3-3 and headed home. 4/9/07 vs. Texas
Apr 9th, 2007 by Curt Schilling
All things considered this trip could have been worse. Offensively we aren’t even close to clicking yet we still managed to break even on the road. Jon Papelbon was incredible last night. It’s not what he did as much as it is how he did it and who he did it against. I’d bet that most GM’s in the game would have Michael Young as a guy anyone would love to build a franchise around. I’ve never heard a negative thing about him on or off the field. The guys that coached in Texas, Demarlo, Terry, Donny K, all talk incredibly highly of him as a player and even moreso as a man. He’s a throwback who can flat out hit. Very rarely do you see hitters that good get beaten like that, in that situation. Paps stuff is just that good. Some of the sequences they used to finish off the game were outstanding.
David just crushed both of those balls and were it not for the Gold Glover manning first he’d have had a nice three hit night. His numbers belied how well he hit some balls in KC too. If this were the late May series Manny would likely have had 1, if not 2, home runs as he barreled 2 balls to dead center. We swung the bats good tonight against a guy that’s got some uncomfortable stuff for hitters. Vincente has been on the cusp of being a very consistent good pitcher for a few years now. His sinker is heavy and when he’s on he can beat the crap out of the bottom of the strike zone. He seems to have added a slow hook this year as well. Mixed it in nice in a few different situations.
Once again we jump out in the first, this time on David’s first HR of the year. Manny crushed one right behind him that died in deep center. This ballpark is a pure hitter’s haven when it warms up but it seems as if it plays huge when it’s even slightly cold in Arlington.
I certainly felt better warming up than I did 6 days ago. We worked on some stuff, both physical and mental, over the last 5 days to try and get things moving in the right direction. My number one concern coming out of KC was the absence of fastball command. My other stuff was horrid in KC but none of that really factored in when I couldn’t locate my fastball.
I have seen Kenny Lofton quite extensively in the NL and for the most part the game plan we had going in was one I felt would work if I could execute consistently. Started him off with two fastballs to go 0-2 and tried to get after the last pitch which finished the AB on a swinging third strike.
In 2004, we were getting ready for our first home series and going over the Toronto hitters and I can remember a few guys talking about how Cat hit everything against Boston. It’s turned out to be the case as I’ve watched him do it over the last 3 years, series after series. Coming into tonight he was 10-19 off of me and I would guess he’s hit every pitch I have at least once. I thought the plan we went in with was a good one, right up to the point I left the 2-1 change up on the inner half of the plate. Left handed hitters, guys that don’t hit a lot of home runs, usually have the same hot spot. Leave a pitch inner half soft up, or hard down and they can drop the bat head to it. No idea why right hander’s don’t, but it’s seems to be a natural left handed swing path. I actually thought the pitch was a good one out of my hand. The only hope I had was for it to hook foul, which I knew about a third of the way out it was not going to. 1-1 game 2 hitters in. Michael Young comes up next and hammers an overthrown high fastball to right for another hit. Like all AL lineups, things don’t get any easier from this point on. Texeira comes up next. The first few splits I’ve thrown feel good and I am getting it to stay at the bottom of the zone. His AB ends with a called third strike on a fastball on the outside corner. He may not be the 60 HR a year guy anymore, but the HR Sammy hit the night before makes me believe he’s still got his pop. The ball was not traveling well in this series and he hit one to left center that was pretty well struck. I end up getting him to fly out to left on a split that stayed up a bit more than I’d like, but he got out in front and hit it off the end.
Blalock starts the second inning by chasing one of the better splits I threw in the game for strike three. Good curve ball chase to start the AB. Back to back splits to end it. Wilkerson takes a fastball on the corner for strike one, fouls off a ball away for strike two and then chases a fastball for out number two. Laird takes a first pitch curve that I thought was a strike, for a ball, close pitch but Fielding doesn’t think it caught plate. 1-0 slider for a strike puts us even. I then think I can get a ground ball off a good split but instead leave the ball way too high and he hits it to left for a hard single. Two outs and Kinsler up. I am by no means an expert on good hitters, and what it takes to be a good hitter. I know some fundamental stuff but I think this kid is a real good player. He seems very much like Michael Young to me in that he doesn’t get cheated and he squares up a lot of balls, regardless of velocity, that catch a lot of plate. There can be a lot worse people to be compared to than Michael Young. I also read an interview he did talking about how he prepares to face pitchers and he stated that he doesn’t really study pitchers. I found that pretty interesting given that I know Catalanotto is a serious preparation guy. I always like to know who does and who doesn’t study pitchers. Ian takes a fastball for strike one. I had a few different ideas for the 0-1 pitch and Tek catches me off guard with the call for a curve ball. In KC I was in a ‘see and throw’ mode, meaning I wasn’t doing the things Don Kalkstein and I have worked on to ensure that at the very least I am throwing the pitch with conviction, mentally and physically. I throw what I think is a real good curve and he gets out on his front foot and flies out to end the inning.
Third inning starts off as bad as it can. I can’t locate my fastball and end up walking Kenny to start the inning. We’d just gotten two more on David’s second home run and there can be no worse momentum killer, and giver, than a lead off walk. I thought the 3-2 pitch was strike three. Tek was setup outside for a fastball and I misfired it to what I thought was the inside corner, Fielding thought differently and in the end his opinion is the only one that matters. Frank takes 4 pitches and the count goes 2-2. I misfire and catch too much plate with a fastball but he flies out to left. Huge break there. I end up getting out of the inning by again misfiring another fastball that Michael hits into the left center field gap. I can see Coco as the balls going up and there is no question in my mind he’s catching the ball. I then notice Lofton rounding second and think “Holy crap, we might get two”, which is exactly what happens. Lugo grabs the relay and gets it to Youk to end the inning. We are up 3-1 at this point but the first three I’ve made way harder than I know I should.
Texeira leads off the fourth taking a first pitch back door slider for a ball. We follow that up with another backdoor slider that I somehow manage to throw completely across the plate, down and in, instead of down and away, and he is out and front and pulls it foul. I know I am not keeping my head or my front side ‘in’ as I let go of this pitch, and we get away with it. 1-1 change up that I think was a good one, fouled off and the count goes to 1-2. He lays off a split and then hits the next split pretty hard, into the shift for the first out. Sammy goes to 1-2 and I throw a ‘splider’ (which is what I call my split when it doesn’t drop, but instead cuts hard from right to left. I also have a ‘splinker’, which is the reverse of the ‘splider. If I could master either of them I’d throw them 90 times a game), he tips the ball and Tek hangs on for strike three. Hank chases a good split to start the AB, fouls off a fastball and takes two more fastballs that are both bad pitches to run the count 2-2. He fouls off a good split, and then he does what he does so well. There are hitters in the big leagues who are able to “keep the bat in the zone” longer than others. Hank can do that. I throw him a 2-2 split that is a good one, it dives down and to the outer half but he stays back and drags the barrel through and whacks it sharply to center. Wilkerson fouls off 3 fastballs, takes 2 and hits a 2-2 sinker to shortstop that Julio steps on second to end the inning.
I definitely feel the command is now better, which is huge from a confidence standpoint. Knowing I can throw my fastball to either corner changes everything about my approach and thought process. Funny thing is, or not so funny depending on your vantage point, that it can come and go in a pitch.
