Q & A VIII, short one
Mar 25th, 2007 by Curt Schilling
The only response I have to the Curly Haired Boyfriend is this.
“First they ignore you, then they mock you, then they fight you, then you win”
Putting his inherent ‘toolness’ on display for all the world to see did far more than I could ever hope to do by trying to explain what a dope he is.
A large group of kids from Dana Farber were down today and I had a chance to see the always beautiful Holly again. I had a chance to meet her last year, at a time when she made a headband as pretty as a woman can make it. So hello to Holly! Hope to see you during the season!
It was a great time, getting a chance to see the smiling faces. A lot of teammates made it out as well and I know we probably had more fun than the kids did.
Just wanted to take this chance to say hello to all of them that are stopping by and that they are enormous inspirations to all of us that come in contact with them.
If the mood strikes, feel free to click on the link above and along the left hand side of the page you’ll see a “Want to Help?” section, from making a gift to giving blood, you can do it right from there.
On the topic of cancer, if you haven’t checked yourself lately, there is a quick do it yourself test you can administer for skin cancer that I urge you to check out at
http://www.shadefoundation.org/self_exam.php
Check it out, and more importantly check your kids out please.
Q-Do you take any responsibility for today’s children getting the proper exercise they need when developing a company that makes video games, or are you in the belief that it’s up to the parents to see that children don’t play your games for endless hours at a time?
A-Absolutely not. I do believe people have certain obligations to society when they are in a position to impact others through actions or words, but your kids are your responsibility. What they do with their time, until they are 18, is your business, not the governments, not your neighbors, not your nanny, not your parents, yours.
Q-Taking into consideration some players’ less than chizzled bodies, the “slow” pace of the game, and frequent snacking of baseball players, what points would you make to her so I can legitimize the baseball athlete in the eyes of my amazing, but confused girlfriend?
A-I guess the bigger question would be, does it affect your ability to watch baseball? If she doesn’t like baseball, and she doesn’t want to watch it, or go to games with you, then leave well enough alone.
Q- How *do* you communicate to set the infield defense the way you want it? The communication to Varitek is easy to see. I’m just curious how you get the right message to the defenders pitch-to-pitch
A-There are position players that I setup communication with during spring training, who I will have handle moving the defense when I need to make changes. Otherwise, during my pre-game meeting with Tek, the infield and outfield coaches will sit in and based on my history with a hitter we will determine where they will play that night..
Q-My question is, when you come off the mound after the first and feel like you don’t have your best stuff, do you hope or expect it to show up? Or do you feel like it’s just not happening that day and you have to battle through?
A-The goal is to never have one inning affect the next, because unless you let it, it doesn’t. What I did in the first inning the other day had nothing to do with pitch one of inning two, so dwelling on it, or letting it linger, would be something I could blame on no one but myself. Every pitch, out, inning, is it’s own ‘game’, and when you can focus on winning the game, pitch to pitch, you get to another level of focus and concentration. Then you can start throwing pitches and working a game plan in advance. Throwing pitch x because of what happened last at bat, and because so and so is on deck and runners are on the bases, knowing you have that same hitter again in 5 days, and what you’ve done prior and how it affect this sequence in this at bat. Lots of that kind of stuff goes into each pitch when you are focused.
Hi Curt-
I wonder if you could comment on the Boston Dirt Dogs site. I generally love what they do and check frequently for updates, but sometimes I feel as if they create problems that are detrimental for the team. Take for example the comments today on Coco. I didn’t necessarily thing Crisp’s comments were stated in a negative fashion, yet the site paints it as if Coco does not care about the fans and may “turn his back on them.” I, for one, am still excited to have him on the team and I look forward to seeing him play this season. It seems like this could turn into a smaller version of the Foulke “Johnny from Burger King” issue, which resulted in a fan backlash against Foulke despite him being responsible for “saving” the 2004 season. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Great post about the Dana Farber foundation Curt. Thanks for the links. I didn’t know there were so many ways a person can help them out. I know I’m just one person but I’ll check their help section out and see what I can do between sending gifts, donations and donating blood.
Your comment about parents needing to be ultimately responsible for what their kids do was right on target. I suspect that most of your potentential market are college aged kids and young adults so I don’t think targeting you for causing childhood obesity is warranted in any way.
I also don’t expect anybody else to be in charge of how my child spends her time. I know that if I’m doing my job as a parent then my child will be spending her time wisely and productively. I think it’s a big part of a parent’s job to keep an eye on what they are doing and who they are hangiing out with. If a parent stays involved and doesn’t give up on their kid before they turn 18, those kids have a much better chance of becoming good people making good decisions.
That wa a great post on Peter Despain’s site and his comment on your blog gave me warm fuzzies.. It’s great to see what an impact we can all have, and the impact other people can have on us.
Thanks again Curt.
Deane
Curt,
First of all, I don’t think people will realize how cool this Q and A deal is until they post something and have you respond to them, especially in the same day! That’s awesome and I applaud the way you’ve used technology to interact with the fans.
That being said I think I led you astray a little bit based on your reply, so I’ll re-phrase, because as I told her about your response she said “Curt’s response pretty much confirms that and that you don’t have an argument, baseball players aren’t athletes.” Keep in mind that we’re arguing this in 90% jest and I’m not trying to convince her to like baseball (and she doesn’t get in the way of me being a sox fan (I’m looking forward to taking her to her first Fenway game, we’re both graduating college this year and have been together since freshman year). So instead of your “loveline” advice that I should leave this alone, haha could you give me something to work with, because even though we’re enjoying our argument, I want to win (you can relate to that right?)
Some possible questions to answer on this topic:
How would you define an athlete?
Where would you put baseball players on a scale of athleticism?
Are there any athletes in another sport that you particularly admire?
What makes a baseball player an elite athlete?
From my gf Rachel “Baseball players don’t have endurance, aren’t atheltically fit for the most part and I can outrun 90% of them on a treadmill and I don’t consider myself someone who could ever come close to playing any professional sports.”
Concerned,
Dave
Curt,
Great blog, ive just found it. Your insight is wonderfully clever, i’ll come here after a game before the Globe or any other media outlet. I hope you write a book some day, i’d buy it.
But i’m wondering what you think of Papelbon going to the closer role. While it obviously fills a huge hole, it leaves another one. Do you think it’s worth it for him so stay there and possibly diminish his potential as a starting pitcher? Does he want to stay in the closer role the rest of his career or are their plans to go back?
Thanks, and God bless.
Curt, love the blog. Great idea, and it’s much like your pitching - I’m very glad that you’re enjoying doing it, I hope that you keep it up as long as you continue to find it worth the time and effort, and I can’t even describe what a kick I get out of being one of the many who get to watch you do it day in and day out.
Especially fun to witness is how far and fast the very idea of this experiment of yours is traveling under the skin of some members of the “mainstream” (read: “legacy”
press. I don’t suppose you’ve gotten a chance yet to see this paragraph in Tony Mazz’s article today stoking the Rocket rumors, have you?
“At the moment, there are two areas that seem to bear watching: The first is the performance of the middle relievers and set-up men, none of whom truly has distinguished himself thus far. The second is the depth of the starting rotation, particularly with Papelbon now closing and 40-something blog king Curt Schilling increasing his risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.”
