Schilling in Bullpen

[whereisnomar]

Ok, so last night Schiling came in to the game in the 9th inning, and saved nothing. Will he really be able to warm up on about 20 pitches, or is Damon right? :dunno:

[soxie thefangirl]

Damon is right. Schilling gave up 2 runs and one of them earned. I don't think this is the right role for him AT ALL.

[YanksHater213]

Closing is 98432579875439854358943952387 times harder than starting. You need to be PERFECT for those 3 outs. Only certain people can handle this pressure, I dont know if Schilling can, but he is our ace, Damon is right, Schilling needs to start, Timlin and Arroyo need to close.

[whereisnomar]

Yeah, but who has it easier to get all strikes than Schillig? I mean, last night her threw 14 picthes, and had 13 be strikes! He might still just be injured.

[ORS]

Arroyo doesn't have the stuff or control to be a closer. He would be better in long relief. Hand Timlin the ball, and try and do something before the deadline.

[riverside sluggers]

ok guys cmon give schill a break, it was just his first try at it

[sarasoxfan]

I agree completely...this is becoming much more complicated than necessary. Give timlin the job and that's that.

 

schilling should just be the starter that he is..it's a little late in his career to change if you ask me.

 

it's far easier to have timlin change roles than it is for schilling.

 

in the meantime, I have two words for the that fat ass mr. 4 homers...kevin millar...

 

bye-bye.

[whereisnomar]

Hey, I was just thinking if the Sox are in first place without Schilling, where will they be WITH him? I mean, just having him on our team is a huge help.

[YanksHater213]

You were serioulsy just thinking that?

[whereisnomar]

I think that watching Sports Center, just made me realize the impact of a player, not just if he does well. Everyone would want Schilling on their team, good or not. (good is much better.

[soxie thefangirl]

Don't bring Millar into this. He denies ever saying he wants to be traded and I believe him.

 

In any case. Curt may be able to handle pressure but I don't think he can handle closing.

[whereisnomar]

Curt will be able to handle the pressure, just will he be able to respond to it?

[YanksHater213]

Yeah, its two different things. And responding to pressure when starting and closing is two completely different things as well. Like soxie said, I dont think he could handle it.

[whereisnomar]

The only difference is that the game is on your shoulders. Who knows, maybe Schil will be able to respond to that better. Just give him a chance IN THE BIG LEAGUES!

[soxie thefangirl]

The only difference is that he's a starter and not a closer and the two are very different. Just because everyone looks at him Curt "The Savior" Schilling doesn't mean he can do everything, ok? I love Curt, but his job is to be the Ace of this team, not it's closer.

[YanksHater213]

Exactly. Take Torii Hunter for example. Hes an amazing fielder. Putting Schilling in the pen would be like putting Hunter at shortstop.

[elsrbueno]

Wow. I can't believe how many folks turned on Schilling and the Red Sox' decision after ONE outing. Yes, this was not an adequate outing for a potential closer, but it was his first try at it, and he wasn't exactly sharp in his starts-- meaning he's still coming back from that injury.

 

That having been said, the more I think about this the more I think Schill to the bullpen is just a bad idea. YES, we've survived without him thus far, and YES, we are desperately in need of a closer, and YES, if Schill can throw 95 with a good splitter he can be a dominant closer (stuff-wise) but let's face facts:

 

Mike Timlin can close ballgames for this team.

Nobody in the rotation is a #1 starter.

Bronson Arroyo is probably best suited for a long relief/setup role.

 

Assuming Schilling could become a dominant closer for a minute-- What's best for the Boston Red Sox as a team? Having Curt Schilling as a dominant closer, or having Curt Schilling, the dominant ace starter?

 

Right now I have to say it's ace starter ALL THE WAY. I don't know how many people would feel comfortable with Matt Clement facing off against the Randy Johnson's, Roy Halladay's, Johan Santana's of the American League, but I think the Red Sox are at a distinct disadvantage in any one of those matchups. Put Schilling in his place, and the Red Sox look much better. Then Clement would oppose much more managable guys like Pavano, Radke, or Ted Lilly.

