Playoff chatter: Schilling to pitch Game 2
Oct 9th, 2007 by Bill Burt
Was it Dice-K’s disappointment — 4 2/3 innings, 3 runs, 7 hits, 3 BBs — in Game 2 against the Angels on Friday night? Or was it Schilling’s great performance — 7 innings, 0 runs, 6 H, 0 BBs — on Sunday?
How about all of the above.
Schilling was named the Game 2 starter of the ALCS against the Indians at Fenway Park, going against Fausto Carmona.
It is deserved. Schilling’s last regular season performance, against the A’s on Sept. 25, was nearly as impressive, allowing one run and six hits over six innings.
Simply put, even in this reincarnation of being a “pitch-to-contact” pitcher, Schilling is finding a way to get it done on the biggest stage.
Trust me. The fact that he wasn’t able to pitching in the 2005 playoffs bugged him a lot. I was the last person to talk to him after that third game against the White Sox at Fenway Park — Schilling pitched the final game of the regular season because the Sox needed it to clinch the Wild Card spot — and he was livid.
He never got the chance to pitch because of the sweep.
I’m sure 99 percent of the people agree with the move. Dice-K simply blew an opportunity to be a key performer for the Sox. Instead he will be the third option on the pitching staff.
If you want to add any thoughts on this decision, please do.
3 reader comments to “Playoff chatter: Schilling to pitch Game 2”
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1s1c said:
Hard to go against someone with his post season record. Especially when you take in the consideration one of his post season losses was the opening game of the 2004 LCS, his start before bloody sox 1. Subtract that game from his totals he is 9-1 with a 1.51 ERA (as if 1.93 wasn’t good enough). Plus with the off days Terry can pitch Daisuke game 3 and game 6 (normal day rest) and have Schilling handle game 7.
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2Mark said:
Good move…makes us stronger. Schilling got it going on…has that playoff gameface on…works for me.
Quick question:
Now that Schilling is back in form…and he goes out and does well here on out….will this be his ticket back here? Be tough to let him walk if he comes up big! -
3Marsh said:
Schilling should have been the second starter in the ALDS as well. I thought it was quite odd that he wasn’t. Schilling has this switch inside him (kind of like Papi does) that he can turn on when the pressure is on. I haven’t been a huge Dice-K fan this year, Im hoping he is just having a transition year kind of like Beckett did last year. That said, Schilling has more than earned the second start for the ALCS and I agree with this decision 100%.