3-1 game heading into the fifth and Laird is leading off. This is the first game I’ve ever faced him so the game plan was derived from scouting reports and watching him face other righties from ’06 and early this year. A 7 pitch AB sees me completely missing my location 3-2 and actually getting in on him for a fly ball to right. The big pitch for me was missing so badly 2-2 with a fastball. I throw Kinsler a first pitch slider for a strike. Miss in with a good fastball, get a strike on a fastball away and then hang the crap out of a 1-2 split which I never see. I never see it because I am an idiot. I am trying to throw it so hard I pull off with my head and my front side, but he absolutely crushes the ball and fortunately for us Mike doesn’t break any bones catching the line drive for the second out. Kenny comes up a third time and pops out on a first pitch change up. The exact reason I wanted to start using the change was this. Being able to get guys sitting first pitch fastball to make contact, and outs, on a first pitch change. I can’t explain the huge lift a first pitch out can be to a pitcher. It’s huge in any situation but even bigger when it leads off or ends an inning.
I spoke at length in spring training about ‘pitching to contact’ and I am not sure some people understand what that means. Maybe it means different things to different guys but to me it means getting hitters to hit the ball in counts I used to try for the swing and miss. That’s first pitch and behind in the count breaking balls. For years my ‘breaking ball’ was the split for the most part. The split is a pitch I have never, ever, tried to throw for a strike. It gets swung at because it spends ¾ of the time ‘in’ the strike zone, and when thrown right, is a ball when it reaches the plate. I’ve always thrown a very high percentage of strikes but I would bet that a very large portion of those strikes are balls, made strikes by contact or swings and misses. It goes back to a philosophy I tried hard to learn and pitch by which is this. The key to pitching is being able to throw a ball when they are swinging, and a strike when they are taking. The key to that is being able to know when those two will happen. That’s what made the 3-2 walk to Shealy so wrong in KC. I knew he was taking, I knew I could beat him with a fastball, yet I still forced myself to throw a split, a pitch I know I am not throwing for a strike. You never stop learning, you never stop making mistakes, but I think the key to getting better as you get older is making the same mistakes less.
I’m at 79 pitches after 5. If I want any chance of completing this game I need to get quick outs in the 7th and 8th. That goes right down the crapper as Frank leads off the sixth with a 10 pitch at bat. I guide, overthrow or misfire 3 fastballs to go 3-0. Not sure I can be any more pissed at this point but I need to get it going or I’m going to walk the leadoff hitter, who happens to be hitting in front of the meat of this lineup. We stay almost exclusively with fastballs away and he fouls off five straight. One is a foul pop that I am hoping blows back but doesn’t and ends up just out of reach. He tips one that Tek almost hangs on to. He ends the AB by flying out on a fastball down and in that I was trying to throw away Young takes a slider for strike one and then pops the next pitch up to second for out number two. Mark takes a fastball for strike one, fouls off a good 0-1 curveball and then hits a split into the shift for out number three. Two outs on 5 pitches and I still manage a 15 pitch inning.
Vincente had settled down and thrown up zeroes since the third and it’s still a 2 run game. If the tying run is coming up it needs to be via a hit. Rarely will teams put three hits in a row together, but throwing a walk in the mix means you can bloop or chink a run out of one or two singles. I’m at 94 pitches heading into the 7th, which means I need to not only get three outs and not give up any runs, but I need to be efficient. Sammy starts the inning off by getting jammed with a two seam fastball and flying out to left. Pitching to contact is a beautiful thing when it works. Blalock takes a first pitch slider for a ball, then hits a hard ground ball on a 1-0 split for out number two. Wilkerson takes a strike, then two balls, all fastballs, then fouls off the 2-1 pitch that caught a whole lot more plate than it was supposed to. After another foul ball I pretty much empty the tank on the last pitch getting him swinging at a middle down fastball to end the inning.
The bullpen rights the ship before it’s too late and Paps does his thing to close it out.
This much I know. The next five days will be a hell of a lot easier to head to the park than the last five were. When you have to sit on an outing as bad as the one in KC for five days it eats at you. I’d love to tell you I just shrug it off and move on but I don’t. They certainly don’t eat at me like they did when I was 28, but they still linger until you get a good one and a win under your belt. You get your work in, you cheer like hell for your team to beat the everliving crap out of whoever you are playing, but for me there’s still that “Damn I was so bad” moment that happens 2-300 times a day in between a rancid outing and your next start. To combat that we’ve got an awesome group of coaches here this year. John Farrell is a guy that puts in overtime to be good at what he does. You know he’s been watching tape, studying you when you aren’t around and when he comes to you, you know he’s got something that matters to tell you. Don Kalkstein, our “performance coach” is aces too. Even though I absolutely crush him on a daily basis about being the same guy for the Dallas Mavericks (since I am a Suns fan), he busts his butt to do whatever he can, whenever he can. He was instrumental in this game tonight for me, helping me with some things to keep myself mentally on track and where I need to be, regardless of the situation during the game.
The other huge factor in the last five days being bearable are the teammates. We’ve got a phenomenal group of guys on this team. Twenty five guys who all accept their roles and are professionals. Guys like Erik Hinske, Alex Cora, all of them, who approach every day and every game like you hope they do. They prepare, they are ready and they are good people. You can’t sit around dwelling on a bad game or moping around with the “Woe is me” because first off it looks like crap. Spending 5 days moping around basically says I sucked and I feel bad, regardless of how the team is doing. You do that and you send a clear message to your teammates that I don’t think anyone wants to send. You spend more time with your teammates than you do your real family during the baseball season. Being in a clubhouse with a group of players that care about themselves above all else turns the season into a nightmare grind. We don’t have that here. We’ve still got a ways to go to really gel, but it’s coming. There isn’t an ego or personality here that doesn’t fit. We’ve got a group of guys that care about each other and pull for each other, regardless of how they are doing and that is the difference, in addition to talent obviously, in a world championship team and everyone else. I’m sure there are a lot of clubhouses in baseball that feel the same way, but I know in this market, in this city, if you don’t have that close cohesive clubhouse you are fighting an un-winnable uphill battle.
So our trip ends at 3-3. We are on the plane back to Boston, where we will land around 4:30am and spend an off day at home. Something none of us have done for about 8 weeks now. Not to mention none of us got to wake our kids up for Easter. I certainly don’t want that to appear like a whine, even though it is, because there are thousands of men and women sleeping in the deserts of the middle east now, who have not been able to wake their kids up for months on end and are in a lot worse situations than we are. Just sucks to not be able to spend the holidays with the family, no matter how much money you make or what kind of life you lead.
Seattle comes in for the home opener, then we have Anaheim for four leading up to Patriots day and a stinking 10am start. Will definitely be the earliest game I’ve ever been a part of. Looking forward to kicking off another year of sell outs and hearing the Fenway faithful do their thing. Fenway in the summer is unlike any sports environment I’ve ever been a part of and something I am truly thankful to have been able to experience before the end of my career.
Curt,
At this hour 0612 - I am happy to read your timely post of last nights game.
Thank you for putting thr time in so we can see what you have to say about last night’s awesome performance.
Enjoy the family.
Lucky Game Curt. GOOD BY MEN!!
