Schilling to pitch Game 2

by Eric Plunk on Oct 9, 2007 3:34 PM EDT Comment 41 comments

ESPN is reporting that Schilling is moving ahead of Matsuzaka in the rotation for Boston in the ALCS.

Matsuzaka is scheduled to pitch Game 3 in Cleveland.

Wakefield is sketched in for Game 4 but he's had back problems and Boston will apparently go with Beckett again for Game 4 if Wakefield can't go.

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Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

would game 4 be on normal rest, or would it be 3 days? I know that Beckett has done 3 days rest before and has been successful.

by ASP on Oct 9, 2007 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Game 4 is Tuesday, so Beckett would be pitching on short rest.

by mplswahoo on Oct 9, 2007 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shilling has obviously been a stud post-season pitcher (8-2,1.93ERA), but I like this move for the Tribe. I feel like we do better against power pitches than we do against guys with good off-speed stuff. I could very well be wrong in that view and would welcome correction, but at first glance, give me 'bloody sock' Shilling over $100 million Dice-K.

by APV on Oct 9, 2007 4:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

I tend to agree that Schilling starting Game 2 is a positive development for the Tribe.

He had a great start against the Angels, but that team was so anemic in the playoffs this year.

If the Tribe stays patient, I can see Schilling getting tired as the pitch count mounts.

"Albert Belle blooped the ball over the fence." -- Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox after Game 5 of the 1995 World Series

by Eric Plunk on Oct 9, 2007 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

The Angels were really missing the majority of their lineup so it's fair to say that Shilling will have his hands full dealing with a full strength Cleveland lineup. I would imagine though, that Tito's thinking that we can get 5-6 innings and go to a very well rested bullpen.
It does raise the question though of whether if Dice-K has another mediocre start will the bullpen be rested and ready? I think that the rationale revolves around the bullpen - therefore it was based on the idea that Shilling was more likely to go deep into a game than Dice-K and therefore the bullpen would be in the best position to pick things up in game three.

Lurking Red Sox Fan

by B Cap on Oct 10, 2007 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Missing most of their lineup? What are you talking about?

They had Vlad, Chone, O-Cab, Garret/Willits, Napoli and Kendrick. Matthews was replaced in the lineup by Izturis (with Chone shifting to CF), and Izturis had the best game and best series of anyone on that team.

by Jay on Oct 10, 2007 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

And, of course, Beckett could start Game 7 fully rested.

"Albert Belle blooped the ball over the fence." -- Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox after Game 5 of the 1995 World Series

by Eric Plunk on Oct 9, 2007 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Right. Boston is going to get three starts out of Beckett, two on full rest.

by tabler84 on Oct 9, 2007 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

no they'll get two. we'll have won by then.

by emil minty on Oct 9, 2007 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

WORD

Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Oct 9, 2007 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

I don't know how much that gets them, other than not having to use a fourth guy.

Obviously Beckett vs. Byrd favors them -- although home park will help Byrd -- but after that it would be Schilling vs. Sabathia and Dice-K vs. Carmona in Games Five and Six.

Bottom line, there is no good way to matchup against a team with two aces. Carmona is one, and Schilling isn't one.

by Jay on Oct 9, 2007 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Isn't it an incredible feeling to be able to have this much justifiable confidence in our pitching staff?

Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Oct 9, 2007 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

It nice going into the playoffs knowing that we don't need a two touchdown differential to be confident that we'll win the game.

by crazymoloh on Oct 9, 2007 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Can someone please expain to me how home park helps Byrd?

Here are his splits this year;

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=byrdpa01&year=2007

Also, I'm scared of Schilling. Not so scared of the Dice Man.

by JulioBernazard on Oct 9, 2007 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

They're running scared already...

Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Oct 9, 2007 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Well, BoSox fans seem to think starting Schlling in Game 2 is the right decision: http://www.overthemonster.com/story/2007/10/9/163211/016

If Wakefield remains hurt and can't pitch Game 4 and they don't go with Beckett again, I'm guessing they go with Jon Lester.