This little dig follows close on the heels of another real gem, with which he bracketed his Clubhouse Insider entry yesterday:
“With the risk of being scooped by Curt Schilling, just thought we’d update you on Coco Crisp’s return to the Red Sox today …”
[snip]
“Schilling is not with the team - he pitched yesterday - so any info he gives you has been plagiarized.”
Note to Tony: Put away the Meow Mix, the stuff’s no good for you.
Gandhi said it best, I think: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you. then they fight you, then you win.”
Hey Curt, love the blog! I’m a big Red Sox fan, so it’s great to be able to hear what players think, and to absorb all the insight of someone who actually plays in the league, especially from someone who’s been around the game so long. Just figured I’d ask a question related to video games, seeing as that seems to be a pretty big focus here - do you play any baseball video games? I know I’ve read that players such as Eric Chavez play games a lot, and so I figured you, being a gamer, might play as well. If so, do you feel as though the games are an accurate representation of real baseball, and would you say the games, for the most part, depict you accurately as far as your ratings? Keep up the good work!
Matt
As always love the blog, I understand that as the season gets closer you will be posting less and playing more. I also await your first book on pitching. And you second book on your life as a player.
Thanks for the link to the skin cancer web site. I have lupus already, so I have to stay out of the sun, and away from the general public anyway (kind of explains why I have not attended any hot stove events or games in the last year)
Still trying to convince my neighbor that playing MBL on the game boy does not a pro ball player make. Do you think you could share your daily work out regiment with us? Stretching, sprints, etc… How does it compare to Dice-K. I read in SI how you questioned how long he could continue pitching with his high pitch count, do you see him improving under the ‘western’ method of playing.
I never followed baseball in Japan, so I have no idea how long a pitcher lasts in that environment, do you? Thks as always, J
I’m not sure if I can help you out wakerugby15. Your girlfriend might want an authoritative answer from a player and not one from the peanut gallery, but it seems to me just about any espn web-gem during the season ought to convince her of the athelticism of baseball players. I’m certainly biased against Jeter, but seeing him lake his patented leading throw to first in time is pretty dang athletic. Also have her check out Torii Hunter make a leaping catch over the baggie-wall at the Metrodome. Have her check out Mike Cameron, Carlos Beltran or Ichiro chase down bullets or climb the padding of the wall to rob homers.
Throwing a baseball 85-95 mph 100 times in a 2 hour period is probably a lot more than most people can manage, so have her try pitching as hard as she can off a mound for an hour and see what she thinks. LOL
It’s been said endlessly but hitting a round ball with a round bat is the hardest thing to do in pro sports. Take her to the batting cage and put her in the 80 and 90 mph cages. I can’t even start my swing between picking up the ball and deciding to try hitting it. That usually opens a lot of eyes on how tough this sport is.
I am also fond of Curt’s favorite 3rd base example of watching Scott Rolen charge a ground ball, bare-hand it and throw off-balance to 1st. I think that takes remarkable athleticism.
I’ll NEVER forget the leaping catch that Pokey reese made in mid-2004 where he jumped higher into the air than anybody I’ve ever seen.
Or have her watch Andruw Jones chase down long fly balls at Turner Field…. in August…. during a day game… when the onfield temp is 98 and the humidity is 90%
I’m sure in baseball there are a million other examples of incredible athleticism that other people can add. I’m only talking about currrent players. Seeing Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, Yaz, Tony C, Ozzie Smith, young Barry Bonds, healthy Ken Griffy Jr, Bo Jackson and thousands of other great players should leave no doubt.
Just my two cents. Feel free to ignore me or disagree.
Deane
Curt,
I’m blessed with a healthy 17 month old that I just think the world of. When I see the kids at Dana Farber I just have the worse guilt possible thinking of what I’m blessed with. Although I’m unable to *give* financially, I would love to give my time.
I just moved my family from NH to Phoenix, and need to know of a place here similar to Dana Farber back in Boston to give my time to.
Thanks for your help!
(also, how can I convince my wife to buy the extra innings package so I don’t miss a single Sox game this year?)
Hey Curt,
Pretty interesting stuff on this site, it’s really enjoyable.
I was wondering if you could quickly comment on Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, and how does it stack up with your other big game starts in terms of your best ever? Although you left down 2-1, it was an incredible performance coming off of back to back 3 days of rest starts. I’ll always consider that the greatest pitching duel (w Clemens) and perhaps greatest World Series ever, even though I am a die-hard Yankees fan. Thanks for the time.
Why don’t pitchers walk up and apologize when they hit batters? It seems like the natural thing to do.
Acefox1,
Those are some good points and examples. I think we’ll put the discussion on the backburner for a little while untiil I can take her to some games and I can let the best advocate of baseball do the talking, the players playing the game. PLus hearing Fenway when Ortiz puts one into the bullpen or Pap comes on for the save should be pretty convincing too.
Is it April yet?,
Dave
PS This kind of brings up another question:
Curt- Would you encourage fans to use your blog to talk sox and comment on each other’s comments, etc? Or would it be more efficient for you to have us focus on questions and comments directed specifically to you?
Addicted,
Dave
I’m the proud new owner of a 50″ HD and I’m looking forward to the start of HD broadcasting on NESN. All this blutooth vs. HD, what HD is and the complexity of actually GETTING it, what recorder to get, etc. etc.. is very confusing to me. This brings me to games.
I like the physical (sports) aspect of the Wii, but I love the adventure/role paying games. Are you just developing the one game? Will it work on the Wii? Or, should I get the Sony (which will also give me a blutooth recorder)? I haven’t bought a recorder yet, as I am very confused about all the supportive hardware issues.
I am OLD but have good tech support (yet another reason for having children). I just hate buying expensive things and having them become outdated 6 months later. Thanks!
hi curt,
love your blog, hope you can keep it up with the rigors of the season around the corner.
I dont know how Tavares willbe in the starting rotation this year, but I think hes going to be fun to watch if last september is any example.
Good luck on this season and next
Curt-
A shot in the DARK.
Any chance you be interested in allowing a Vermont filmmaker to do a documentary on your possible last season as a historic red sox?
Worth a shot.
A.B. Rosenthal
Curt,
First time on the blog… hey I teach 3rd grade and wondered if I could/should encourage my kids to check this out. A few of my students are BIG fans. It could be a way to get them to write with an authentic prupose and they’d be so excited to talk to a real member of the Sox. Firstly, could I feel secure in knowing nothing innapropriate will appear here? And secondly, of course would you feel somfortable with youngsters coming here to post etc. I have a 12 year old daughter who might enjoy such a unique and personal contact as well.
I hope you’ll find the time to do this when you can throughout the season. I have one last question. 3 balls 1 strike, 7th inning Giambi up with runners at the corners… are you ready to throw the changeup there? :o) And finally, I will always be eternally grateful to every member of the 2004 team. As part of that team, please accept my sincere admiration and gratitude for my alltime best sports moment(s) ever. Nice job in your last outing… looking forward to Opening Day. John
I think Jon Lester should be the Openning Day Pitcher for the Sox.
Let him open! if he 1 inning or 5 inning ! great. Then send down to the Paw sox.
Curt,
I have written to both Senators from my state as well as MLB and I’ve complained to everyone I know - now I’ll vent to you because, well, it just seems you understand. This MLB-Direct TV crap has me so upset. I live in a place where satellite is not allowed. My wife, son, and I live for baseball. It’s the bond that we share and how we spend all our disposable dollars. The first game I ever attended was won by Sonny Seibert (I was 8 yrs old and got an autograph from Bob Montgomery). My wife and I have been to 19 major league ballparks. We regularly go to minor league games as a family because, well face it, we don’t have the income to attend a great deal of major league games.