Curt, great job, looking forward to see you get even more dominant this season.
Regarding Papelbon, from your standpoint, how important is it to know that there is somebody like him who can just come in and save virtually any game, compared to the thought of having him in the rotation (provided he would perform similarly as a SP)? Does it give you any kind of boost when pitching in 1-run games and such?
Enjoyable read..thanks for the insight to last night’s game. Great job against a very good hitting team. Watching Papelpon in the 8th and 9th inning was amazing. I know how Yankees fans felt like when Mariano was practically unhittable.
Great game Curt. You and Paps were outstanding. Thanks and welcome home!
Gee, I guess all that weight and old age did`nt matter last night, huh?What a farce! All the naysaying ninnies are WRONG AGAIN!!!OH,LUCKY GAME,RIGHT FRANK? THAT WAS 99% SKILL LAST NIGHT AND 1%LUCK!I GUESS OLD GAMMONS LAUGHING AT YOU BRINGING BACK THE CHANGE IS OVER TOO! TRYING TO DRAG TEK INTO IT SAYING HE “ROLLED HIS EYES”
WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT! HOW SILLY!
LIKE I SAID BEFORE YOU WITH A CHANGE IS SCARY AND THE SOX NEED TO GET OUT THEIR WALLETS BEFORE YOU WEAR THE PINSTRIPES! BUT AT LEAST IF YOU WON WEARING THEM I GUESS FRANK WOULD SAY IT WAS 100% SKILL AS ANY NY PLAYER IS THE BEST,RIGHT? W R O N G !!!YOU ARE
NUMBER 1 ON THIS STAFF NOT JUST FOR YOUR STUFF, BUT ALL YOU BRING TO THIS TEAM! IF THE ROCKET IS WORTH 3 MILL A MONTH SO ARE YOU. I PRAY YOU STAY!
GOSOXGO!!!
OH BY THE WAY I LOVE THIS AS READING YOUR THOUGHTS IN YOUR OWN WORDS IS PRICELESS TO ME! REPORTERS TEND TO MANGLE EVERYTHING
BY PUTTING THINGS IN THEIR OWN WORDS! FOR PROOF LOOK AT SDI!THEY NEVER LIKED IT SO THEY CALL IT A DEROGATORY NAME-STARWARS!
THEY ARE CLOSE MINDED HYPOCRITES WHO CAN ONLY GIVE IT! NEVER TAKE IT! IF ANYONE CRITISIZES THEM LOOK OUT! LOOK HOW THEY ALL DREW RANKS AROUND LOBEL! AND HE IS AWFUL! GOOD RIDANCE.
Curt,
Great performance last night - however, I’m quite curious what was going through your head in the 8th watching Joel Pineiro almost cough up the game?
~Chris
Hi Curt
I’m a Red Sox fan trapped the wrong side of the Pond.
Stayed up last night to pay ‘homage’ to you guys, and it was worth it!
It is excellent for those of us starved of baseball over here to read your thoughts - many thanks, it is much appreciated.
Looking forward to seeing you ‘in the flesh’ again soon!
Cheers
Chris Collins
Truro
England
Good job last night, big fella! Terry really appreciates you giving the bullpen a breather last night. I feel good about our starting pitching this season, reminds me of my HS starting rotation where we had 3 studs.
Congrats to the team on the win. My faith in your ability to right your ship proved correct. Making corrections is what professionals do.
Knowing you were probably still carrying the ghosts of KC in your head, I was glad to see you supporting your team mates’ performances with a genuine smile on your face, last week. That is what professionals should do.
Thanks so much for the breakdown of last night’s game. I missed the last few innings and was happy to see your post along with finding some video of Pap’s close. It’s comforting to watch things come together. I’m looking forward to seeing Wake get some run support soon.
Going home. Good for you; good for the team. Enjoy the Fenway opener. A new beginning. Onward.
Great job last night Curt. Paps was flat out awesome. Once they brought him in I knew we would win. Great to see Papi break out too! The rotation is looking pretty good (minus Tavares) and once the bats break loose you guys should tear it up! How did you feel last night as far as your command versus the game in KC? Keep up the good work.
Curt Swift
Do you remember the last time you played a weekend three game series in which the only day game was on Friday?
Curt,
Great Job last night. I thought you did a very good job of commanding your pitches. It definitely showed over the course of the week that you have worked on some things. I think this was a great sign of things to come. Keep up the great work. I can’t agree with you more about Paps. He is unbelievable. It is amazing how an individual can over power good hitters like Michael Young. I am very excited to see him in the 9th inning. Again, Great job Curt. Props to Ortiz for a nice night as well.
Great game last night, Mr. Schilling. Seven well-pitched innings made you look like you are right back in your old form again, not that we in the Nation thought otherwise. It’s just that old New England pessimism that makes so many Red Sox fans expect the worst. Maybe that’s so they can be pleasantly surprised when the worst doesn’t happen, and everyone can heave a big sigh of relief. Congrats on being able to head back home with an even record.
Just wondering if there was one single point in the game where you realized it was going to be so different from your last start, and that your command was back?
Enjoy your day off, and thanks for winning.
Overall your hitting will come together and will be pretty scary, even the bottom half if tek can start hitting.
Your (Red Sox)pitching is going to be awesome.
Curt:
Good game last night; it is clear that you have your focus back. Don’t beat yourself up about KC; it is a learning opportunity.
One question- how much does colder weather affect a player’s performance?
Welcome back, and good luck to the team today!
Whoops! correction to my above post- Good luck tomorrow!
Curt - You were fantastic. I always look forward to watching the Sox, but especially the games you pitch. Pap was phenomenal as well. Can’t wait for the first game at home. Again, congrats to you and the whole team.
Hey Curt,
A NON -baseball question for you. How do like the Boston area, is it a place you’d live year round when you are done playing? How are the people in the town that you live in, are you bothered frequently or do they let you go about your life? Basically, when your not at Fenway, playing or at appearances, how do you like living in Massachusetts, was it what you expected?
Thanks for starting off your entry praising Papelbon. You were excellent last night, but Papelbon pitched up to his lofty “I want to be like Rivera” goal.
Nice game Curt. Your pitches seemed to have better movement than in KC. Keep it up and enjoy the home cooking.
REF
First off, great job. your command on the fastball last night was outstanding.
Watching the game last helped me think of a question. When you’re done for the night after a game like last night, you leave with a small lead after pitching brilliantly, what’s it like sitting in the dugout watching the ‘pen get the last X amount of outs?
not to knock piniero and lopez, but i’m sure i wasn’t the only fan thinking “oh man they’re gonna blow this game for curt.” is it disappointing to pitch so well only to come up with a ND? do you get frustrated with the ‘pen when that happens, or does it all balance out over the course of the season?
but, thankfully, that didn’t happen. paps was dominant, you got the win, and finally head to fenway. looking foward to watching you on the EI Package (thanks for fighting for us, inDemand).
Schill,
Last night was my first night to see the team this year. Being I hadn’t had the chance to see opening day, I didn’t have anyting to compare your outing last night against. Based on that, if I had to form an opinion of your performance I was pleased to see your “focus and intensity” was right on. After Frank Catalanotto wrapped that one around the foul pole and Michael Young singled, You buckled down blew it by Mark Teixeira.
