Making a Case

Making a Case

Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling continues
his mastery in the post season.

By Stephen M. Hague October 25, 2007

You knew it had to end this way. If indeed, this was Curt Schilling’s last appearance in a Red Sox uniform, it couldn’t have been scripted much better. Schilling brilliantly helped pitch the Red Sox to a win in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series Thursday night in front of a cold yet satisfied capacity crowd in Fenway Park.
The crafty right-hander who can no longer rely on a 96 mph fastball, has become the ultimate thinking-man’s pitcher. He meticulously studies opponents’ tendencies and takes notes on each and every batter he faces. Along with head master Jason Varitek his catcher, Schilling strategizes like no other pitcher in the game. He now has to rely on pin-point location each and every pitch and hope that the split-fingered fastball which consistently drops out of the strike zone, is enough to get him through 6 innings.
Schilling is not only looking to help lead his team to World Series victory for the 3rd time, but also to help justify himself as a worthy Hall of Fame candidate. Although he says he’s only concerned with helping his team win, being elected to the Hall is certainly on his mind and may be attainable.
But regular season statistics alone won’t get him elected. His won/loss total is 216 and 146, a 60% winning percentage, with a respectable 3.46 era (earned run average) in a career that began over 20 years ago.
His post-season dominance on the other hand, just might be enough to get him in. An
11 – 2 record with a paltry 2.23 era is excellence unmatched in a 14 year playoff career. He is a World Series Co-MVP with a 4 – 1 record and miniscule 2.06 era on baseball’s grandest stage. In 48 innings pitched he’s given up only 33 hits, struck out 43 hitters, and walked only 10.
It can also be argued that Schilling is the most valuable pitcher in Red Sox history since the big guy himself, Babe Ruth toed the rubber and won 2 games along with Carl Mays in the 1918 World Series. Schilling is considered the guy who, along with a little help from his friends, came to Boston in 2004 and broke an 86 year curse. One of his ‘friends’ being a Dr. Morgan the team physician who famously sutured Schilling’s balky ankle and allowed him to pitch in the post-season ALCS and World Series. The bloody sock which now resides in the Hall of Fame, is a testament to Schilling’s grit and determination to win.
It appears that with a commanding 2 – 0 lead in this World Series, there’s a good chance that he’ll be adding another ring to his collection.
If the Series does go back to Boston and goes to a sixth game, Red Sox fans will be guaranteed one more chance to see their franchise’s most valuable pitcher perform and add to an already stellar resumé in post-season baseball.