Every year we look forward to purchasing the “extra innings” package from our local cable tv provider. This year it will be unavailable because Bud Selig says, “not too many fans will be excluded if Direct TV has an exclusive deal” and “MLB is too saturated in the market as it is.”
Am I wrong to think that MLB should make itself available to ALL fans if the opportunity is there? Am I wrong to feel hurt by the direction MLB has taken with this? Am I wrong to do the only thing I feel is my recourse which is to boycott the league?
I have spent a large percentage of my income on this sport over my lifetime and I didn’t cry during any of the labor disputes or during the steroid scandal. But right now I feel unappreciated. My family has no way of watching baseball on television due to the greed of league management. We are saying goodbye to you and to the team, game, and life we love. I will continue to read about and follow the Sox, but my last dollar has been spent on MLB (hope this doesn’t hurt your contract!). Good luck to you - all the best.
I HATE HOW SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU SHOULD’NT HAVE TIME FOR THIS. MOST OF THEM ARE PROBABLE READING AND CONTRIBUTING TO THIS SITE WHILE ON COMPANY TIME. IT’S NOT LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE UPDATES BETWEEN INNINGS THIS SEASON. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK IN EVERY THING YOU DO (BASEBALL, CHARITY, BUSINESS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FATHERHOOD)
HERE’S MY QUESTION:
DO YOU THINK THAT THE MLB DRAFT SHOULD BE PUSHED BACK UNTIL AFTER THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IS OVER?
This to Deane; Just where did you read that someone was targeting Mr. Schilling in regards to child obesity? If you’re going to use the blog, than use it correctly. Nowhere did I ever accuse Mr. Schilling of “causing” childhood obesity and anyone with half a brain who read my question would NOT have come to such a conclusion. This blog is not intended for sucking-up to Major League ballplayers, it’s an account of the day-to-day life of a real live ballplayer.
In the future, if you care to comment on anything that I’ve written, then maybe ask someone what I’m saying so they can explain it to you.
Eric D. - P.O.’d in Meriden, CT…
Out of curiosity, are you an official “card carrying” member of Red Sox Nation? a la redsoxnation.com
Does that mean you won’t buy the Celtics and get some real NBA players?
Mr. Shilling,
I cannot thank you enough for making a Red Sox fan out of my wife in ‘04! She’s never been much of a sports fan, but now she looks for baseball games during the season.
I have been a Red Sox fan all my life. I have many found memories of Fenway from my youth. My late mother, who was from UK, became a fan in the 50’s, and I became her favorite son by taking her to games at Fenway in the 70’s!
Now that I live in Texas, I hope to be able to get to Arlington to take my wife to a game when the Sox play the Rangers this season. She’ll love it!
Thanks for your insights and the time you give here to your fans. Best wishes for a successful World Series!
to poster # 3, if this helps any. After 38 blessed,happy years of wedlock, I have learned that you will never, ever win an arguement like that. Don’t even try. Real life lesson#2; My wife has never liked baseball but last summer I made one last attempt by taking her to Kansas City in August to watch Curt start. It rained for the first 3 innings and as time went by, the complaints escalated until I finally went ballistic in the fifth inning and said the game was being made so unpleasant for me that we should just leave, which we did. Kept me from witnessing a devastating come from behind victory by the lowly Royals. Now I can go back to attending with my sons and grandchildren, and wife is perfectly happy not to come. Family order is restored. So don’t even try to convert girlfriend if you are serious. Incidentally, my wife did like 2004 since I was so euphoric around home, and that Johnny Damon was so cute.
Sorry if I misinterpreted what you said Eric D - Ego221.
When I read your comments below:
“I also wanted to ask what you think of kids spending waaay too much time in front of a video game rather than being outside running around and making friends and the like….
Do you take any resposibilty for today’s children getting the proper exercise they need when developing a company that makes video games, or are you in the belief that it’s up to the parents to see that children don’t play your games for endless hours at a time?”
It sounded to me like you were trying to assign responsibility to video game companies/gamers in general and Curt in particular for kids not getting enough exercise. I apologize for extending that conclusion to contributing to childhood obesity but it seemed like a reasonable and logical conclusion.
Your comment asking Curt if he accepts responsibility for kids getting proper exercise when developing his company sounded to me like you were firing a shot across Curt’s bow. If I’m the only one that read it that way then I do utterly apologize.
Re-reading your post even now though, I don’t think I was too goofy for thinking that’s what you were talking about. I guess it’s just another case of someone writing something one way and having it interpreted another way. No worries, it happens, that’s life. I meant no offense to you. I hope you meant no offense to me.
I don’t care for the sucking-up accusation but if that’s what you want to think or it makes you feel better than be my guest. I’ve never asked Curt for a job opportunity, an autograph, an endorsement, a commission a ticket to a game or anything else. It is a player’s blog where he can communicate with fans of the game and I’m just enjoying the chance to participate in the give and take his blog presents.
I also have not been shy sharing my appreciation for how much Curt’s big-time performane and consistent excellence have been an inspiration in my own life. You can call that sucking up if you like but I don’t think it’s any different from what 75% of his other visitors come by here to say. You can call it anything you like but I can rest easy knowing that my posts are 100% honest and sincere. I’ll take that over negativity or snarkiness any day of the week.
Take care and I hope you accept my apology and attempt to mend fences.
Sincerely,
Deane
As far as acting as your own agent: is it difficult to navigate through all the legal stuff in a contract without the help of an agent? If not, then why don’t more players abandon their agents? They take 10% of your money, so even if you dump them you can sign a slightly lesser contract and still come out on top.
Gotta be an awesome feeling for a ballplayer to visit with those kids from Dana-Farber and know that you truly have an opportunity to make a *difference* in their lives that day.
When my Mom was sick, she wrote a lot of poetry about her fight with cancer. A couple of these poems are framed on the walls of her cancer ward today, and I’d like to think they occasionally offer a little hope & inspiration to people fighting the same battle.
Question re: charity, Curt — Where does one start in arranging a visit to a military hospital like Walter Reed? I’ve a friend who’s a well-known comic book artist (he’s drawn Daredevil, Batman and Captain America over the years) and a WW II vet, and he really would like to make a hospital visit. Talk with the wounded soldiers, draw some sketches, just do his part to say “Thanks & get well.” But where to begin?
‘Preciate any help you can offer.
best,
Tom
Hey Curt -
I found it interesting that you rely on Tek so much. When you talked about how Pedro “reads the game” from the bench and can adjust to hitters well the first guy I thought of was maddux. Those two guys are my favorites to watch because they seem to have this skill. You are always preaching command of the fastball and maddux is a testament to that. I mean, his entire game is 100% built off of command of his (85 mph) fastball. Anyways, my question is twofold:
a. do you think this “reading the game” skill can be learned?
and
b. are you trying to improve or is it more that you and tek work as a team and you are mainly focusing on what you are doing and you let him worry about the other stuff?
c. Who is the best you’ve seen at reading the game?
roger
p.s. I love the blog.
oops, I had a part d. I wanted to add as well:
d. do you think pedro can come back and be the pedro of old?
Hey Curt,
I was wondering what type of season you think Coco Crisp will have? It seems from his comments like he is already feeling the pressure of playing in Boston, and if he comes out struggling early the media and fans will be all over him. He seemed like such a good player in Cleveland and early last year. Will he ever get healthy and live up to the hype?