I wouldn’t worry so much about “making the batters hit it” this year when you can still blow it by the games best hitters, albeit it is a long season and I get your philosphy.
Can’t wait to get Timlin back this week. Good luck to you and the fellas the rest of the way.
Go Sox!
Way to mow ‘em down Curt.
Greg
Phil 4:13
Quality start Curt. It’s not how many times you fall but what you do after the fall that makes the man. You truly still have it, and in spades.
Here’s hoping to see more starts such as this and better from ya this year and maybe beyond : )
Quite a substantive post, Curt. I’m wondering how long you can keep it up. I used to blog a lot. You come firing out of the gate and then as the month’s roll on you blog less and less as the rest of your life starts getting in the way and then it’s over.
I love the prolific posting but it seems impossible that you’ll be able to keep it up throughout the season. Hope I’m wrong. Maybe the fact that you only have to post 35 or so times will help.
Good luck. I’d rather read this than the CHB.
Great game last night Curt! Hopefully the bats come around soon, because overall the pitching staff has been fantastic so far… I know it is early but I hope the staff can keep this up for the season. It was a shame to see Wake lose that game the other night but I am sure he will win his share when the bats bail him out as well.
Keep up the good work!
Gary
Good stuff Curt, looked great last night. Watching Paplebon come in now is starting to feel like I did watching Rivera come in for the Yanks 7 or 8 years ago, when he just couldn’t be touched and hitters just feared that moment.
Sweet game (though a nail-biter in the 8th!! Papelbon is amazing.) It was nice to see Papi hitting those homers, too. Great comeback for you too– 7 innings, only 4 hits. I’m lovin’ it. Great job!
A good game, exciting to watch- unlike the previous night. Avoiding the gloss that all of the other comments have- I am concerned for the need to go to Papelbon in the 8th. Pretty sad- yet a dead on call by Francona. However- having said that- Papelbon will be cooked by the all star break if he is the only one out there that Francona has confidence in. Pinero (sp?) looked like a deer in headlights and the majority of his pitches weren’t even close.
As far as you missing spots and location- I expect that is going to improve in short order. You’re right- you were lucky on a few last night.
I enjoy your blog and your insight into the game- something fans never get from the media. I do hope you plan on omitting the, as you called it , whining. Easter, 10am starts- give us a break. You chose your career- you cash the checks- you want to continue to play next year. All good and fine- but you need to choose one or the other.
NFL players are on the road for Christmas and routinely play in sub-zero temps. Summer nights at the Fen don’t even compare…
Stellar performance and hope it’s the first of many more for you this season and beyond. We in RSN truly appreciate your candor and timely blogging. Look forward to the continued success of the team.
Keep going Curt. I hope you can get in all the games on this homestand because I am coming to Toronto from Rochester to see game 16 of the year which would put you on the mound at the dome at 12:37 on april 19th. First time seeing you pitch in person since your great days on the Red Wings in 89-90. I love your description of thought process while pitching. Can you get the cowboy in Baltimore to talk about hitting the same way? I’d love to understand a hitter’s thinking process, maybe Manny’s as he seems to have great insight into what pitchers are trying to do with him.
Way to skip over the ugly pitching last night. I understand why you might not want to talk about other pitchers but Pineiro looked like crap again. This is the stuff we want you to talk about- What’s going through his head? What does he say or teammates say to him? I feel bad for the guy but he needs to execute.
BTW- do you have a brother in the Philly area? If not, you have a long-lost twin that wears a giant ring (looks like a championship of some-kind). Sat near him last year during a spring training game.
You continue year-in and year-out to make the family proud!
Thanks for your considerable contribution yesterday. It was a great game.
Carolyn Schilling Gill
Andover, MA
Nice way to end the road trip. Horrors! Frankfromgloucester posted!! I didn’t know the Foxy Lady had a wireless connection.
Your open door policy may come back to bite you hehe.
Curt, you looked amazing last night. I will be at the first three home games, and I’m totally bummed that you won’t be pitching at any of them. Oh well, I’ll be back for sure and I’m going to make sure that I catch at least one of your games this season.
Mr. Schilling,
I thought you pitched well last nite against a very good hitting team. Joe Morgan ( of ESPN, not “Walpole Joe”
must have caught your first outing in KC because he was quick to point out the differences in your arm speed and your command on the fastball. It seems he never bought into the fact that you were coming to the end of your rope. I don’t see how anyone can make a judgement like that from witnessing one outing, especially when considering how well you pitched in the pre-season. I never doubted you.
A quick question; when writing about the previous nite’s work as you have done after each start thus far, are you checking notes you made during the game or are you writing all this from memory? It seems pretty amazing to me that you can remember the sequence of pitches to each batter ( 3-4 times each, no less), the location of each pitch, what it was called by the ump and so on and so forth. If that’s not “total recall” or a photographic memory, I sure don’t know what is. My hat’s off to you on that, if indeed that’s what you do.
I always look forward to your starts the most because I enjoy the look of sheer determination on your face. I can’t think of another pitcher that shows, on their shirtsleeve, that “refuse-to-lose”attitude. It’s what makes you so great. The smart money will always be on you. Even a Yankee fan is knowledgeable enough to know better than to bet against you. That’s why you’re our ace here in “Nation.”
Thanks for taking the time to read this,
Eric Davenport - Meriden, CT
PS- Is there anything at all that can be done about Mr. Pesky’s situation? Surely you players and coaches aren’t just going to accept the decision without a fight. There’s got to be some way to get around this. It’s just NOT right!!!
You rock man.
That is all.
Great post Curt! Its awesome to be able to read whats on your mind when your on the hill. Mowed them down just like i thought 10 in a row impressive!
thank you for all the insight keep it going.
PS thanx for getting that era down my fantasy team is doing much better now!
GO SOX AND THE YANKEES STILL SUCK!!
Curt, awesome recap and the in depth analysis of pitch by pitch you had in last night’s great performance. Glad you’re coming back
Even on the internet, Frank from Gloucester can’t speak right. Gotta love it.
And great game Curt. It’s funny, watching you pitch to Catalanado, I sat there and said to myself “I bet he’s going to write about him tomorrow.” Haha. I was at your first game back with the Sox against BC way back in Spring Training of ‘04 and you’ve made us Boston fans proud ever since. Thanks for everything you do, and sorry you couldn’t be with your family on Easter.
Good luck the rest of the way. -Jay
Good morning Curt and congratulation on a great game. I’m sure it felt great to get a little run support. Especially from Big Papi. I’m sure once the weather warms up the team will be in stride and the hitters will dominate as they are expected to.
I see Papelbon is in full swing and ready to close all doors.
Keep up the great work an let’s hope the weather improves soon.
Hey Curt,
Good win last night, definately always good to end a trip like that on a high.
I’m wondering though, I keep hearing how the unseasonably cold weather is affecting the hitters, causing the ball to not fly as far etc. etc…
Well, How does the cold affect you as a pitcher? Is the ball “slicker”, does it break more, or is there no effect whatsoever?
Thanks, enjoy the day off
D
Curt,
I think its great that you can go into such detail about your outing and what was going through your mind on almost every pitch. My question to you is what are you feelings on the schedule around MLB early this season, with a lot of games being scheduled in places like NY, CLE, CHI and not in places like Tampa?
