason with the Red Sox is 5th lowest in club history among pitchers with at least 20.0 playoff innings, trailing only Jim Lonborg (.163), Josh Beckett (.178), Babe Ruth (.186) and Ernie Shore (.198). Pitched scoreless ball in 5 of his 6 post-season appearances in 2007, including each of his first 4 outings (4.1 IP)...Overall, allowed 2 runs in 5.2 innings for a 3.18 ERA...Struck out 7 without issuing a walk...Made 3 appearances in both the World Series and LCS after not seeing action in the Division Series.