Wow.
Just read Shaughnessy’s Monday column — a catty parody of this blog, in which the guests are likened to live-at-home Trekkers and the host is framed as an insensitive blowhard who just wants to show us how brilliantly he thinks about it all.
Dan, I’ve been a fan of your work for more than 20 years, going back to your Celtics beat coverage, and I’ve got several of your books on my shelves. Lot of respect for what you’ve done.
But re: Curt’s blog? You’re clueless. And, frankly, your cluelessness is funnier than the broadswipes you attempted in your column.
If you truly think this blog is nothing more than fans gushing about the bloody sock and “Col. McBragg” droning on about how he single-handedly won the World Series, then you’re revealing yourself as a selective — and threatened — reader.
Look back on some of those Q&A postings in which Curt offered unique insight into how the game is played. Check out the links & references to charitable causes, where fans are shown how to make a difference in someone’s life. Read the contract blog in which Curt was able to definitively answer all the questions fans and writers were asking. Scroll back to Friday’s late-night exchange between Curt & Kevin Millar re: their encounter earlier that day.
This is unprecedented communication between players & fans, Dan. It’s a level of contact that no fan is ever going to receive from buying a ticket to a game, standing around a fence for an autograph, or reading a story in a newspaper.
Laugh. Have fun. Get hissy. But you’re missing the *real* story, which is that the players have finally figured out they don’t need to talk to you to talk to their fans.
What was that old clip these used to play on ‘EEI? An older woman screaming “Shaughnessy, get a life!” A year from now, she might be back on there bellowing “Shaughnessy, get a job!”
best,
Tom
Curt … just read CMH’s (aka shank) hack job about this blog … do you think he was A. abused as a child B. Beat up regularily in high school by the ‘jocks’ and sees his column as a way to get back at them C. Just an angry wanna be or D. All of the above?
I don’t really expect you to answer, but it was fun to write.
Curt, I am a survivor of malignant melanoma. It is an extremely scary thing to hear. Something that really comes out of nowhere. You and your wife are providing a wonderful service and great benefits by making it easy to link to these important sites, not to mention the work that you do with the groups. And, you are absolutely correct. Make sure you check the kids.
Baseball question. I know it is early, besides the Yankees, who is strong in our division? Is that something that the team thinks about at this point in the season or is it more about preparing yourselves?
I am an admirer of you focus, tenacity on courage on the mound. Bloody sock was mythical and your command is amazing. I wanted to give you my opinion on why the media, especially Dan S give you a hard time. There are few athletes who speak out and actually know what they are talking about. I have never heard or read anything you have said that would lead me to conclude you are a blowhard. In fact, if you were a lawyer or a CEO you and all your friends would converse in the same way you approach things. Dan S is jerk. The kind of guy that gets beat up everyday in high scool. The most troublesome aspect of the critisicm is they don’t like ti when players do not talk to them either. The blog is a great tool to undermine the media. Touche”
Good Morning Curt,
I have a Question / Favor to ask you. I don’t want to ask it in a Blog. I was wonder if there was a way to ask in a private email or other form of communication? I’m a Die Hard BoSox Fan as I was born and raised in Boston but live now in just north of Houston, Texas in a town call Spring, Ask Josh, I think he might know where it’s at. This isn’t a life or death or even life changing request. So if you have time I would appreciate it.
Thanks so much for your time,
“Why not us AGAIN 2007”
Regards,
Mark, aka redsox2004
Hey Curt,
I think it’s all about “winning the next pitch” for you, If you can control that, then the game is yours, kinda like throwing darts at the pub against your friends.
Check this link out about “the secret” and how famous leaders and the like held these thoughts and made powerful differences in the world we live just by controlling their thoughts. It is well known that the “law of attraction” can get you what you desire just by thinking positively about receiving what you desire. Heres the link,
Thanks for being real bro.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1464873545
Curt,
First of all, thanks for the blog - it’s been a blast to read - almost more fun than reading jealous reporters ripping you for writing a blog!
I have a question that has always bugged me. Why aren’t NL pitchers better hitters? It would seem to me that they should be. Typically, those who pitched growing up were among the better all-around players and the best hitters. Obviously, this gets lost along the way. But, with free time between starts and throwing sessions, isn’t there time to take extra BP or work on hitting mechanics? I would have to think that a pitcher who could hit even .250 would win himself another 2-3 games over the course of a season.
Best of luck this year! Keep making us smile!
Best,
Andy
First let me say thank you for your courageous efforts back in 2004. I’m sure you wouldn’t have gone through the radical medical procedures if they told you there was long term risk issues, but still you never can be sure. The montage set to One Thing, “If I gave it all for one thing…..” that NESN did at the end of 05 really moved me, as I felt like you might have sacrificed a longer career for the chance to bring joy to so many people. You got us (the collective Red Sox Nation) from day one, and it is appreciated. It’s great to see you back on the job with all your skill in tact.
As for the blog…..
Facinating reading. I’m looking forward to your insights all year long. Nice to see you take your fan interaction to the greater public. The SOSH group has had you to themselves for too long. I hope we’ll soon hear more “fly on the wall” accounts of the club house. I know there is much that is sacred and private, but it’s nice to have some shared humanity.
Your families efforts on behalf of the shade foundation have made a difference. We’ve been dilligent with the sun screen and the “rash guard” style swimsuits, first popularized in Australia, since our kiddo was born.
I hope when you retire, we’ll get a peak at a few pages of “the notebooks”.
Also, do you miss batting?
Thanks for your part bringing us the joy of the summer of 04.
“I do believe people have certain obligations to society when they are in a position to impact others through actions or words, but your kids are your responsibility. What they do with their time, until they are 18, is your business, not the governments, not your neighbors, not your nanny, not your parents, yours.”
Amen Schill… Amen.
Curt, you are doing good work, keep it up. Thanks for the blog- I have 15 month old triplets and this is certainly a nice outlet for a few minutes from the beautiful children we have.
One ??- if you had to start a baseball team tomorrow- and you had two picks- kind of like the old strat-o-matic- game (remmeber that?) who would be your one pitcher and who would be your everyday player- I know its hard because of different strengths etc, but give it a shot if you dont mind- and I mean you can include players from any generation
thanks
Neely878
OK, Schill — you’re it.
CHB’s column this morning: funny or just very sad?
And more seriously…
The awesomeness of Josh Beckett in Spring Training 2007: The real deal, or just setting me up to lose a lot of bets?
Just in case my earlier post gets modded out, I am wondering if Schill would offer a response to Shaughnessey’s March 26 column where he spoofs this board.
FTR - for CHB to call anyone a “blowhard” is clearly the pot calling the kettle black.
3/26 Boston Globe Sports page E2
Shaughnessy is an unctuous loser.
Its ironic you wrote about the Dana Farber kids yesterday. I too was surrounded by kids and adults that are survivors and/or helping to raise money to fight the cause. Yesterday was the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund brunch at Gilette Stadium. My nephew is a cancer survivor and we have a team each year to raise money. We have raised around $30,000 since we have been in existence. It really does put things into perspective everytime I am at this brunch and the day of the walk. He got to meet Matt Light and a Patriots Cheerleader that put a big smile on that 9 year old boy
(he was bringing the pic to school today haha). Do you have any information on how kids are selected to go to Ft. Myers with the Jimmy Fund? My nephew no longer has cancer (THANK GOD) and only goes to Dana Farber once a year or so for check ups, but he would LOVE to meet you guys!!!