Hey Schill,
What a tremendous difference 5 days can make. You didn’t look like the same pitcher we saw on opening day back in KC. The biggest difference I saw this start was your delivery. You were much more smooth and you let the pitches come naturally.
You took command of the game, the way you always do. The slicing homer you gave up ealry was quickly forgotten and you took the game back. Had it been a solid shot, maybe you would have stayed with you longer, but it wasn’t and it didn’t. I also thought Tek did a much better job calling the game for you. It was good to see movement on the FB again and there is no doubt that once the team takes the field on Tuesday in Fenway, the bats will start to come alive.
This team has the potential to be one of the greatest Red Sox teams of all time. Perhaps some will say that I am writing this while wearing my faithful Red Sox “rose colored glasses” but I just say look at the rotation. You have three top of the rotation starters that on any other team could be the Ace. Then you throw in Wake and its a dangerous mix no matter when in the rotation you face this team.
I really liked what I saw from Tavarez at the end of last season and I certainly haven’t given up on him in the five hole just yet. But with that said, we know Lester will be ready again shortly and the possibility of Roger joining the team in June….How unbelievable that would be.
All that’s left is for the bullpen to find the “go to” set up man….Will it be Timlin? If he has the same stuff we all remember, it becomes simple math thereafter. Starters go 7…Timlin in the 8th….Pape shuts the door. Game over.
Again..it was great seeing that familiar delivery and command of the game.
Make it Happen in ‘07!!
Scott from North Jersey
(formally the North Shore)
Hey Schill,
Great game last night. You got away with some pitches, but it seemed like your command was so much better. And Papelbon was lights out in the 8th and 9th. He and Tek set up Young, Texiera, and Wilkerson perfectly in the 9th.
I saw Tito congratulate you when you were done with the 7th inning, but it also looked like he asked if you could go another inning. There’s no need in throwing 130 pitches early in the season, but I was just wondering why you didn’t at least start the 8th inning.
Enjoy your day off and Happy Easter
Curt,
A Father is a Father no matter what we do. It is obvious next to your faith that your family is at the center of your life. Admirable ……true example for our kids to notice. Great game last night for you …Paps and our laundry.
Question for you. How much does the cold effect your grip and make it more challanging to hit spots with your off speed pitches…
All the best this year.
25
I’ve enjoyed what you’ve written so far. What a unique opportunity it is for us fans / readers to read and understand your perspectives on baseball, your performance and the Red Sox. Considering the fact that the population of major league pitchers that are willing to blog is miniscule, we should all be respectful of your efforts so that you can continue to share your thought and experiences with us. Thanks Curt!
Ed
Good game.
Congratulations Curt, great game. The guys over at ESPN kept saying “he’s back” and i think it kind of reflected what we thought too in watching you pitch yesterday. Jonathan also did a helluva job last night, i mean, it was one of those moments when you know you’re witnessing something great. Once the boys at bats start rolling too, it will be an amazing year.
Good game Schill. Must be nice knowing that Paps is in the back end on games like that. Hopefully you can continue getting stronger throughout the season and be along side Beckett and Daisuke. Fear The Sox 2007
I have to admit, I fell asleep during this one but from what I saw last night you were painting the corners with your fast balls and mixing the off speed stuff in nicely to keep batters off balance!! Great to see Papi get a hold of the ball too, I saw the first one, fell asleep by the second one
Manny looks like he is making solid contact too. Good Luck tomorrow even though you aren’t pitching. I won’t be there this year 
Couldn’t get my hands on tickets this year but I will be listening on the radio from work (just not the same haha) Enjoy your off day with your kids, VERY good point about our troops, enough is enough they need to be home with their families watching baseball on a lazy saturday afternoon!!!!!!
Catalanotto haunts my nightmares. He is now 10-19 vs. you. He has more HR, RBI’s and extra base hits (1 every 7.45 at-bats) against the Sox then any other team. Also, his OPS is 80 points higher against the Sox then his career avg. Nothing against Hinske, but it would have been nice to get him from Toronto instead, if for nothing more then to not have to face him.
My questions….does he get his power from the Earth’s yellow Sun and is he forged out of some sort of space-aged polymer?
Curt,
Congrats on the great outing last night. Looking forward to seeing you back at home.
I travel a lot for work and sometimes find it a lot easier to be effective on the road without all of the distractions of home. Do you find this to be the case or would you rather prepare and pitch at home?
Andy
I was multitasking last night playing WoW and watching the game while talking with a guildmate who was also watching the game. We were very impressed with your pitching last night and Paps was unbelievable at the end. He reminded me of the times I’ve hated seeing Rivera come in to close the game for the Yankees during his prime (not that he is passed it but he is on the back end). What’s it like to know that you have THAT guy to come in a finish off a team and make even the best hitters look foolish?
Also, I agree that no matter the money you make or the job you do it stinks to not be with family for a holiday. As much as I love watching sports on Thanksgiving, Christmas and any other holiday for that matter I would be just as happy not to have it there so the athletes can be where they truely belong…with family and friends.
Curt,
I’m one of the guys that think youre out of shape. I didnt jump on you after the first game, so I’m not gonna praise you and say youre healed after this one. Time will tell.
Danny Boy®
Happy you and the team were about to pull off .500 for the road trip. Can’t wait for the Fenway series!!
Way to get back on track, Curt!
Not surprising to me at all that you got it together last night. That first game was definetly an abberation.
Nodded off during the seventh inning…and woke up to the middle of the eighth in a panic. Thank God for PAPS!
Really looking forward to tomorrow…no tickets but just being in and around Fenway at the Tavern, the Cask, is enough for me! Glad you had a great game…never doubted it for a minute.
Curt,
Thanks for the game last night and for the blog. It was fun to watch the way you came right after Sosa last night with fastballs in his first AB. From reading your blog I’m getting much more into the nuances of the game and the chess match that goes on between pitcher/catcher and batter. I’m into poker and I’m beginning to see that there are some similarities in strategy, specifically when it comes to deception, multi-level thinking, and sheer guts. That first Sosa at bat though, it seemed like you just figured he couldn’t catch up with your fastball, and you were right. That was fun to watch.
It’s was so much fun when Jon Papelbon came to the mound last night in a tough situation and started glaring in to ‘Tek from under his cap. It’s starting to become for me like watching Larry Bird or Tom Brady or David Ortiz. The moment he steps on the field, I just *know* he’s going to come up big in the clutch. He hasn’t got the resume of accomplishments yet like those guys do or that you do, but the feeling is there for me when he comes in the game. This is the experience that I watch sports for and the kind of player I want in Boston.
Your piece about clubhouse chemistry and supporting your teammates was really interesting. Watching Theo make moves, and having recently read Moneyball, sometimes I get the impression that there is such and emphasis numbers in this new philosophy of team construction, that’s its becoming too much like a roto team. You talk about how important personalities and professionalism are in the clubhouse and on the road - do the number-crunching types pay enough attention to this in your opinion? With all the changes since ‘04, it seems sometimes like the front office cares more about stats, and that players are just interchangeable parts in a machine. What about team continuity and chemistry, what about the Muellers and Millars on a team (and the Pedros, Cabreras, Damons, Nixons and so on…
Is the Beane-ball movement losing sight of something when they stare into their laptops? Or do they, when they make personnel decisions, assign due value to how personalities can support a winning team?
