While the nation is focused on the congressional hearings on the Mitchell report on who took steroids, HGH, etc, or rather “Rocket” Roger Clemens, did he or didn’t he (?), this blog remains focused on purism of baseball.
As I’ve written before, I don’t like the sensationalism of the paparazzi coverage of the whole topic of steroids, HGH and sports. I write about baseball, all baseball, all the time.
As such, my attention remains on such issues as the impact of Curt Schilling’s latest shoulder injury on his 2008 season, contract and career, the Phillies’ signing of Kris Benson, a Tommy John surgery receiver trying to resurrecting his pitching career, the countdown to Ryan Howard’s arbitration salary hearing or Chicago Cubs closer Ryan Dempster’s 2008 Cubs World Series prediction. This blog will address all of these topics and more as anticipation builds for the 2008 season, as Thursday, February 14, marked the first voluntary reporting date for Spring Training.
Curt Schilling has been one of my all-time favorites since he burst onto the Phillies scene in 1992 after the Houston Astros traded him for the erratic, mediocre Jason Grimsley who didn’t even make it to the Astros and wound up with the Cleveland. Indians from 1993 through the 1997 season in the midst of a journeyman career that ended in 2006 after spanning 15 seasons and 7 teams.
Meanwhile, Schilling went 14-11 for the 1992 Phillies going 70-92 and finished 16-7 in leading the 1993 Phillies to the National League Pennant and playing the Toronto Blue Jays in the forgettable Mitch Williams World Series, Joe Carter from 1993.
The 1994, 1995 and 1996 seasons were marred by injuries and were brief years off for Schilling, though he returned to form going 17-11 in 1997, 15-14 in 1998 and 15-6 in 1999 with the Phillies. before being traded to Arizona. in mid-2000. I’ve been a Schilling fan ever since, regardless of whether he was with the Diamondbacks (2000-2003, including the 2001 World Championship) or the Boston Red Sox (2004-present, including the 2004 World Championships). , 2007).
I was pleased to see “The Schill” achieve his 200th win in May 2006 en route to a 15-7 record, during the inaugural season of this blog. Unfortunately, shoulder problems and a variety of other injuries caused him to miss part of the 2006 season, as well as most of last season, although he performed in typical Schilling fashion with the money on the line in the postseason, finishing 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four postseason starts, improving his career record in the playoffs and World Series to 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA.
But the big question, the $10 million question: Will Schilling pitch in 2008, or is his career coming to an end?
AP sportswriter Howard Ulman reports for Yahoo Sports;
While the precise nature of Schilling’s injury is not known, it is believed that the right-handed man has an injury to the rotator cuff and/or labrum that may require surgery. The parties may not agree on how to treat Schilling’s food…
If Schilling has shoulder surgery, it’s almost certain he won’t be able to pitch this season.
Schilling reportedly underwent a physical when the Red Sox signed him to his guaranteed contract in November. It’s unclear if Schilling’s current problem was overlooked at the time or if he suffered the injury at a later date.
Schilling did not pitch between June 18 and August 1. 6 last season when he was on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder. At the time, the problems were believed to be related to tendinitis and general fatigue.
Privately, club officials believed some of Schilling’s struggles early last season stemmed from his showing up in poor condition at spring training. Schilling’s new contract includes incentive clauses for the pitcher who meets the specified weight requirements at various checkpoints during the season.
Schilling comments on the current injury on his “38 Pitch” blog;
By the time we negotiated the 2008 contract, I had passed all the physicals and tests as well as the MRI that the club required of me. I knew in my heart that the extra time I was giving my arm to rest this winter would, in fact, be the cure for what I went through the entire 2007 season. I had a strong desire not to have to go through multiple cortisone injections in my shoulder for another year. There was absolutely no reason for anyone involved to believe that he would be completely healthy and ready for the 2008 baseball season.
Things have changed since then and I reached out to the team early last month with concerns and we have been working diligently to resolve them.
There have been disagreements these last few weeks in an effort to come up with a solution that would allow me to pitch as much as possible during the 2008 season. At no time did I consider taking a course of action against the wishes of the club. In the end, regardless of who agreed with whom, I have chosen the club’s course of action and will aggressively pursue any and all options I can in order to help this team to another World Series title in 2008.
I have agreed to comply with the wishes of the clubs in the hope that they will deliver the results they believe they will deliver.
To Curt Schilling, best wishes for a return to form, a successful 2008 season, and a 2008 World Series date with the Phillies.
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