Thanks
Curt, love how you are reaching out directly to fans on this site and you are giving some great insight we don’t see elsewhere.
Reason for my post is today’s article by the blowbag SHAUGHNESSY. I know you two have bad blood but his article today I thought was uncalled for, unprofessional and the thing you might expect to see on a 1st grade playground. A lot of his stuff I think is crap but this article in particular really bothered me, enough so to send emails to the editor about it. He may think anyone reading this blog is just a Schilling FANBOY but you are providing insight found no where else and it is giving us fans great insight into the game. This article really pissed me off so I can only imagine your thoughts on it and him
PS. This is to acefox1 in response to this comment
“I’ll NEVER forget the leaping catch that Pokey reese made in mid-2004 where he jumped higher into the air than anybody I’ve ever seen.”
I was at that game and I still can’t believe that catch. I was in standing room on the third base side, I have stood under there so much that you pretty much know when a ball leaves that bat whether it will be a hit or not, well that ball left the bat and I thought it was a hit then Pokey came through, one of the most amazing catches I have ever seen, in person anyway
Curt, are we going to be able to purchase the Why Not Us Again shirt you were wearing in today’s boston.com photo?
It would be a nice addition to my other Why Not Us shirt!
Hi Curt I hope this entry finds you rested and ready.
I have a few questions but the one I have is well I hope I don’t make it sound like you are blasting another team member as we know you don’t but you do speak your mind. Curt.. do you believe the way the rotation is now You, Josh, Timmy, Dice-K and Julian is sufficient given that it is only APRIL and you all are healthy?
I want to believe that julian deserves that #5 spot as I well as a fan I just deplore clement, He has no spunk and seems to have a issue in his head.
I know pitching is 65% mental and 35% physical ( correct me if I am wrong)
I think I made sense Thanks Curt have great day
Hello Curt,
You truly have your finger on the pulse of Red Sox nation and fans in general. I can’t wait to see how this blog develops and what kind of impact it can have. I mean possible blogging between innings? The thought blows my mind. I thank you for helping to reconnect fans to the sport they love.
Viva el Curt, down with the media!
Regarding the Sox organization and player development, without stepping on any toes can you provide me with an assessment? Overall, I feel they have found a good balance. However, sometimes it seems the organization is very willing to gamble on a veteran whose production or market value has slipped in hopes that the trend will reverse and it will be a value-buy. But they seem less willing to gamble on a rookie, who does not have a track record, in hopes that they can breakout. I feel this sometimes detracts from building long-term viability and a cohesive team.
If you were buying the groceries, how would you shop? If this question seems too loaded, perhaps you can address it in generalities.
-pogs
Given that you spent some time in the bullpen in 2005 which do you believe is more taxing to a pitchers’ arm/shoulder: a) pitching 180-200 innings a year on a predictable every fifth day routine, or b) pitching 60-80 innings a year out of the bullpen with less predicatability and having to get up and down in the pen more often?
curt, just finished reading CHB’s latest article this morning. very upset after reading it and i am sure if you’ve seen it your not to happy about it either. theres no need for him to be writing that crap just to stir up trouble making fun of us the fans and you. other writers then CHB how do you hanld them when they write junk about you or the team? just let it go and challenge if when its brought up or do you go right after them the next time you see them
Hi Curt,
I read Shaughnessy’s solumn this morning in the Globe and I wondered what did you (or we for that matter) ever do to him to piss him off so badly. I appreciate the fact that I can converse (somewhat) with a major league ballplayer and one from my favorite team, but that makes me and the other bloggers here a bunch of sycophantic suckups. What an a$$#%le! I usually ignore his column and I’m not sure why I read today’s but… Need I say more. If he hates you and us and everything we love about our sports teams and hero’s, why not go write for the Yankees and just go away? Keep up the great work and here’s hoping your can get to pitch next to your hero and not sell ice cream!! Great quote!
Curt Swift
Curt,
I think you agree that baseball is a game invented out of a desire for sheer pleasure and escape. It is a way for normal people to escape the trite and mundane. Baseball is a passion fashioned out of history and names and faces but is meaningless all on its own. Baseball really is all about drama. Baseball is a struggle to win or suffer with loss. Victory. Defeat. Injury. Surprise. Agony. Tears of joy and of sadness as well. Missed chances. Lost love. Ecstasy of a reclaimed prize. in short, it’s Life. The drama of baseball is the story of every living person.
However, while I find it unique that a ball-player is airing his views in general on life, baseball, family, and etc in a public forum; I can’t understand what your message is. Yours views and responses are so cleaned, purified, polished and shiny that they lack any substance past the surface. I can’t help but feel that this is some group therapy session for bored Red Sox fans and online gamers.
By publishing this blog it sounds as if you are simply interested in preaching to an anesthetized choir. Are you at all concerned that the only people who read this blog seem to be either: 1) cheerleaders, or 2) voyeurs of bland curiosity.
Baseball (and life) is just as much about the happiness of victory as it is about the frustration of defeat. There’s no sweetness of victory if we’ve never experience defeat. However, all I find here are words which seem to have passed through some sort of purification filtration system. Anything with meaning and challenge is plucked out and hidden away.
What sort of ritual is this if we only get canned responses behind painted-on smiles. For this reason, I can’t seem to figure out if this is for real or not. If it is real, where are the criticisms? Where is the analysis of folly, blown fortunes, and wrecked chances? Hope for the future only comes from experience in the past from which we can draw comparison. Something we can aspire to and achieve. Where are the struggles of real life of real peoples? Who wants to hear about how wonderful and great everything is all the time? If baseball players are real people, which I suspect they are, they have real opinions of their own. Else, they’re just wealthy people out of touch with reality.
What I ask is this: Is there any value in this blog? If this is about baseball, it’s about our lives. And we can take life, Curt. We’re working-class Americans and we won’t wither and faint if we hear an honest-to-god opinion or even a random outburst. We can manage our own expectations. We don’t want to be told how wonderful everything is. We hope for that already. Furthermore, while we can barely afford to take our families to attend one of your performances, we won’t burst into tears if we hear what millionaire ballplayers _really_ think. If this is really you, living and breathing baseball fans should all look away now. Just leave us to invent our own stories and watch the game in peace. We can be left to form our own opinions and maybe they’ll be nice or maybe they won’t be. Maybe our own estimations will be right or maybe they will be way off target. This, after all, is life. We’re living it the best way we know how and we won’t need to hear how great and wonderful things are in order to survive yet another day.
So, give us something real or please just give us nothing at all.
Regards,
D
Curt
I am “life-long” Phillies fan and absolutely LOVED when you played for them.
I was thrilled for you when you did win the championship with the Sox and watch you every time you pitch on National TV.
If you EVER become a free agent, don’t forget us!
We would love to have your splitter back in South Philly.
You know, you would make a great commentator on baseball games when you do retire. ( in 5 years!)
Terry
Pennsburg, PA
If CHB hates your blog and your fans, count me in!
But seriously, do you think Jason Varitek will have a good offensive year?
Hey Curt,
I know a short amount of time has passed since Vuk’s passing, but are you aware of the online guestbook for sharing thoughts on Vuk or prayers for his family. In case you do not, here’s the link..
http://www.legacy.com/Philly/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=86752248
I have found these guestbooks to be a good source of continued healing as you can leave your thoughts as well as read other’s comforting thoughts and prayers.