"Albert Belle blooped the ball over the fence." -- Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox after Game 5 of the 1995 World Series

by Eric Plunk on Oct 9, 2007 5:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

I've got a bunch of friends who are Sox fans, they're all paranoid about Dice-K and unfailingly devoted to Schilling. Right or wrong, that seems to be the Red Sox Nation consensus.

Boston's scary for a lot of reasons, one of the main ones being the depth of their pitching. They may not have a true 1a and 1b like CC and Carmona, but they have a pretty good 1, 2a and 2b. They also have a very strong bullpen (assuming Francona doesn't feel it necessary to pitch a crap version of Gagne).

by APV on Oct 9, 2007 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Dice-K on his best days has been unhittable...but I think he's been unused to the long season and the much improved hitting in the Majors. he's still adjusting his pitching style and will be an amazing pitcher next year, I think. The Indians one-two punch does look unbeatable. We'll just have to hope that our lineup shows up.

Lurking Red Sox Fan

by B Cap on Oct 10, 2007 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

I think it's the right call, I just don't think it helps all that much.

by Jay on Oct 9, 2007 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

i'm not making a new diary. and i need to stop turning on espn.

John Kruck - Who has the advantage in the ALCS:

Starting Pitching: Boston
Bullpen: Boston
Offense: Boston
Defense: Boston (Because Coco covers up Manny's mistakes - Oh, I see.)
Manager: Boston

by Brick. on Oct 9, 2007 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

John Kruk cannot be a real person. He HAS to be a caricature of an ignorant east coast baseball fan.

by CU Adam on Oct 9, 2007 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Let him keep babbling. His reverse Midas touch has worked so far.

by crazymoloh on Oct 9, 2007 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

The beauty of that segment was after all of that crap, he predicts Red Sox in 7.

by cheech99 on Oct 9, 2007 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

"Manager: Boston"

My brother-in-law, who has been a fanatical Red Sox supporter for over 50 years, states unequivocally that the worst side effect of winning the 2004 Series was that the Red Sox (fans) will be stuck with Francona forever. Of course, every Sox fan states everything both unequivocally and negatively, so take this for what it's worth.

by Fiddlesticks on Oct 9, 2007 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Defense? That is patently absurd. There is an argument to be made that Cleveland is better at every position. Maybe not a great argument but at no spot can you say that Boston is so significantly ahead so as to award them the category. Their offense is not that much better than ours either.

Dealing with it.

by fwembt on Oct 9, 2007 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

I'll give them 1B, SS and 3B, probably C as well.

We take 2B and the entire outfield.

They have the better defense, because infield matters more than outfield, but we're not bad.

by Jay on Oct 10, 2007 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Is Varitek really better than Vic? What are the respective CS%? Varitek has never really impressed me behind the plate either, and in terms of "grit and leadership," I'd argue that Vic has the advantage there as well as in pure talent.

Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Oct 10, 2007 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

i'll give them 3B twice.

by emil minty on Oct 10, 2007 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

For God's sake, stop with the Casey hating. I call third base pretty close between the clubs, Lowell is better, but I don't see a slam dunk either.

-Erik

by drerikbrady on Oct 11, 2007 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Well, Lowell hits for a higher average, walks more, hits for a little more power, and gets to more balls in the field despite playing next to a much rangier shortstop than Blake does.

On the other hand, Blake did have a .962 fielding percentage, while Lowell could only manage .961. So in that sense, yes, it's not a slam-dunk.

by Jay on Oct 11, 2007 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

I'm really looking forward to watching CC in game 1 against Boston. a) he got out his postseason starting jitters. b) he was ready to pitch vs. NY tomorrow so will be more than ready Friday. c) he always cranks up his game a notch against marquee pitchers, see, e.g., Santana. d) after a so-so performance in his NY game and so many comments that Fausto is really the man, he'll want to show they're wrong, and he always let's his pitching do that. I predict 8 shutout innings. My only fear is that Beckett may match that.

by sullidav on Oct 9, 2007 10:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

I am more nervous about Game 1 than any other game. For some reason, I can see Beckett shutting us down in the first game and then not the second time around in the series, especially if the Red Sox bring him back early.

by CU Adam on Oct 9, 2007 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Our lineup is not the Angels lineup.