Dear Curt et. al,
That was a great game! I really enjoyed staying up to 11pm to watch it. I called my husband up in Germany and woke him up. Yes it is too early in the season to do that regularly for every Red Sox win but this was an important win!!!
Ortiz hit his first of many many many home runs. Manny looked good. You did great!!!! Papelbon-fire was amazing. He so totally has that look!
After the first time through the rotation and your second start I can say that I feel good about my team. Sure things are not perfect. But there are so many things to be hopeful about! You had a great second start. Beckett looks like he is settling into pitching for the AL. Daisuke subarashii desu!! (If I’m correct that means Daisuke is wonderful. I knew my love of anime and 2 semesters of Japanese would pay off!) Wakefield is awesome. I love that the Sox have him for the rest of his career. He deserves it. His outing was so special to watch. Finally Tavarez isn’t as bad as he looked. I think he’ll surprise people (in a good way) as the number 5.
The bats will get better. (Yah Big Papi!!) The defense looks solid.
As a fan, what’s not to be hopeful about?
-Diane.
What interests me, Curt, is that your analysis of your performance isn’t dependent on the results you got. Johnny Sain, the pitching coach, used to say that the world doesn’t want to hear about labor pains; it only wants to see the baby. Anyone would think that giving up four hits and one run over seven innings is a gem, but your take shows how luck plays just as big a factor as skill.
Anyway, I’m glad the luck ran your way, and enjoy the home opener.
Curt,
While our SP as a team this past week was a thing to be happy about after the opener - some low scores on the other side, a great debut from Dice-K, Josh and Wake looking strong- last night somehow put me in the comfort zone. It almost felt like a home opener, with everything going to plan. Curt commanding, Big Papi authoring rbi’s, Paps lights out, and Manny, well he just boosted two hits that easily could have left the park. Lofton just caught up with the last one. That is the way it should be on our team. My hat’s off to you guys for making that happen on the road.
Your comments regarding good team chemistry were even better to read. It makes me very optimistic about the year. I know it is something the people upstairs want to have, but hearing it from the clubhouse perspective is just great. Does the real gelling often happen in a particular game? Over a weekend series? Or is is less traceable?
Thanks again,
Pete
Papelbon’s so special, a joy to watch. Good to have you back in form too G38 and the return of Papi’s bat.
Curt great game last night.Papelbon is starting right were he left off before his injury last season.He looked overpowering on the hitters and his fastball seems to have two speeds (speed too the plate and then speed past the plate.)David got some pitches too hit and found the mistakes that Padila threw.Curt there are reports out there that you are jealous of matzusaka and I don’t have too tell you who the culprit is that is making such accusations but they are unfounded.It is only the maturity level of the reporter and his own insercurity that leads him to make these comments on public stations A former emmmy winner and show host is losing his public appeal and fan base in this city.
pete
it was good to see you bounce back from your first start.
but just like michael young, i am absolutely blown away by papelbon. i could not believe how average he made young and texiera look, not to mention how he made wilkerson look. if he can keep this up, game over. GO SOX.
i cant wait to watch dice-k, and paps against the yanks this month. woohoo.
That was the Sox we were all looking for. I had a friend say that you had to go, but you know, one game, I told him give the guy a break. I knew that you and the rest of the team would come around. I feel bad for Wake right now. What a game he had the other night and still picks up an L. First trip on the road to come home playing .500 ball, we can live with that.
The Schllingnator is back!
Thanks for a good game,
Galen
Great game last night Curt, thought you were coming back out for the 8th, didn’t know you were out of gas. A much needed win for you and the team, had a nice Easter fire burning, was a great way to end a good day in front of the tube. A victory by the old guard #38 and a win by a new kid, Zach!
Go Sox!
Curt,
What’s going on with Wily Mo Pena and Eric Hinske? Neither of them have seen much playing time so far this season. I think you are going to need both of them to provide some pop on offense in a major way this season, especially Wily Mo.
Coco is an above average outfielder, but doesn’t have the power of either of those guys. I realize that Wily Mo needs a bit of work out there, but I don’t see how the current lineup can produce enough runs to be a serious contender. You have got to have his bat in the lineup…especially with Tek not hitting either.
This red sox team reminds me a lot of a National League team with tremendous pitching and defense, but not a lot of weapons on offense (other than Big Papi and Manny), sort of like many of the old Dodger teams.
Burke Evans
Raleigh, NC
Great job Curt. I enjoyed watching you and last nights game. Papelbon is just so much fun to watch. And Papi’ s home runs are always a thrill. Welcome home guys!! Enjoy Fenway tomorrow.
Hey Curt -
Good reading in your post. I find the comments about you “getting lucky” on pitches somewhat interesting. How often, or at what percentage would you say aces “get lucky” against hitters? I know many columnists, reporters and sportscasters will refer to the induced pop fly, or induced pop out, but how many times do you actually make it happen (by jamming the hitter, or over extending hit swing for a ground out, or soft liner) and how often is it just as a result of getting lucky? I am a huge ball fan, but have not often thought of it from this perspective. So from your standpoint there would be many good pitchers who spend alot of time getting lucky and maybe some great pitchers suffering from unlucky games or seasons? I see that batters like Manny and Sosa, also suffer at times for good contact in the cold, doesn’t allow them HR’s that they would otherwise have, so I guess luck would run both ways.
I find it amazing the complexities of a baseball game. It is so fun to watch, all the variables, the though processes that go into it. It was really nice to see Paps thatnk Varitek and say “good job” so that people could understand the importance of Variteks role behind the plate. He gets recognition in RSN but not enough with other fans, and sportcasters/ reporters. I love Varitek and his ethics. I hope his bat finds its way back, he isn’t looking too comfortable at the plate yet. Seems like hes pressing a bit. I hope he can relax and find his groove. And speaking of grooves, WELCOME BACK PAPI…that was great.
We are attending opening day, and Dice-K’s opener on Weds. Also will be watching Tavarez on Friday. I can’t wait and the excitement at the Fens will be electric as always. Thanks for your posts and we look forward to hearing from you all season long. Maybe we’ll stop by and say Hi, take care and thanks again.
Sparhawk
I have a quick question Curt.
First off, last night was a good outing. It shows all of us out in Red Sox Nation that your gonna be a force to reckon with very soon.
Now for my question.
When your pitching (especially on ESPN), they always show you in the dugout with a book and your writing in it. What is in that book that you are always writing in?
Ryan
While Pap was pitching in the 8th ESPN showed a close up of Veritek before he went through the signs. On TV it looked pretty cllear that Tek stared up at the current hitter. Do youknow if Tek or any other cathers out there have ever tried to read batters before calling for certain pitches? Or is he just reminding himself who’s up to bat, or maybe just talking to the batter or ump?
Another angle to this question would be what kind of behind the scenes stuff goes on behind the plate that the average fan doesn’t know about?
Great game last night, 3-3 makes a huge difference than 2-4, even though this early in the season that’s ridiculous to say.
Way to stay mentally tough. After the loss last week I can imagine that the expectations that you put on yourself can sometimes serve as their own obstacle. In spite of this, you pitched a fine game. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that you have a couple of Pap’s to back you up…one that hits ‘em out of the park and one that keeps ‘em in. Great stuff.