Thanks again for your time Curt, it’s much appreciated!
( Not a question, but a comment about the Shillings)
Curt, A few years ago I had the pleasure of meeting you and Shonda at a Flyers hockey game in our club box. You approached me and introduced me to your wife. I had the chance to speak with you and Shonda at quite a few hockey games and really found you both to be very personable and intellegent. We had some good conversations, mostly not about baseball at all. I know neither of you remember me, but I wanted to say “Thank you”. I hope all is well with you and your family and will always wish you the best with your charities. I think you are misunderstood alot of the time. Just wanted to let the fans know that you really are a nice guy with a good heart. I hope to see you in a Boston uniform next year and am looking forward to watching you lead the pitching staff this year. Thanks again. Why not us again?
Hi Curt,
I think this blog is great! Thanks for posting to it.
I admire your work ethic. You set such a great example for current and future baseball players. You’re dedicated, professional and just good at what you do. I think there should be more Curts and ‘Teks in the game of baseball…I’m a big ‘Tek fan as well.
I love watching the catcher/pitcher relationship between you and Tek when you’re out there starting a game. How long did it take you and ‘Tek to get used to eachother?
Good Luck in 2007…Love the “Why not us again?” T-Shirt. Will those be sold this baseball season? I’d love to buy one.
~E
I love that you use your celebrity, money and time for good causes. I wish more sports figures were like you and your wife in that respect.
http://www.unclec.com
Curt- I was at the games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I was most impressed by the pitching- even Hansack looked very good.
As soon as the ball up the middle deflected off you, I was composing my next blog post in my head: Especially after witnessing what happens to teammates like Matt Clement, how difficult is it to immediately remain poised when a ball richocets off you like that? You already mentioned that you threw three consecutive bad changeups after that. Does almost being hit have anything to do with that, especially when your change up was so effective during the rest of your outing?
Hi Curt,
Just a few quickies.
1. It’s the top of the 6th and you’re up by a run. You’ve been through the lineup twice. What are you doing differently to keep the hitters on their toes? What did you do in earlier innings to set yourself up for success in the later innings?
2. I’ve read several pieces, some by you, on MMP and ASL. Is there any plan for 38 Studios to do what no one has done before and create a true ASL PC based game? ASL would not still be here were it not for you.
3. Last one, and I can probably guess the answer. At the end of the season (and post-season), Would you be up to a game of ASL (VASL)? If you win, dinner for you and your family at your choice of restaurant anywhere in the country with a matching contribution to the charity of your choice . If I win, 30 minutes BP at Fenway against you with a contribution to the charity of your choice. What do ya say?
Good luck in the opener. I think you’re looking better than you did in ‘04. That change is going to be nasty by June.
Jeff
I think the reason the CHB is even on the payroll at Daddy Globe is because his incredible stupidness makes the rest of the writers look beter. That’s the only possible explanation.
Curt — Obviously I am a Yanks fan, so by definition I am not supposed to like you. That being said, I appreciate the perspective you are bringing to us baseball fans - so thanks for that. I do hope you are able to keep it up during the season and appreciate you giving us some context around some of the more controversial quotes that have been attributed to you. I hope this blog sets the standard for others within MLB.
Also what do you think of the DirectTV thing? I have to knock down a tree in order to watch games (I’m an out of market fan).
Hi Curt,
It’s taken me a few minutes to craft this without any profanity, because it’s about CHB of course. First of all, I’m a fangirl and always have been and I really wish he’d acknowledge us ladies for once. If I am a geek or socially stunted in his eyes for loving baseball and the Red Sox, I am perfectly comfortable with that.
Your blog is great - and obviously doing what it’s supposed to, since it’s gotten such a vitriolic response from Danny Boy who’s clearly threatened. Thanks for connecting directly with the fans and cutting out jerks like this who only promotes his own agenda (and books). It’s a side benefit that the blog prompted his most mean-spirited column to date.
Even fangirls like myself wouldn’t have time (contrary to what CHB thinks) to read the blogs of 26 players, so I do appreciate all the great media folks out there who do hard work reporting for us.
Hopefully I’ll have an intelligent question next time. For now, Dan, if you’re reading this (and you know you are): you hate the fans, you hate the players. Maybe it’s time to get a new line of work, with Johnny from Burger King. With apologies to those at Burger King who would be stuck working alongside this blowhard.
Can’t say often enough how much I am enjoying reading your blog, the Q & A, and the recent post by my favorite former Red Sox…Millar! Having the opportunity to see “inside baseball” like this is just what the average over the top need to know every little thing member of Red Sox Nation wants. Too bad for Dan Shaughnessy that he doesn’t get that, or needs to make fun of it. Admittedly, we Sox fans can be too interested, but whats the harm? I love baseball, and getting the inside scoop so to speak is really awesome. Not that I think his comments would matter to you in the least, but know that out here in the Nation we are really enjoying this!
Dori
I just remembered that I had a constructive comment/question (I must’ve been so nervous before, writing directly to you, that I forgot, haha).
Since Manny won’t talk to the media, any chance you can convince him to start up his own blog? Or possibly do an occasional guest column on yours? We all know that Manny does not overthink at the plate, but there’s got to be some science behind one of the game’s greatest hitters.
Putting the self righteous blow hard CHB’s comments behind us … I was wondering if the Sox have a plan to keep Jason Varitek fresh for the second half of the year. I think for the Sox to do well (as evidenced by last year) and go deep into the playoffs, they need Jason to be healthy. Catcher is a very grueling position and as he gets older I think they need to give him more rest then 1 out of every 5 days … however based on Doug Mirabelli’s performance last year I’m not sure the team could afford to have him play more often.
By the way, I look forward to listening to you tomorrow on D&C.
Thanks for the post marsh18redsox. I’m glad to know I’m not the only person that remember that catch. I don’t understand why Pokey’s 2004 leaping catch didn’t get more attention.
When that ball was hit, I wasn’t wondering if it would be caught. My only question was whether it would drop for a single or roll to the wall for a double or triple.
It totally blew me away and I will never forget that. I’m incredibly jealous that you were able to see that in person! I wonder how long it took the crowd to figure out exactly what he did. Even after I saw it I didn’t believe it.
Go Red Sox!
Deane
PS Looks like the Globe editors were asleep at the switch to greenlight CHB’s column. Oh well, no worries. I’ll always have the memory of seeing him on national TV with only 6 outs to go for the 04 WS Championship sitting there picking his nose. That trumps any garbage he brings up in his column. LOL
//So, give us something real or please just give us nothing at all.//
Speak for yourself.
There are plenty of posts here that are critical of Curt.
I suggest the folks who have issues with this blog just don’t read it.
Curt, thanks for all your insight and inside info about major league pitching. I love watching a pitcher who is the best in the game at a certain pitch throw it. I was hoping you could comment on what pitcher you think throws the best of each pitch being these days. we hear about Santana’s change-up or Rivera’s cutter. who do you think throws the best
2 seam fastball? 4 seamer? changeup? curveball? knuckleball? cutter? splitter? slider? forkball?
First off, thanks a lot for answering my Q about how to deal with a frustrating first inning. You seem to say, instead of pouting, focus on what’s ahead– that seems to be pretty smart. As a fan, watching a game, it’s tough to tell whether a pitcher’s stuff is going to get better as the game goes on, or if he just has to go on what he’s got after the first.
