Schilling's First Start

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Well this is just an outlook on maybe what to expect. I like how Schilling will make his first start against the worst team in baseball. Hopefully it doesn't back fire and lower his confidence if he gives up some runs. Looking at his stats this year and thinking of what I have seen so far I have some thoughts and questions that will hopefully be answered tonight. The job of a reliever is to throw strikes. If you are a reliever and you don't throw strikes then you aren't going to last long. There is no working around players and potentially setting them up for the 2nd or 3rd time you face them. I think thats where Curt Schilling is most successful. He has a book on almost every player and knows what they like and how to get around them while preparing to face them later. He gets in there head and ends up being the one with the advantage. You don't get to do that in the bullpen.

 

The thing I'm struggling to understand is how many 0-2 counts I saw with Curt as the closer but then it would be a hit or a strikeout. Even with the count in his favor he didn't appear to throw out of the strike zone and make players chase. Obviously we know the splitter has not been splitting so well. Thats pretty much my question and we shall see how his game changes tonight. Even though its against Kansas City I think this game will go a long ways in determining the 2005 Boston Red Sox. At least we know the team will be jacked up to get out there with the ace. This game and the first couple games of Keith Foulke are very important.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

I don't think this can be deemed a true test for a couple of reasons. If he does well, there are those who say that its KC, the worst team in the league. Second, he'll probably be on a pitch count of around 70. Which would be about 4 + innings, with Papelbon in relief. So we'll see how he does and hope this is the first step towards getting the old Schilling back.

[sarasoxfan]

um, the worst team in baseball beat us last night.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

um, the worst team in baseball beat us last night.

 

even the worst team in baseball is due to win at some point. We are still 4-1 looking to go 5-1 against them this year...at least we didnt get swept

 

....oh snap

[yankeessuck013]

wow sarasoxfan every game after we lose you always get all negative.

 

i am excited to see thais start tonight, I don't care if its KC, they have some guys who can hit, and I think this will only help curt.

[riverside sluggers]

sox are going to limit curt to around 80 pitches, which would be like 5 innings or so--look for Jeremi "the Stabilizer" Gonzalez to back him up--curt should be strong out there even with a limited pitch count

[Sizzlin22]

I don't think they will throw Papelbon in relief, isn't he taking Wells' start?

[whereisnomar]

Yeah, I think Pap is taking over for Wells, so they should use Gonzalez, with maybe Myers and Timlin before hand if there are some lefties, or just some innings to take over.

[mosox]

It looks like Wells will make his start Sunday since MLB is dragging on a decision, leaving Papelbon to be available tonight.

[Sizzlin22]

MLB will reduce the suspension to 3 games, 2 games before his start.

[BrentD22]

Didn't go so well. Could have been worst...

 

IP H R ER BB K HR Season ERA

5.0 9 6 6 1 5 0 6.89

 

I like that Terry didn't take him out earlier. I hope it allowed him to stretch a little and come on strong for the stretch run. Even though his control wasn't great he only walked one guy. 5K's is impressive in 5 innings.

[Yanksin2010]

That was a pretty terrible start. Well that really backfired.

[snb988]

That was a pretty terrible start. Well that really backfired.

He will, unfortunately, get better I'm sure.

[ksushi]

Not really, when you look at the long haul, it was actually pretty successful. His velocity was good, his stuff was good, his location was dog s***. When he gets back into the rhythm of a starter, he will be ok. If you've never done it, you don't know how hard it is to go from closer to starter, and if you think you know, you still probably don't. Different strategies, different mind set, totally different style of pitching. Its very hard to make that transition. You can't expect a perfect game from the guy. The velocity and the movement was there, and we're talking about Curt Schilling, he's going to put it together nicely i think. He's not going to be Koufax or anything, but he'll be good until the post season, then he'll really turn it on. He's Curt Schilling.

[snb988]

He's Curt Schilling.

I understand your logic, but at the same time Randy Johnson is Randy Johnson. What good has that done him thus far? :dunno:

[BrentD22]

I can't believe you guys think he stunk. No it wasn't a great start, but what did you expect?

[BrentD22]

Ahh f*** he sucked. He isn't going to be any good this season. f*** this sucks.

[sarasoxfan]

Brent that was an amazing transformation from one post to another.

I have been accused of being negative and this is why.

This road trip is thankfully over, because frankly we played like s***.

we are tremendously fortunate to still be in first. and I am afraid it will short lived.

There are those who say we have a better schedule than tth eyankees..yeah how so, we cant beat the s***** teams.

