Part III: Who would you take? Mussina or Schilling

[Gom]

I'm starting to have fun with this stuff.

 

Ok, looking at these two pitchers, they have had nearly identical seasons.

 

Schilling:

G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA

Season 17 106.1 123 51 13 19 76 6 5 0 96.3 1.34 .287 4.06

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Mussina:

G IP H R HR BB SO W L Sv P/GS WHIP BAA ERA

Season 20 114.0 130 59 13 24 73 8 7 0 88.3 1.35 .294 4.50

 

 

With the overall difference in the bullpens, a case can be made that Schilling benefited from the better pen the Sox had over the course of the season. In other words, I think they have been pretty much a wash so far.

 

For the rest of this season, and next season, who would you rather have?

 

I don't knock Schilling's past post-season excellence, having been on the receiving end of it in 2001 and 2004. However, realize that you guys would be gloating about 2003 if not for Mussina.

 

Neither of these pitchers are a anything close to what they used to be, so keep it about the now, not 1994. Which pitcher would you take?

 

I will reserve my opinions after I hear what you guys have to say.

[SoxFan25]

This is very tough and i dont want to be a homer and just say Schilling. Honestly i cant decide because they both are pretty much identical and both have had good careers.

I mean im not sure but i believe Curt has the better postseason numbers, as it seems like it to i mean just think of 01 and 04.

But Mussina i dont know every time i see him on the mound i think ahh crap hes gonna pitch great tonight. He just looks like a winner to me, and honestly if i was head coach, put these 2 names in a hat and let me pick one out i wont frown either way.

[SoxFan25]

ah F** it i'll go with schilling, he has more career wins i think.

[MANNYHOF24]

I say Schilling, simply because I have zero faith in Mussina to win a big game. Schilling is much more rested than Mussina which is a huge benefit. Schill so far has pitched really well since coming off the D.L. He pitched well in Anahiem minus the 7th inning and he was very solid yesterday. I was listening to the game on the radio and they said he topped out at 94 MPH which is a very good sign. I can not really say that much about Mussina lately, however when we saw him against us he was pretty much awful. If his fastball is still topping out at 86-87 I give the distinct edge to Schilling.

[DrewDaGreat]

Schilling.

 

ah F** it i'll go with schilling' date=' he has more career wins i think.[/quote']

 

I thought Mussina had more by a pretty decent amount?

[Gom]

Interesting so far...remember, this is about going forward from this point...not career up until this point.

[See Red]

Ugh... um... Schilling. But barely.

 

How about Schilling every fifth day, Mussina for the rest?

[Thumper]

I say Schilling' date=' simply because I have zero faith in Mussina to win a big game. Schilling is much more rested than Mussina which is a huge benefit. Schill so far has pitched really well since coming off the D.L. He pitched well in Anahiem minus the 7th inning and he was very solid yesterday. I was listening to the game on the radio and they said he topped out at 94 MPH which is a very good sign. I can not really say that much about Mussina lately, however when we saw him against us he was pretty much awful. If his fastball is still topping out at 86-87 I give the distinct edge to Schilling.[/quote']

 

I agree to go with Schilling for the same reasons as yours. He's done well for coming of the DL and for the most part can keep a win. He is older so it's not like he's gonna be in his prime again, but Mussina isn't so young either, but all in all I go with Schilling, to me he's got that sort of determination to win.

[BoSox21]

Schilling for the playoff track record

[CrespoBlows]

Schilling's playoff performances all occurred when he was a dominating pitcher. He isn't even close to what he once was, so his next performance in October can be accompanied with a large question mark.

 

I really don't know who I'd take. I'd don't see any fastball from Schilling, right now. His strikeout levels are down. Big time. The two pitchers are probably pretty similar. A 4.50 ERA pitcher, who can still pitch a great game every so often. If they were both free agents, I'd take a pass on both of them.

[Youk Of The Nation]

The way they have both pitched this season, I'd trust the ball to Schilling before I would trust it to Mussina. This has nothing to do with numbers, just a gut thing, much like Id hand the ball to Wang before I would Lester.

[example1]

Am I the only one who feels that this one isn't that close? If I had to win a game tomorrow I would want Schilling 10 out of 10 times. He comes through in big games and, despite not having won recently, he's pitched decently.

[CrespoBlows]

Am I the only one who feels that this one isn't that close? If I had to win a game tomorrow I would want Schilling 10 out of 10 times. He comes through in big games and' date=' despite not having won recently, he's pitched decently.[/quote']

 

When was the last time Schilling came through in a big game, with his fastball touching 89 mph, at the most?

[Gom]

This has been a pretty good thread so far, I think. I like how you guys are debating it. I would personally take Moose, for the main reason that I think the is able to rely on a variety of pitches. Neither of these pitchers will overpower anyone, and for that reason I would pick Moose, because he simply has more pitches to throw the batter off-balance.

[jacksonianmarch]

Am I the only one who feels that this one isn't that close? If I had to win a game tomorrow I would want Schilling 10 out of 10 times. He comes through in big games and' date=' despite not having won recently, he's pitched decently.[/quote']

 

In 2004, Mussina had you guys by the balls twice. Moose has actually been a pretty steady pitcher in the playoffs. He doesnt wow you like Schilling did previously, but he has the capability to give you a QS when you need it most. Schill isnt the pitcher who won those big games previously, and since you really have no idea how this schilling will do in a big game, you should take a pass and wait until you have more info.