Shaughnessy is the Brent Musberger of columnists. Has anyone ever even heard of someone who claims to be a fan of either? I haven’t.
Blogs threaten people like him, and Rome, and Mariotti, guys who bloviate instead of reporting. Anyone can opine, and loads of people on the Internet are funnier and more insightful. Here’s one good take on CHB’s column: http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2007/03/blogs-bad-old-media-good-nerds-nerdy.html
Since reading Keith Hernandez’s book, I’ve been craving the kind of in-depth descriptions that you post on this blog. That kind of analysis is all over the Internet, and nowhere on TV or in most papers. Lord knows we’re not going to get it from Shaughnessy– or from the Dirt Dogs, for that matter. Like Shaugnessy, they’re always in search of some soap opera to be pissed off about.
CHB is in deep denial about blogging. Tom Field in #31 put it best: “If you (CHB) truly think this blog is nothing more than fans gushing about the bloody sock and ‘Col. McBragg’ droning on about how he single-handedly won the World Series, then you’re revealing yourself as a selective — and threatened — reader.”
Curt …. thanks for being here. Just don’t let it sap your energy from pitching!
Hello, Curt.
How much does having a “good” or a “bad” catcher behind the plate affect the pitcher? Why?
Hi Curt
It’s awesome having this blog to interact with your fans. Great link to Dana Farber to they are awesome i had a bone marrow transplant on november 30th and am doing great so far. they perform miracles every day it’s a very special place. My question to you is do you keep the same training regime every year or do you try different things to get into game shape? I have a feeling your going to have a monster year this year and look forward to watching it happen. Stay cool and thanks for everything youve done and brought to the sox your heart can never be questioned!!!
scorp37
Schill, first off- you’re the man. I swung by here after scanning the Curly Haired Boyfriend’s newest sludge. All I can say about him is that it’s pretty obvious that he can’t handle ‘not’ being the center of attention. Even if that attention is bad in nature, the guy would rather that than be rendered irrelevant by a bunch of Sox fans checking in on a pretty cool blog. The dude is a muppet.
Thanks for all you’ve done for us as Sox fans, and good luck this year.
Dear Curt - He is not Carl Everetts Curley Haired Boyfriend. He is Gordon Eades Curley Haired Boyfriend.
While Jurasic Carl first refered to this guy as Curley Haired Boyfriend, it was in the context of him being in that role for Eades.
dshaughnessy@globe.com.
Drop our friend a hello
Curt,
Dan Shaugnessy is a $#@$.
I’m watching Matsuzaka pitch against the Reds. When he finds his location, he’s going to do some crazy things. I hope he doesn’t face the Twins.
It says on the TV that he can throw 100. The ESPN radar gun says 90-92. How long into the season does it take you to get your top velocity?
DAN SHAUGHNESSY is an ignorant human being. He should have more dignity and class than to write such an uninformed piece. Put simply, he showed his true colors today. I am shocked that he has taken his dispute with you so personally.
As a Boston Globe writer/reporter, he IS held to a higher standard than baseball players. We expect fair journalism from Boston Globe writers not personal rants. If we wanted this kind of journalism, there are plenty of other free publications where you can find this kind of lack of journalistic integrity. At last check, Dan was identified as a sports writer and not an OP-ED writer.
Dan - you should be ashamed of yourself!
Curt,
Enough said with regard to the ‘article’ from Carl Everett’s Curly Haired Boyfriend. I clicked on the link to read it from the BDD site and needless to say, didn’t need to read the first paragraph to see where that was heading.
This blog is way more insightful and knowledgeable than any of his utterances have ever been.
Thank you for making the commitment to do this, it’s a must read!
BAHHHHHHHHH
An obvious attempt to goad you into something to get his name on ESPN. Looks like he kind of succeeded. Best to never speak of him again.
“[...] So, give us something real or please just give us nothing at all.”
Wow, you know, I’ve been looking for a nice dose of craptastic melodrama all day. Thanks for the fix.
Regards,
N
Heya Curt,
First off, in re: to Tom Fields comment directly aimed at the curly haired one… dear god… absolutely priceless…. on target, to the point, and hilarious all at the same time… well said good man…
ok, Now some questions…
1) DiceK, no hitter through 5 today… wow… this kid really is the real deal huh…
2) Re: the Changeup - I know that with a change, you aim to duplicate your motion and arm angle to that of a fastball, that said, what have you found to be harder about adding this pitch, the mechanics, or the mental aspect?
3) You, CHB, MTV Celebrity Deathmatch… who wins and why?
hey Curt,
Just wanted to comment on the now infamous article by Mr Shaughnessy today. I blogged about it on my own blog. I enjoy watching you pitch, but am not a hardcore Schilling fan, no offense.
I could not shake the feeling of being mocked however as a participant of your blog as a commenter, and moreover as a blogger myself.
I believe this is due to the media’s lack of ‘control’ of information due to the easy availability through blogs. Also, it seemed to lack professionalism. I did email Dan Shaughnessy and I did email the editor with my pleasure.
In my opinion, if you fire back with a personal attack, it doesn’t make you right. Please keep your head up.
Brad
Just a quick comment:
While I hate Dan S. as much as any blue-blood BoSox fan, and I applaud you taking him to task for being a grade-A jerk, I think the line about “Carl Everett’s Curly-Haired Boyfriend” line could easily be interpreted as homophobic.
The origins of CHB (as early Simmons’ readers know) refers to the creepy boyfriend of someone’s sister, that weird guy that no one really likes who shows up to family functions and makes everyone feel awkward.
I imagine this was unintentional, and it wasn’t nearly as offensive as Shaugnessey’s characterizations in the Globe. Still, I felt it worth pointing out.
Keep up the excellent work, Curt, and have a great season. Us stat geeks and basement dwellers are rooting for you.
Hey Curt,
THANKS AGAIN FOR A GREAT BLOG. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD PLEASE TALK MORE ABOUT BECOMING A CHRISTIAN AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOU ON A DAILY BASIS. ARE THERE OTHER RED SOX PLAYERS THAT ARE CHRISTIANS AS WELL?
THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!
Galen ‘Pepper’ Garner
Your Red Sox Nation friend from Alabama
http://www.galengarner.com
“Carl Everett’s Curly Haired Boyfriend?”
Homophobe.
Shaughnessy is right to find your blog amusing, but he should have kept his thoughts to himself and not stooped to your level.
The beginning of this blog was more entertaining then all of network TV and most of cable.
How close is Wily Mo to becoming an everyday player?
Personally, I sent this response to the Globe:
“Hi there.
I’ve been a pretty loyal follower of boston.com’s sports coverage for a few years now (Edes and Benjamin do fine work). Being a certified Sox fanatic, it’s been a must-read stop for me on a daily basis since… oh, around 2003.
I won’t be back again.
I’m not sure if your resident hack, Mr. Dan Shaughnessy, has been elevated to such a position as to bypass all editorial screening, or what the story is. Regardless, his piece about 38pitches.com today was over-the-top insulting - not only to Curt Schilling, and not even *primarily* to him. It was insulting to me, as one of your readers, that Mr. Shaughnessy would characterize me so. I’m aware of the financial problems your newspaper - and many others like it across the country - is having. Perhaps you folks see something like 38pitches.com as some sort of existential threat to your Sox coverage. That doesn’t provide Mr. Shaughnessy an excuse to take broad and egregious swipes at Curt Schilling OR his readership - *particularly* since you should realize that most, if not all of his readers are likely YOUR readers as well. How much do you believe you can keep denigrating Red Sox fans and counting on them to return, especially when your crosstown rival does work at least on a par with what the Globe turns out? Or the Providence Journal? Or Any of ESPN.com’s fine analysts?