The reason he dominated them so thoroughly, so efficiently, is that they didn't even attempt to make him work.

by Jay on Oct 10, 2007 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

You say this about CC:

"always cranks up his game a notch against marquee pitchers"

It's a nice thought, and he has a nice record this year, but that's not exactly correct. He's been reliable, but I don't think you can say he always cranks up his game.

by tabler84 on Oct 10, 2007 5:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

one of the things that nobody seems to mention regarding reshuffling the starters is that if this goes the distance we're going to see cc on short rest one way or the other.

i'm assuming, given the off days and that wakefield is the option, that beckett is going 1, 4, and 7.

in that case, you gotta think cc will either go on 3-day rest for game 4, and regular rest for game 7, or he'll go regular rest in game 5, and (if necessary) 3-day rest for game 7 (the alternative in game 7, if cc pitches on full rest for game 5, is westbrook vs. beckett at fenway...no thank you).

some of the scenarios are more clear than others:

if after 3 games, the tribe is down 3-0, you've got to throw caution to the wind and run cc out there on 3-days rest.
you just can't throw byrd up against beckett in that situation.

naturally, if they're up 3-0 you pitch byrd.

but the interesting one is if the tribe is up or down 2-1. do you greatly lessen your chances in game 4 to increase your odds to win 5 and 6 (we'll get a cc/schilling for game 5 and a carmona/dice-k for game 6) but also decrease them in game 7 (westbrook or cc on 3-days rest/beckett in game 7)?

i think wedge will run byrd out there unless it's 3-0, but i'm not sure. and i'm also beginning to think that this decision could be the biggest one made by him this whole series.

oh, yeah, add this to the mix: the folks in boston are saying rain is likely for friday. in which case...it would seem that all of the above is moot, and nobody is going to pitch more than 2 games this series.

i don't want to alarm y'all, but i think it's time to pump out some glitter.

by jonnykilbane on Oct 9, 2007 11:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

and, yes, i know: it's all academic. byrd pitches his heart out and the tribe takes it in 4. but i'm bored and antsy at the same time, so cut me some slack.

i don't want to alarm y'all, but i think it's time to pump out some glitter.

by jonnykilbane on Oct 9, 2007 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

Game 5 is scheduled for Thursday, with games 6 and 7 on Saturday and Sunday. If CC pitches in game 5 (on "regular rest", which is actually 5 days' rest), he'd have to come back on just 2 day's rest to pitch in game 7. He will not start game 7 if he started game 5. I assume that this would be a regular throw-on-the-side day, so I would think he'd be available for an inning or two, but that'd be the extent of it.

If you want three starts from Sabathia, one of them must be game 4 on 3 days' rest.

by Fiddlesticks on Oct 10, 2007 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

My math is a little simpler for CC's next three starts:

Game 1, Game 5, Game 1.

by Brick. on Oct 10, 2007 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

love love love this post

Now the Lord can make you tumble, and the Lord can make you turn, and the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn

by Turkmenbashi on Oct 10, 2007 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Schilling to pitch Game 2

uggh. i'm sorry. i kept checking the schedule, but i must have just spaced on that slightly-odd wednesday off-day. and it was late. sorry.

plus, boston is at least now claiming wakefield goes game 4, though there's some injury-related wiggle-room.

also, if the Sox are up 3-0 or 2-1, they aren't running beckett out on short rest, and then the question becomes even more interesting. in that case, would you rather have:

byrd v. wakefield (4)
cc v. beckett (5)
carmona v. schilling (6)
westbrook v. dice-k (7)

cc on short rest v. wakefield (4)
carmona v. beckett (5)
westbrook v. schilling (6)
cc v. dice-k (7)

in that case, putting cc out on 3 days rest for game 4 seem to make a bit more sense, as it creates great game 4 and 7 match-ups, a pick-em for gamre 5, and a risky game 6.

i don't want to alarm y'all, but i think it's time to pump out some glitter.

by jonnykilbane on Oct 10, 2007 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs