End of an Era

Photo from my files...

Some sad - but not surprising - news this morning on Curt Schilling's blog. He officially announced his retirement from baseball. After his injury struggles last year, and his increasing involvement in his video game ventures this year, I wasn't shocked by the announcement. I'm also happy that he's quitting before he becomes a shadow of what he once was, desperately tying to stay in the game. Still, to hear it officially does bring some sadness, appreciation and affection.

What an incredible career this man has had. Twenty seasons, 216 career victories, three World Championships over a period of seven years, a World Series MVP. Wow. But his greatest achievement was his role in "breaking the curse" in Boston. From the now-legendary contract negotiations with Theo over Thanksgiving dinner in 2003, his triumphant entrance into Boston, to his awesome post-season appearances in both 2004 and 2007 - he secured his legend in New England, if not in baseball history.

My favorite memory took place during the 2004 WS celebration. Curt gathered the team, each raised a bottle of champagne, and he proclaimed them "the best Red Sox team EVER!" I had tears running down my face. He was right.

Good luck in retirement, Curt!

Oh, Curt

Sad news today. Curt Schilling is going to have season-ending surgery on his shoulder Monday. Optimistically, he could pitch in 6 to 10 months, but it seems more likely that this is the end of his career.

He's 41, so the end was clearly in sight. Yet, there was part of me that hoped he could come back for a last hurray. It's probably what the Sox hoped, too.

Say what you will about his bloviating, his long blog entries, his love of the camera. Remember that Kevin Millar once dubbed him "red light" because of his love of face time. But for me, he was the difference in 2004. He was the warrior, or perhaps the mercenary. Yes, he was brought in to win a world championship. But he did it, didn't he? The bloody sock...it will always live in legends in Boston.

The surgery is no guarantee he'll pitch again. I really hope it will allow him to live pain-free. He deserves a happy, comfortable retirement.

Here are Curt's thoughts on the impending surgery. In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with Curt and his family.

Schill

//Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling will not be ready for the start of spring training because of shoulder issues, and is engaged in a dispute with the club over whether he needs surgery, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Furthermore, the sources said the Red Sox attempted to void his $8 million contract for 2008.

Schilling's shoulder woes are more serious than the ones that caused the club to shut him down for seven weeks last season. His availability for the start of the season is in question, and surgery would call into question whether he will pitch in 2008.//

From the Globe.

Not good news. I know Schill is aging, and isn't the #1 starter he once was, but we were relying upon him to be one of our starters. Now, news that he may be finished.

What's sad to me is the backlash on some of the RS boards. Like, Schill, just quit. Here is a man who basically sacrificed his health to secure our victory in game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. Who was an important cog in the machine last year.

Yes, if his injury is career-ending, he should step aside. But, he is our warrior!

And in the meantime - ewww. Brian McNamee saved Clemens' DNA and used needles. So gross - but I must admit, I'm grateful

Schilling is Back!

I'm a little late on this one, but earlier in the week, the Red Sox and Curt Schilling agreed to a new one-year contract. Schill had said all along that he wanted to pitch one more year, and really wanted to finish his career in Boston. So, now it's done.

I hadn't realized how much I wanted him back until I heard the news on the radio driving in to school Tuesday. I literally shouted with surprise and excitement. I love the idea of seeing him finish in Boston, look forward to the day when I see #38 hoisted up on that right field wall, next to all the other Red Sox greats. Because, say what you like about him being a blowhard and sometimes self-serving, he is a great pitcher. What he did in '04 alone puts him in that pantheon. He did what he set out to do in November '03 - he came to Boston to break the curse (although I might argue that as long as Shaughnessy is writing for the Globe, the curse of him still exists), to bring a world championship to a town that had been starving for one for 86 years. And now he's helped bring a second one to the Hub.

What I especially like about this deal is that it was all worked out between Curt and Theo. No agents to muddy the water. They each brought their offers to the table, and worked through the counteroffers like gentlemen. And when both sides go on record as saying how pleased they each are with the deal, it's like a breath of fresh air.

Now, let's get Lowell wrapped up with a pretty ribbon, too.

World Series Game 2

Getty Images
I wasn't sure what to expect after the Game 1 blowout. I knew the Rockies would rebound - and the result was a real nail-biter. Great pitching performance by Curt Schilling, Okajima


Photo by Elise Amendola
and the finish by Papelbon. The Sox take a 2-0 lead in the Series, which now shifts to Denver on Saturday night.

Assisting in the ceremonial first pitch:


AP photo by Elise Amendola


Oh, my. Dwight Evans. Dewey was always my second favorite on the teams of my youth (Carlton Fisk was #1 of course!). Not sure what Dewey and Eck have been doing, but they are even better looking now. WOW!

ALCS Game 6

I'm still totally stoked about last night's game! The Sox won, 12-2 (!) and evened up the best of seven series at 3 games each. A victory tonight puts them in the World Series. It's too much to even dream about...

The Sox are definitely calling on the 2004 Mojo. The first pitch last night was thrown out by past fan favorite, Billy "The Pro" Mueller. Mueller got the single that scored Dave Roberts in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, after "the steal." Looks like retirement agrees with him.

Boston Globe photo.

And tonight, our old buddy Kevin Millar is throwing the first pitch. Of course, FOX won't show it - we'll have to read about it in tomorrow's paper.