 

Matt Clement starting game 7 of the World Series?!? As much as I respect and apprecaite what he's done so far this year, that doesn't instill a lot of confidence for me.

 

Right now I think the Sox would be best served by staying the course, getting Schilling as many STARTS he needs at Pawtucket to get himself ready to help Boston in the ROTATION. Even though I have very little doubt that Schilling could become a dominant closer, I don't think that's what is best for the TEAM.

[YanksHater213]

Just for your information, Elsrbueno... I was never for it. Never have been, never will.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I think everyone needs to relax with Curt....give him some time...setup/starter/closer.....in the end you all know he will be our front starter.....he can get us more wins by starting and Timlin is capable of the saves....have some faith in the management because its not like Schilling will be in the bullpen for the REST OF HIS LIFE

 

Clement and Schilling will make up our 1-2 punch in the playoffs.

[ORS]

Mike Timlin can close ballgames for this team.

Nobody in the rotation is a #1 starter.

Bronson Arroyo is probably best suited for a long relief/setup role.

That is exactly what I have been thinking all along.

Schilling and Clement will make our 1-2 punch in the playoffs.

Boomer has shown some flashes of brilliance. If he can iron out the kinks and pitch more consistantly, how's a 1-2-3 sound?

[soxie thefangirl]

I was iffy about it. And Damon's comments made sense to me. And yes it is one outing, but come on. It's acting like putting people into a position they're not supposed to play and won't be as good at.

[Tek4pres]

Not only was it one outing, but it was a rehab start in a non-save situation after Perez basically gave up the game. We all know that if Schilling was 100% healthy he'd be going into a starting role. The only reason he's looking towards the pen is that he thinks with the adrenaline of throwing only one inning he'll be able to pitch through the pain. We still have quite a few if's to go through before we put him in the pen, and him being healthy enough to throw one inning. Then we can decide if it was the right decision or not.

 

Warming up wasn't a problem last night either. Schilling was throwing in the pen in the top of the eighth inning to get ready for the top of the ninth. He had already finished and put his jacket on while he watched the Pawsox give up four runs to blow the lead including balking home the tying run. If he wasn't warmed up, he had another fifteen minutes he could have thrown to get ready. Can't say I'd be 100% pumped to go into a game after having to sit through and watch that.

[whereisnomar]

Schilling might just be good from the 'pen

[soxie thefangirl]

He won't be. I'm 95% sure of that.

[elsrbueno]

Just for your information, Elsrbueno... I was never for it. Never have been, never will.

 

thanks for the info. I probably should have researched who was denouncing the move vs who was supporting it yesterday, but it seemed like yesterday everybody was all about Schilling in the bullpen, now a lot of people are against it-- Of course, that's just my perception, it could be a few people who really like the idea posting a lot....

[CrespoBlows]

Are you guys actually doubting Schilling's abilty to get 3 outs?!!

 

This is a perfect idea, it fits in perfectly with Curts personalty, this man rises to the occasion, he loves to pitch in big games. Schilling in door slamming oppurtinies every night, with the spotlight on him, he'd love it.

[stocker323]

Probably been said, but Curt to the BP is a brilliant idea. We have a guy who can be a dominant closer. We know he has the mentality to do so, and this way we fill a big hole, without having to give up anyone. Kudos to Theo for thinking out of the box. Also kudos to Curt for going along with it. This isn't something Pedro would have done.

[soxie thefangirl]

He's a dominant STARTER. Not a closer.

[stocker323]

He's a dominant STARTER. Not a closer.

You don't know that until you try it. I'd rather have an in house solution, then to give up some members of our farm system for Guardado or someone else. Besides we don't need him in our rotation right now, that's not the problem the bullpen is, so instead of putting our best pitcher where we don't need help, we put him in the struggling bullpen. I still think it's a great idea and you shouldn't say that he's not a closer until he fails at it.

[NoPepper]

Perhaps this is all just an attempt to get everyone in the clubhouse to think as a TEAM again.

 

If Curt is willing to go to the 'pen (and after saying on the air (WEEI?) that he wouldn't), maybe the rest would stop crying and just do what the team needs done to win. Anyway, I'm only suggesting a possible motive (and given what happened with Payton, one that isn't working).