You want answers …
Feb 23rd, 2007 by Rob Bradford
On to the questions while I count the minutes to be introduced up-close with a venomous snake …
Cross-promotion alert! Check out the story in the Eagle-Tribune today on the Curt Schilling situation. Brett Close, the president of Green Monster Games, has an intersting take.
- A lot of questions have revolved around the Schilling situation. Just to answer all them in one hit: True, the market value for a pitcher like Schilling is around what he is asking right now. But that’s not how the Red Sox are looking at it. They want to use this season to get some cost certainty, and if Schilling does pitch like a pitcher who will get between $15-17 million than Boston has already made out. They got a superior season from the pitcher, who clearly would like to be here, and if they have to sign him for a few million more for one year than they probably view it as worth it to get a better gauge on his effectiveness going forward. And two years from now Jon Lester is going to be ready to step into a relied-upon role, while Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Jonathan Papelbon could all be ready to inhabit into the top-of-the-rotation apartment Schilling has occupied the last few years.
- Dear Gyroball - I would be also wrestling with my own self-worth if I were you right now, as well. Matsuzaka basically said that he would like to throw it, but that doesn’t mean he does throw it or that it exists. Craig Shipley and Jon Deeble, who both have more knowledge regarding Matsuzaka than anybody in the organization, insists it doesn’t exist. To me, using the Internet video streams, it looks kind of like people want to see the Loch Ness Monster when all it is is five oil drums. I see a tight breaking ball that gives a lot of reporters something to write about.
- Mike Timlin underwent a bit more regimented workout program this offseason, strengthening some parts of his arm which didn’t seem to bounce back after coming off the disabled list in early June. Also, I think that Timlin, and J.C. Romero are relieved in the sense that they can lock into a regular spring training routine, and not adjust to the World Baseball Classic schedule.
- Jeff Natale is slated right now to start the year at second base, although the organization isn’t ruling out an eventual move to third.
- The Red Sox still get the draft pick for Keith Foulke. Not a bad deal for Boston.
- Prospects like Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Bryce Cox are all here. Yesterday, for example, the youngsters all took the field after the big leaguers were finished. Right now, as I write this, Coco Crisp is just feet away hitting with Ellsbury in the batting cages. The majority of the players referenced will be making somewhat regular appearances in the late innings during spring training games.
- One question revolved around the team valuing performance after the first year of being in Boston. This is something I think that has back-fired in the past, not taking into account enough that a player can thrive in this atmosphere. I’m not saying that it should be the deciding factor, but clearly some are cut out for the scene better than others (see Johnny Damon). That said, I do think that a guy like Coco Crisp will have a much better season, and not only because of his improved health. He knows what to expect, and the expectations are much lower.
Keep the questions coming … short workout day today so I should have more time to answer.
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8 reader comments to “You want answers …”
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1Anonymous said:
With all the talk about Schilling maybe not being in shape, I was wondering what the team thought about his BP the other day. What do you hear? It seems to me “conditioned” and “not fat” are two different things for Schilling.
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2Joel said:
I curious for a journalist;s perspective on this question. Andruw Jones recently told Atlanta reporters that he wants to resign with Atlanta after this year, but that he won’t give a home team discount. Now, I have no delusions about “player/team loyalty”; I know this is a business. But either he wants to stay in Atlanta for less than top money (which he is totally allowed to do since Atlanta will NOT likely pay top money, and he will still be payed obscenely well) or he wants top dollar. My question is two-fold. 1) Why do players air their contract concerns in public when obviously it makes them look greedy and has no effect on management? 2) Why don’t journalists call him on his self-contradiction? If he “wanted” to stay in Atlanta, he is completely free to; If he wants top dollar, he should just say it. As a fan, I want a journalist to make a player be honest and say, “I want top dollar.” But why don’t journalists press the issue?
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3Shelly said:
Rob,
I just read your article on Schilling and his company “Green Monster Games.”
Schilling dove head-first into the multi-million dollar project (as is evidenced by the company’s logo tattooed on his left shoulder),
Curt has a tattoo on his shoulder of GMG? Did I read that right?
He doesn’t seem the type.
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4jdawson59 said:
Am enjoying your daily blogs immensely.
As a writer of a blog myself (Sportzine at sportspages.com), I find it’s hard to be my own editor. And the need to be immediate sometimes means missing a misspelling or grammatical error.
Today you have Flute and not Flutie, albiino with 2 i’s and the sentence that notes Dice K, Beck and Pap “could all be ready to inhabit into the top-of-the-rotation apartment Schilling has occupied…”
Anyway keep up the good work and I’ll be reading daily.
Best
Jim Dawson -
5Anonymous said:
Jon Heyman posted an article on the SI web site suggesting that talks between the Rockies and Bo Sox might be reignited by the Manny issue - he suggests a Manny for Helton swap has been discussed before and may be back on the table. Is that pure speculation on his part, or is there something there?
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6Anonymous said:
No way Manny gets dealt for Helton.
Two big contracts, but one guy still produces the other’s declining hard.
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7Anonymous said:
If they are gonna trade Manny for Helton there better be some big prospects included in the deal
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8Anonymous said:
Shelley, Curt has a tattoo of a bulldog on the back of his calf.