Last night's long overdue hero: JD Drew!
Globe photo (Jim Davis)
Drew gets some flack for being cool and unemotional - which can come across as apathy. That guy in the photo sure doesn't look like he doesn't care. Drew had just hit a grand slam home run in the first inning - and it gave the team a major emotional boost. All Schilling had to do was put it on cruise control, which he did. Not a lights-out performance, but sufficient.

And speaking of a sufficient pitching job:

Globe photo
Eric Gagne came in in the 9th - and closed out the victory. He pitched well - I think it was the first 1-2-3 inning he's ever pitched for us. I'm not sure if he should have a place on the WS roster, if it comes to that, but...

So, tonight game 7. We've got Matsuzaka on the mound, and I'm nervous. I don't think he's shown us yet what he's capable of, and I hope we'll see something "special" (to quote Schill) tonight. One writer pointed out that with the performances of Lugo, Drew and Gagne last night, it was like Theo's revenge - it's like they were showing us that Theo knows what he's doing. That could continue tonight with a good outing from Daisuke - show the world that he was worth every yen.

I just hope that, comes the end of the 9th inning, we see another scene like this on the field:


Photo by sitting still


One thing missing from the 2004 season was a chance to clinch at home. We came back to beat the Yankees - but had to celebrate on the field at Yankee Stadium. We swept the Cardinals in the Series - but had to celebrate on the field at Busch Stadium. How sweet would it be to win tonight, and get a chance to celebrate on the field at Fenway Park. In front of the adoring, insane nutjobs that make up Red Sox Nation. Please, please, please....

Go Red Sox!!

Game on

I'm drawing on RS tradition - hoping the spirit of Teddy Ballgame is with us tonight. And let's celebrate with a glass of ...


And Bill Mueller to throw out first pitch tonight!!

Big Game tonight!

"Kind of the motto in the clubhouse right now is, 'It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees.'" --Josh Beckett

So tonight is Game 6 of the American League Champtionship series. So many incredible story lines - you've got Curt Schilling pitching another key game 6. How can we forget the bloody sock of 2004? That was a game 6 too. Schilling will be a free agent at the end of the season - this could be his last game in a Red Sox uniform. Same for Mikey Lowell - I sure hope we haven't seen the last of him at Fenway. They're bringing in Bill Mueller to throw out the first pitch - he got the hit that scored Dave Roberts to tie the Yankees in that game 6. And Lucchino has asked all the fans to wear red to the game tonight - we don't need no stinkin' rally towels!


And for further motivation, here's Kevin Millar's words of wisdom from before Game 5:


Go Red Sox!!!

Big Daddy Schilling

(I think this is a Globe photo, but not quite sure)

Tonight, Curt "Big Daddy" Schilling takes the mound for Game 2 of the ALCS. He may not be the pitcher he was in 2004, but he is still one of the best big game pitchers in either league. His performance against the Angels was masterful. I love his line that he has to be like a sniper, picking his targets and executing against them. I hope we see that guy tonight - and that our offense continues their carnage!

Go Sox!

ALDS Game 3

Coming up: Game 3 of the Division Series. Curt "Big Daddy" Schilling vs. Jared Weaver. I love this quote from Curt during his press conference yesterday:

“It’s like Josh goes through a lineup with a bazooka for the most part, and Daisuke is like a machine gun and I’ve turned into a guy who has to use a sniper rifle, pick my spots and pick my targets and execute perfectly.”

And this note from the AP:

George Steinbrenner says Joe Torre most likely won't return to the New York Yankees unless they overcome their deficit against the Cleveland Indians and reach the AL championship series.

"His job is on the line," the owner was quoted in Sunday's editions of The Record. "I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series."

Rogah on the mound for the Yanks tonight...

Even hotter in Oakland

AP Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez

Curt Schilling has become our stopper. This year, the Sox are 5-0 in games Schilling starts the day after a loss. (I know - I sound like a stat-head, which I'm not). So I had some confidence going into this afternoon's game that our 4 game losing streak would end. But I was not prepared for the incredible performance by Mr. Schill.

8 2/3 inning of no-hit ball. Yes, he fell one out short of a no-hitter. He would have become the 3rd oldest pitcher to perform that feat - the others are Nolan Ryan and Cy Young. Pretty august company. I'm sure he's disappointed - plenty of people on the field, in the stands, and sitting at home in Red Sox Nation were, too. But what a game. I kept thinking, no way can this last. But the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th passed. Suddenly, I'm getting tense. 7th inning. Exhorting the offense to please give us some insurance runs. 8th inning. At that point, I'm freaking out. Sucking on a big old vodka tonic, grazing through the kitchen - trying not to do anything to jinx it. Bottom of the 9th - one out. Two outs. Can this really be happening? Am I going to be able to say I saw this live? And then - Curt shakes off a pitch, Shannon Stewart swings, and there goes the no-hitter.

But Curt shook himself, threw a few more pitches, and the Red Sox came away with the win, 1-0. It ends the skid. And he did with only 100 pitches.

But more importantly, I think this could be the thing that stirs our team back into action. Ortiz said after last night's game that he felt the team lacked energy. Not anymore, I'd say.

Oh, and Curt might have just gotten some ammo for those contract negotiations. Yes, the reports of his decline are premature.

At least on this day.

As a sign at the game said, Who needs Roger when you've got Curt