Go Red Sox!
WAY TO GO CURT. WELCOME BACK AND WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR FROM YOU. YOUR FRIENDS AND FANS IN MAINE
Schilling-san: Now THAT’s more like it. Very nicely done. Jon Miller and Joe Morgan were prepared to spend the whole evening harping on how awful you were in KC and how you’ve “lost it” — it was so nice to see them have to change their tune. You had ‘em won over by pitch number 5. Good going.
Welcome home to Fenway!
Good win last night Curt…good job all around. What will it mean historically and socially, from a player’s point of view, particularly as we celebrate Jackie Robinson’s impact on the game, to have such a high profile match-up at the Fens when Dice-K faces Ichiro on Wednesday night?
Curt,
Just wanted you to know last night was the 1st Red Sox game to be shown on British TV this season, def worth staying up for.
Quick question: the Cricket World Cup is taking place in the West Indies at the moment and I just wondered if you’ve ever ‘bowled’ a cricket ball or ever seen a game?
Good luck this year and keep blogging,
Josh.
Brighton, England.
Great game last night Curt! It was a blast to watch you and Vincente duel that one out.
The Mariners game should be a fun one to watch on Wednesday. I wonder if having Dice-K, Okajima, Ichiro, and Johjima all in the same game is a record for Japanese players in an MLB game…
Scott
Hey Curt, do you ever have issues mentally dealing with pitch count vs the need to get guys out? That is, does pitch count ever affect what you would do on the mound from a pitch selection or mental standpoint? Theoretically, you may choose to set guys up differently, hoping for more first pitch contact.
I noticed above you were anxious to get guys out quick in the later innings as your pitch count was climbing.
Thanks,
G
Sydney, AU
Sorry, I should have said, “I noticed from your post above that you were anxious to get guys out quick in the later innings….”
G
Sydney, AU
Awesome performance last night. I was wondering what your thoughts were of not coming back out to pitch the 8th? Did you have it in you, or did you agree that with you being over 100 pitches and this early in the season that it was a good decision to turn it over to the bull pen?
Excellent job last night. Between you and Paps, it’s looking like you’re both in rare form for so early in the season.
Sorry you couldn’t spend Easter morning with your kids. That must be really painful for all concerned. Hopefully there were big chocolate bunnies for everyone.
Curt,
I have to admit is was great to see you back in action. I have waited all winter for you and the SOX to hit the field and last nights win was a great feeling. I just hope you can give some of our other pitchers some advice because God knows we can’t have any lose ends. You looked great though and I am so excited the season is here!!
Let’s Go Red Sox
Curt,nice start,boston needed this start to avoid being swept and to carry mommentum into the next series.Well done and clutch pitching!Good luck at home in the upcoming series versus ichiro and the mariners.Hopefully the offense can wake up at home.
Curt,
Excellent outing last night. Question for you, When a starting pitcher such as yourself hands the game over to the bullpin and things start to go south, do you personally get involved with the pitching coach as to what the bullpin may do to improve the situation? After all, you have been the one out there for the last seven innings and know what has been working. I know that every pitcher has their own personal style of pitching or certain types of pitches that they rely on. I noticed that the fastball worked very well for both you and Paps. Did Terry want to go back to the fastballs? Is that why they brought Paps in, in the 8th w/ only one out? Luckily for Paps he only had to throw 5 pitches in the 8th. What if he had thrown several more pitches? What would Tito do then? Good managerial call. I understand about missing Easter, that would be difficult. It’s the Superbowl of our holidays. Do you guys have a service available for you?
God Bless Curt,
West Coast Nation
SoCal
James
Curt, I do not know how lucky one man can get. Your pitching is so below par this season so far, that I can see why the Red Sox did not offer you a contract before the season, as they wanted to see what will happen, and they are seeing it. I hope you hold nothing against the Red Sox, as we all now see how ineffective you will be all season. Thank the Red Sox for Dice-K and Beckett.
Hey Curt,
I’m a huge fan, I love the way you prepare and study the game, and it’s players. Thanks for the opportunity to read your thoughts. I have a question for you.
While you were pitching in Arlington, Andy Pettitte was pitching out of the bullpen in the Bronx. What are your thoughts? I’m sure you get the Clemens questions a lot so I won’t beat that dead horse. Do you think that the Yanks are in trouble if they are turning to Andy for relief help? and their rotation has a 9+ ERA. I know it’s early, but your thoughts about it would be great.
Thank you,
Greg
(University of Maine Farmington)
Curt,
That game was a gem. The change to Catalanotto was a little high, but not many mistakes. Great pitching against a great offense.
~~~ Civ26 ~~~
Hey Schill, BEAUTIFUL game last night. You were amazing. Just 2 quick things. Did you choose not to come back in the 8th or was that Francona’s choice? Also, if you have a chance, I’d really, really, as your biggest fan, appreciate it if you could check out dylan2146.wordpress.com Check out my first entry maybe let me know how you feel? (It’s about you and the Sox). Keep it up Schilling. 22-1, here we go kid.
I dont think i have to say great outting Schill, your stuff is great. You, pap, and papi made me proud to be a member of red sox nation last nght. It was also great to hear the ESPN guys mention your blog and actually show a quote from your site on the air. Its shows how great this blog actually is and what a huge impact it is making. Im not sure if other players do this, but i cant describe how great it to hear the thoughts and concerns of one of my heros. There is no ego or anything like that. It just shows that, even at 40, you are still a student of the game and actually CARE if you have a bad outing and dont just think “im gonna get my money either way”. It is Sox players like you that make my March-Oct. my favorite time of year. thank you again mr. schilling!!
Curt:
Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts about last nights game. I am sure there are lots of other things you could be doing after a game like that, and I just want to say thanks for spending time communicating with all of us.
I especially appreciate your thoughts about your teammates and the dynamics between the players. My son is 12 and pitches and I spend alot of time talking to him about the importance of never showing up a teammate who has made an error behind him, and instead taking it as an opportunity to “pick somebody up.” I have definately appreciated your thoughts on the subject.
One question: What is the dynamic like after the game if a reliever comes in and blows a game for a starter? I am sure the reliever feels worse than anyone. Does he usually apologize? Does the starter go out of his way to let him know it’s ok? What happens if the same reliever keeps blowing games? I am sure at some point people get genuinely irritated, even though they know the guy is trying. I would really be interested in your insight on this. Also, did you learn anything from being on the other side of this equation when you relieved last year?
Thanks again.
Mark
This is my first vist to 38 pitches, and I think it’s great. The pitch-by-pitch analysis is fabulous — very rich stuff for a real fan. (I’m 55 and have been a fan since I was about 3, which is what happens in Red Sox Nation. Oh — and 3-year-old girl sports fans were rare in the 1950s!). The thing about RSN that bothers me, though, is that one bad outing and the “disaster mongers” come out of the shadows. As if the KC game were the end of (a)your career and (b) the team’s season. Too many “Chicken Littles” out there. To them I say, Have faith! Have fun! It’s only April! To you, Curt, I say, Thanks! I’m going to enjoy 38 pitches.
Curt,
I was struck by the number of times you mentioned missing your spots, as you ended up only giving up one run on four hits. When you feel you’re pitching well, what percentage of the time do you miss your spots? What percentage of those misses end up hurting you?
