Forget the Hall of Fame argument when it comes to Curt Schilling. Don’t even mention his politics, which were never far from the surface over the past decade of this great pitcher’s career. Ignore the media’s constant sniping at a player who could make more news with his words than any baseball reporter could in his fondest dreams.
Then remember this: The righthanded pitcher who announced his retirement on Monday, ending a 23-year career in professional baseball, made an indisputable and lasting impact in the three big league cities where he did the bulk of his work. People inPhiladelphia, Arizona and Boston alternately loved and hated him. But they will never forget Curt Schilling.
As a 26-year-old hurler, he pitched Philadelphia into the 1993 World Series, then remained the workhorse of the Phillies’ pitching staff for the next six seasons before forcing a trade to Arizona. Philly fans grudgingly respected Curt for the way he pitched and hated him for the way he scorned the franchise on his way out the door.
Then came 3 ½ seasons with the Diamondbacks, two of them lights-out years when he compiled a 22-6 record in 2001 and followed that with a 23-7 mark in 2002 at the age of 35. And let’s not ever forget his postseason performances, his 11-2 mark in October, and his classic showdown with Roger Clemens in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
And all of this was just a prequel to Curt’s four seasons in Boston (not counting 2008 when he never got off the disabled list). Boston is where Schilling validated everything that had come before. He went 21-6 for the Red Sox in 2004, took the load off fragile ace Pedro Martinez, and then beat the Yankees in Game 6 of the ALCS, the famous “bloody sock” contest, putting Boston over the hump in its quest to end an 86-year World Series championship famine.
Schilling battled injuries during his final four seasons in Boston, going 8-8, 15-7 and 9-8, putting off shoulder surgery long enough to contribute effectively to a second World Series title in 2007.
This is all we need to remember about Curt Schilling today. He made a major impact wherever he played. Fans in three cities can recall his brilliant postseason performances. Baseball fans all over the country will not dispute the premise that Curt Schilling may have been the best “big game” pitcher of his era.
And if you do want to argue about his Hall of Fame chances, just remember that 216 career wins may not seem like enough, but when you consider the whole package that was Curt Schilling – the big fastball, pinpoint control, the nasty split-finger pitch, and his ability to compete and succeed in postseason pressure, this is one guy who should be headed to Cooperstown after a few votes are taken and the media forget their biases and just vote on the pitcher and his numbers.
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Schilling’s retirement reminds me of the great line from an old David Clayton Thomas song called “And When I Die.” The lyrics tell us that when a man passes on, “There will be one child born to carry on.” And in the case of Curt Schilling’s professional death, that one child appears to be 24-year-old pitcher Clay Buchholz, who is ticketed to start this season in Pawtucket and might take his own spot in Boston’s five-man rotation by July 4.
Based on his dominating performance in spring training, Buchholz should be in Boston’s rotation to start the 2009 season. Right now, 42-year-old Tim Wakefield is blocking his path. And that’s okay because the Red Sox know what they are doing. Wakefield can eat up some innings for half the season, blow hot and cold depending upon the whims of his knuckleball, and then turn the fifth slot in the rotation over to Buchholz for the stretch run.
Think of this Boston rotation for the second half of 2009: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Buchholz and John Smoltz. Four young studs and an old gunslinger who might still be quick enough on the draw to keep up with the kids.
Fans here in Rhode Island can view Buchholz in a Pawtucket Red Sox uniform for a month or two. He’ll be joined by another hot young prospect, Michael Bowden. And coming out of the bullpen with his 100-mile-per hour fastball will be the next Boston pitching phenom, Daniel Bard. The PawSox and their fans haven’t seen this kind of quality pitching since Roger Clemens left McCoy Stadium in May of 1984.
Smoltz should make an appearance or three in Pawtucket when Red Sox management takes the wraps off the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer in May. As great a pitcher as Schilling was for the past 15 years, Smoltz was even better during his 20-year stint with the Atlanta Braves, falling short only in the amount of World Series rings accrued (three for Curt to one for Smoltzie).
Smoltz only has 210 wins on his career resume. The Braves turned him into a closer for four seasons, taking away approximately 60 wins and getting 154 saves in return. He returned to starting in 2005 and averaged 15 wins for the next three seasons before arm troubles slowed him down last year. But he’s been throwing free and easy since last November when Red Sox GM Theo Epstein came down to take a look and decided to sign him.
Smoltz is also a scratch golfer who no doubt will sample some of Rhode Island’s best courses during his time with Pawtucket. He shouldn’t have any trouble getting invited to Wannamoisett, Pawtucket C.C. and Agawam Hunt.
In fact, that’s the only real detriment to signing Smoltz. The guy probably enjoys playing golf more than pitching baseballs at this stage of his life. Certainly his right shoulder and elbow prefer the golf swing to the constant abuse of pitching. However, the old gunslinger is looking for one last postseason showdown on a baseball field. He’ll put the clubs aside in October.
Just a question to end this piece: Who would Red Sox fans prefer starting Game 4 of the ALCS for Boston next October – Smoltzie or Buchholz? Hint: One Yankee fan I know would rather see Smoltz.