Miles from Fenway: I Told You So!

That goes out to all my baseball fan friends who poo-pooed my dislike of moving Schilling to the pen. To all of them that laughed at the idea that I would feel uncomfortable putting a guy who was clearly not healthy yet, who probably sacrificed his career to win the Sox a World Series into the kind of situation where winning and losing games would rest solely on his shoulders.

We all know Curt likes to have the ball in times like those. But he shouldn’t have it. Not now.

Last night the Red Sox needed four outs from him. Four. With the Sox leading 6-5 with two outs in the 8th Schilling was brought in and he fanned the first batter he faced but allowed two runs to score in the ninth, and earning himself, and his team, the loss.

A quote from the Boston Globe this morning had Schilling saying the following:
''You can't cost your team games while learning to do the job," said Schilling, who has been closing for a month now. ''There's no excuse for that. This is a results-oriented business. Tonight was a horrible night for me."

It was a horrible night for us too Curt. Granted I didn’t see the game, I only learned of it after returning home from a night out with Missy (no more Missing Missy, she’s back for two whole weeks!!!!) but even just reading the recaps hurt.

I had a conversation with my mother this past weekend about how she thinks that Red Sox fans would go nuts if the team benched “The Savior” for a while. I think she’s wrong. Perhaps the casual fan, the bandwagoners and what not would have a problem with it, but I think it’s clear the Schilling just should not be our closer. My mother’s argument had more to do with sentimentality. Remembering the bloody sock, the warrior on the field. Don’t get me wrong I will always love the man for what he helped us do last year (as I will the rest of the 25) but that doesn’t mean I won’t be pissed when he blows another save.

And before people jump on me, no, I don’t have a solution. I know we don’t have a bona fide closer at the moment. But I think we’ve given Schilling the trial run. They let him try it out. But now, down the stretch, is not the time for “learning on the job”. The Yankees are a mere 3.5 games back now and the last thing we want is to be dueling it out in the last few weeks because not winning the division could possibly mean not going to the playoffs.

Ok, I’m done ranting now, I just HAD to get that off my chest.

Labels: baseball

posted by FINY @ Tuesday, August 16, 2005

5 Comments:

At 8/16/2005, Jack said…

While I agree that Schilling is not the perfect closer solution, I think you're being more than a little harsh.

1. In the month since his return (July 14th) Schilling has pitched in 19 of 29 games, including 13 of the last 18 games. He's been overworked and it's showing.

2. Despite his struggles, he's recorded 9 saves in 11 chances. The team is 19-10 since his return. He's stabilized the bullpen, even though he hasn't been dominant

3. We don't have anyone else. From the beginning this has been a stopgap measure until either Foulke returns or someone else (Hansen?) emerges as the closer.

All in all, I think you're being a bit quick with the 'I told you so' line.
At 8/16/2005, FINY said…

1. True, and I am not happy with Francona about this. Then again I've never liked his management of the bullpen. He should have had someone warming last night in case Schill shat the bed.
2. Sure he's recorded those saves, but in how many of those saves has he come close to blowing it? I'm thinking of games like Friday's where he gave up two homeruns to let the White Sox to within one run. Sure he got the "save" but he was lucky to escape with it.
3. It's true that we've "got no one else" and yeah it's a stopgap, but there HAS to be other options. I'd feel a hell of a lot better with Timlin closing than I would Schill.
I'll readily admit that this is an emotional reaction to last night's game. But I am also scared that stuff isn't going to be a hell of a lot better when Foulke gets back. I mean, he'll have just come off rehab, and he wasn't exactly sitting them down to begin with. I think it's a legitimate concern, though it's possible I'm over reacting, there's truth behind it.
At 8/16/2005, Anonymous said…

The one thing the sox will never have is their own version of Mariano. As much as I hate the yankees, I'd love to have that guy. Schilling is a starter, not a closer. Starters take their time getting loose, they get to the ball park early, run through a warm up routine and get stretched out. Closers sit in the bullpen all game and in the 8th if it looks like they will be needed, they get ready, QUICKLY. I think thats the problem with schilling. He's not loose or warmed up enough and blows the games. And yes, he is overworked as well.
At 8/17/2005, Anonymous said…

Schilling's a mediocre closer at best, but at least he gives us the option of using Timlin whenever he is needed, whether it's the 7th, 8th, or 9th. The "closer" title just locks a guy in to being the "9th inning up by 1-3 runs" guy, Timlin's our ace in the bullpen, so having him available in the mind of the manager is a big deal.

The bigger issue in the bullpen is why, for some God awful reason, the team has decided to trust guys like Mike Remlinger before trying to use the Manny Delcarmens of the world. Schilling's going to continue to be overworked if our garbage time pitchers take a huge lead and make it a save situation.
At 8/19/2005, Michael Leggett said…

I watched that game, as I had gone digital, with MLB Gameday Audio, & Gameday Video.

I almost screamed.

Curt's Tired/he can't do it all/you're right, Kim, as usual/Thanks!