Schilling was no surprise, why did anyone think he'd do any better than he did out of the bullpen. He sucks.

Only now we can have him suck for 4 or 5 innings as opposed to one or two.

Luckily he can only suck every 5th game and not every night.

Losing a series to the royals cant be dismissed as anything else thatn embrassing.

we better take it out on the tigers.

[redsoxrules]

Brent that was an amazing transformation from one post to another.

I have been accused of being negative and this is why.

This road trip is thankfully over, because frankly we played like s***.

we are tremendously fortunate to still be in first. and I am afraid it will short lived.

There are those who say we have a better schedule than tth eyankees..yeah how so, we cant beat the s***** teams.

Schilling was no surprise, why did anyone think he'd do any better than he did out of the bullpen. He sucks.

Only now we can have him suck for 4 or 5 innings as opposed to one or two.

Luckily he can only suck every 5th game and not every night.

Losing a series to the royals cant be dismissed as anything else thatn embrassing.

we better take it out on the tigers.

 

I agree the red sox have to start winning on the road, so far this season they stink on the road, in order to repeat theyl have to start winning on the road, as far as KC goes you have to win against s***** teams ,they lost 2 freebee

[riverside sluggers]

There are those who say we have a better schedule than tth eyankees..yeah how so, we cant beat the s***** teams.

 

right and how are the yankees doing against the worst teams?? Yes the sox schedule does favor them playing 25 out of their last 37 games at Fenway, play their best baseball there and still have that winning streak intact

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I don't think I saw good velocity from Schilling?? Maybe I missed it but the radar gun was hitting 90-91 mph with the fastball. Curt was up between 94-96 last year. Thats a real bad sign cause he doesn't set up the splitter. I know what people say about the transition....but it should be easier for a guy who has really always been a starter for YEARS. That was Kansas City but it was almost a throw away game anyways. No Papi, Nixon, Graffanino....Mirabelli was the pinch hitter with bases loaded. I dont think Francona was looking to win the game. Not much good came out of this game it was pretty horrible but not all hope is lost......Remlinger pitched well lol.

[sarasoxfan]

the whole road trip is one that is best forgotten.

the sox may have more home games but most against AL east teams, which they have an under 500 record against.

 

the thing about the schedule is a slight advantage I suppose but if thats what your hanging your hat on, that's not much. We best start winning and my advice is to forget talkking trash to yankee fans and concentrate on kicking some ass.

[riverside sluggers]

Tony G didnt come in until the second half of the 8th inning, I like Tony G's chances with bases loaded and 2 outs, no offense to mirabelli but hes hitting like .200 with runners in scoring position/2 outs in 2005, thats like calling on kevin millar to be the pinch runner. Tony G is .351 in that category!! Schilling did his best in the 1st inning, hitting between 92 - 94

[sarasoxfan]

wow, that's great he had velocity in the first inning--good news for a closer...but not good news for a guy is supposed to be ready to be a starter.

 

speaking of fat ass, it was pointed out to me that in the last seven games we were 3-0 when that tub of s*** is on the bench and 0-4 when that lard ass is in the lineup.

[soxie thefangirl]

Ouch don't be so mean.

 

That was an ugly game last night.

[sarasoxfan]

fat ass millar, not fat ass schilling.

[mosox]

I happened to be there last night and the worst part was the back to back RBI singles to Hocking (hitting .212) and Phillips (hitting .150) in the 2nd inning. Schilling was fresh at the time and needed to bear down and get outs from weak hitters.

[rocketrules1]

Personally, I am sick of all his excuses and ranting.

Hey Curt- JUST STFU AND PITCH. No one cares about your opinions but you so stop calling radio stations and telling us how you feel. Step up and start pitching like the champ you used to be, not the chump you are becoming.

 

 

 

How's that for a first post.

[sarasoxfan]

hey rocketrules..welcome, and what a beginning.

 

that is the best post yet!! keep 'em coming.

 

I was thinking the same thing, if he spent as much time working on his as he does flapping his and apparently chomping on food, he and we would better off.

Dont get me wrong he delivered last year and all, but I cant even imagine what a creep he must be off the field. Man, those guys must just cringe every time he opens his f***ing mouth.

STFU and pitch..priceless.

[snb988]

Fewf! I thought that Red Sox fans loved it when Curt called into radio stations. Maybe he should be more concerned with the way he performs than trying to control what people think about him. Sorry guys, I just can't stand The Mouth.