I’ll reconsider my position should Mr. Shaughnessy print a full and apologetic retraction.”
P.S. I think it’s funny that he writes you saying, “What would Gandhi do” and you actually respond with a quote by Gandhi.
Curt, I have enjoyed reading your blog thoroughly. Recently I attended an info session at my firm about ALS that included a speech by an incredibly smart and groundbreaking individual. His name was James (Jamie) Heywood. I’m sure by now that you have heard of his work with ALS and I was wondering what your impressions are of his crusade and what he’s accomplished for finding a cure? I also applaud your commitment to finding a solution to the mystery that ALS presents. Keep up the great work and good luck this season!
Dear Curt,
How come Yanktard internet trolls haven’t ruined your blog yet? Or are you deleting thousands of NY’ers posts per day to keep it clean?
Just curious, because if a Yankees pitcher were to keep a blog like this, I’d summon my legions and we’d DESTROY it.
Mr. Schilling:
May I handle the response to wakerugby15’s further inquiries?
1) Baseball is not played on a treadmill.
2) Baseball is a 162-game schedule (that’s just the regular season, add spring training and playoffs) played over the course of 185 days or so. That is a lot of baseball played in a short time. These games last 3+ hrs, and take place is some of the best (HOTTEST) and worst (RAINY) whether.
3) Try comparing baseball to other sports that I’m sure your gf would have no problem agreeing are full of athletes:
* American Football: These guys play once per week, 16 to 20 games per season. They spend at least as much time on the bench as baseball players. And, please tell me what object that’s extremely hard occassionally flies at their heads at speeds over 90 mph.
*Basketball: This schedule is the most similar to baseball in number of games per season. Compared to football and baseball, the best players spend much less game-time on the bench. However, please see previous comment regarding 90 mph projectiles occassionally making contact with the head.
*Hockey: Similar schedule to baseball and basketball. Finally, another sport with a very hard object flying toward the noggin.
*Soccer (nonAmerican Football): Wow, way too much running.
My email to Dan:
Dan,
I’m writing because I’ve always respected your work, but that respect is fraying.
Your bit about Curt’s blog posts being as long as Team of Rivals was a
good one, but the rest of your article was crap. I know it was not
your intention, but you confirm some of Curt’s sentiments about Boston
sportswriters.
Dan, give it up. I don’t care about Curt vs Dan. I care about Red Sox
vs. Yankees, etc. Stop trying to be the story. Cover the story,
please.
I think Curt talks way too much; I don’t even have time to read all the way
through his blog, but I find it much more interesting than anything I
read in the sports pages. You guys need to raise your game.
And stop hassling the players. We the fans will do that as needed.
why was Crazy Carl’s name deleted? Did he threaten to kill you or something?
“Just curious, because if a Yankees pitcher were to keep a blog like this, I’d summon my legions and we’d DESTROY it.”
I would hope NYY fans would have enough respect not to post trash over here. It’s not often any professional athlete reaches directly to their fans this way, and I for one would not want to go forward and ruin it. I’d love to read what Mussina, Pavano, Riveria et al would write every day.
That Curly-haired boyfriend nickname has to be single greatest part of Carl Everett’s legacy in Boston. It’s funnier than the dinosaurs spiel itself.
I’m didn’t think you’d take the Curly Haired Boyfriends comments lying down Schill. U r the man. Good luck this year, and just do what u always do and pretty soon the Curly Haired Boyfriend will have his foot in his mouth as usual.
PS: Where can I get more information on 38studios as far as jobs are concerned?
Curt what’s going on buddy, never thought I would get a chance to talk to a pro-athlete no less get to hear his real points of view on almost a first hand basis ( I use the term ‘almost’ because it’s not face-to-face). Just wanted to let you know that your a warrior, and anyone that can pitch with barely and tendon left in his foot against the most hated team ever, deserves endless praise, which I’m sure you get, or should get. In any regard, thanks for kicking their ass, much appreciated! I had champagne pouring; going crazy, making sure I called all my yankee hater friends who at that point were “asleep”, it’s funny what happens to those fans when they lose…you can’t find them anywhere…interesting…
In regards to the upcoming season, and where we were starting in 04′, how good do you think the 07′ team looks? And do you think we will win the world series in 4 games or 7? Hahaha, just a little confident, but realistically the Division, post-season, what are your thoughts??
Ps. Have you ever been on a Starting Rotation comparable to this one, and the endless potential it may have?
Thanks for the shout out Curt. It was an amazing trip. I went to Spring Training with the Jimmy Fund two years ago so it was great to see others experience it for the first time. I think I can speak for all the kids when I say trips like that make going through treatment a little more bearable. A huge thanks to you and all the people that made it possible. You’re as amazing off the field as you are on and a prime example of why the Red Sox organization is so great. Best of luck this season. Hope to see you too!
Shaughnessy is a genious! All this talk about Jurasic Carl and the CBH got me thinking about dinosaurs which is exactly what Dan Shaughnessy is, consider the facts: The Boston Globe’s average net paid weekday circulation (as per the parent company New York Times annual reports) has declined an astonishing 17.6% in the past 5 years alone, the numbers look like this:
year circulation Percent change
2006 389,200 -5.8%
2005 413,300 -8.8%
2004 453,800 +1.7% (Sox winning the series?)
2003 446,300 -4.3%
2002 466,500 -1.3%
2001 472,500
Dan has realized he works for a dinosaur in today’s media world and his career is quickly becoming irrelevant. He is trying to align himelf with the new world media so as not to be extinct. My question for Curt is, perhaps you could shed some light on the number of viewers to your blog and the the growth rates so as to prove just how irrelvant Mr. Shaughnessy actually is?
Thanks
Dude, I’m a Yankee fan, and I know that means I should hate you, but this blog alone is an unbeliveably cool thing.
Good for you!
Curt,
If Dan Shaughnessy is looking for a fan to rip you, well here it goes…
My problem with you has nothing to do with baseball, because you are obviously one of the best pitchers in the last 20 years. The reason I believe you should be in the Hall of Fame is your post season record, which is one of the best, if not THE best in all of baseball history.
Right after the World Series, you went on one of the network morning shows. Now you always have said that you are a team player, and the reason they were interviewing you was that you were a member of the 2004 World Champion Red Sox. You used that occasion not just to talk about the team but to tell the nation to “vote Bush” in the next week’s election. After the parade you jetted off to Ohio to speak in a state that has lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs since Bush took office, and told them what a great President George W. Bush was, and that they should vote for him.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am sure that more than half of all MLB players are Republicans because of the Bush tax cuts. But I really think that it was wrong of you to use the Red Sox World Series win as a platform for you to help Bush get re-elected. Bush has proven to be one of the worst presidents in U.S. history. You have done such great work as the spokesman for curing ALS, and I can’t believe that you can support someone who is single handedly stopping stem cell research. All Bush and Karl Rove have done in the last six years is divide this country into two classes: the rich and the poor.
I hope that in the future you keep your political opinions to yourself.
It’s too bad there isn’t a youtube video out there somewhere from the 2004 WS broadcast with CHB digging deep into his nose, that would b