Curt -
Fantastic start. Glad you got your stuff back, even if you’re hard on yourself.
How much of Pap’s success is ‘Tek’s calling? It seems like he has two fantastic pitches, and you have to commit one way or the other. And a lot like you say about throwing strikes when they’re taking, and balls when they’re swinging, it seems like ‘Tek is able to tell which they’ve committed to before the pitch. I saw him staring down a few of the batters before calling, and it seems like a lot of Pap’s success comes from his catcher getting in the batter’s head.
So is ‘Tek the greatest Rocks-Paper-Scissors player of all time? Is Pap as consistant when Doug is catching for him (not that Doug doesn’t make good calls, but ‘Tek is superb)?
Again, great start,
Dave
Curt, I’m sure you already knew this, but a few of us noticed on the broadcast last night that when Catalanotto hit his HR, he seemed to be noting to teammates afterward in the dugout that you wiggle your fingers in your glove when you throw the change-up and were tipping it off. Was he right?
Schill…
Great job last night. As I watched the 1st 2 pitches to Lofton it was clear to me that you were in an entirely different zone. 3-3 on the road considering the conditions you had to play in I don’t think is all that bad. I do have 2 questions for you.
#1 Do you think that the loss of Papa Jack has anything to do with the struggling bats ?? I know Dave Magadan was a good hitter in his time, but is there a difference in hitting philosophy ?
#2 How do you think Dice-K will react to 37,000 members of Red Sox Nation giving him a standing ovation ? I would be willing to bet he has never seen anything close to what he is about to.
Mrbill66
Mr. Schilling, thanks for a great game last night, it was a real pleasure to catch it on ESPN. The announcers mentioned your blog during their game commentary. How refreshing it is to hear a player’s opinions directly rather than through the media filter! Thanks for keeping us updated on the behind the scenes realm of baseball.
Here’s to a great season!
Terra
Long Island NY (sadly living in the middle of the Evil Empire)
Hey Curt,
Just wanted to say that your performance last night was stellar at worst. In a park like Arlington, facing a meaty lineup like that, going seven strong innings showing no signs of fatigue is certainly something to write about. Excellent job.
However, I’m not exactly sure why Joel came into last night’s game instead of Donnelly.
I’m not knocking Piniero, but isn’t Mike an established setup guy? I mean Hell, the guy didn’t give up an earned run for an entire half-season.
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the way you let your fans take a look inside your personal and professional life. It opens up new doors for fans who are oft ignorant of what they assume is something they know about.
You’re great, Curt. See you at Fenway.
Mr. Schilling, Great game!! Aces stop the bleeding! I feel this is going to be a great season for the Sox and i am just glad your on our side.
Fun game to watch from the couch. Ortiz back in form. You back in form. Even an episode in the eight of ‘Oh my god, they are going to give it away!’. We have a starting rotation that should be able to consistently get to the sixth or seventh inning, and we need Pap to come in and close it out. The game had everything. 156 to go.
Not a bad start to the season. Pitching has been great, bats cold. Hopefully a couple more guys will get hot, or at least warm.
Nice to see Papi hit a couple out, though.
It seems the Sox and the Yankees are complete opposites right now - one team scoring a lot, but giving up a lot of runs and vice versa. Yankees have to be worried about their pitching. I have to say I’m not really surprised though.
Great game Curt. I imagine it is tough to come back after a tough outing like Opening Day, but as a true professional you showed you can certainly work through it and do what needs to get done. We are thrilled! So glad to have the team back in Boston for our own Opening Day tomorrow - finally!!!
Two points:
First, if it were not for the downs, the ups would not be enjoyed or remembered. As a life-long Sox fan/sufferer, 2004 would never have been as much fun had it not been for my decades long agony. Last night, your performance and that of Papelbon would have made it just another game had it not been for Piniero’s difficulties in the 8th.
Second, if you are going to me a go of this blog and the future it might promise to a prominent person in transition, writing and opinion are better served tersely. Work as hard on your writing as you do pitching. Be your toughest critic and editor. Twenty-five hundred words for a writer is indulgence. Set goals, eliminate crap, and boil it down to the essence.
D.
I’m new to the blog coming from ft jackson, sc. good rebound last night curt, coming home at 3-3 on the road opening the season in other teams ballparks is respectful, welcome home and do good things at fenway
Hi Curt,
Great game and yes indeed, Pap was incredible last night. Where would you rank Pap’s outing last night in all time games closed for Schill? Would be interested in hearing of other games closed for you (or other teammates)that were that incredible.
If you know that your almost near the end of your pitch count, do you change what type of pitches you may throw?
I thought you would be pitch the same and if the count comes up, leave it in the hands of the closer. Or is it that you want the complete game accomplishment.
Curt, you are the man. I love watching you pitch, clearly one of the best I have ever seen. Being from Delaware I have been watching you pitch since your days in Philly and have been amazed ever since. I even visited the good ole Dr. Morgan to get my shoulder fixed up for baseball during my high school years, I still brag to this day that the same guy that work on Schilling worked on me too.
I have to say I agree Fenway is one of the most amazing places to spend a summer day and can’t wait to get up there again this year.
I wish you and the Sox all the best this year, I have a good feeling about this one. Stay strong and keep winning! Go Sox!
Welcome home Curt,
Watched the game in NY last night while visiting family, nice to see how sharp you were, I just knew after your 1st game, you’d come out strong for this one. I have to admit it was also fun to hear the grumblings of the NYY fans as they watched along side me! Good luck and good health!
Wendy
Curt, much better stuff last night. You can deffenitly tell when the command is there. Your changeup delivery looked better too. I still dont think it will be an important pitch for you, but at least it makes the batter aware that, along with your fastball and splitter, its possible you may toss a change. The best thing is to keep the batter guessing. But, great performance last night, glad to see the real deal!!!
Good to see Papi get that first one out of the way (the second one helped too).
I cant wait to see the offense when everybody is clicking…..hopefully for every Yankee series!!!
Finally….where would we be without Paplebon?
Hey Curt, nice to see you get a good start under your belt. It’s gotta be nice to have a beast like Papelbon to put your mind at ease protecting a late lead!
I had a question about playing in Boston. It seems like a lot of players alternate between praising the passion of the fans, and complaining about the pressure of the media. Now I know some of the stories are just ginned-up controversies to try and get a story, but isn’t a frenzied media a byproduct of a frenzied baseball town? I just kind of wonder what your overall opinion of the incredibly high visibility does to the quality of life for you and your family. It seems the passion that makes Boston such a great place to play can also be one of the biggest brawbacks. For the record, I think you do a great job of making yourself accessible, win or lose.
Curt,
You were on and fun to watch! I hate to think of you ever pitching for anyone else but the Red Sox. I sure hope you continue your career with the Red Sox. you are a legend, and belong to the positive spirit and all that is good with the sports and the Red Sox.
Have a great year and please re sign when the time is right for you.
Owen
Does Papelbon remind anyone else of a young Curt?
I hope his career lasts as long as Curt’s, too.
We are fortunate to have seen pitchers like Schilling, Clemens, Martinez in Boston during our lifetime.
And closers like Foulke and Pap, too.
Yeah, team! Go, Sox!