Just a modicum of research would have helped Ryne Sandberg's response to this question immensely.
2. Are the Boston Red Sox better off with Curt Schilling in the bullpen or starting rotation?
He is the only one who knows the strength of his body right now and if his ankle will allow him to throw 100-plus pitches in a game. But I think the Red Sox have a better chance of winning with Schilling as their closer.
He has broken down as a starter this year and the Red Sox bullpen has faltered on many occasions. Going into the playoffs, I would give Schilling the closer role. It would turn every playoff game into an eight-inning affair.
>> Really. Every playoff game. Eight-inning affair. Please consider what you're saying, Mr. Sandberg.
Schilling's pitched 24.1 innings since coming off the DL. In those 24.1 innings, he's allowed 14 earned runs for a tidy ERA of 5.18. That's not good by any standard. Danys Baez would kill himself if he woke up tomorrow with a 5.18 ERA. Schilling has allowed earned runs in five of his last eight appearances, including two 3-run disasters.
Here are some closers who have a better ERA than Curt Schilling has as a reliever this year:
Bob Wickman
Jose Mesa
Braden Looper
Ryan Dempster
Mike MacDougal
David Weathers
Former Braves closer and human disgrace Danny Kolb has a better ERA, and he has a WHIP of 1.69.
Now, I don't even totally disagree with Ryno's overall point, which is that it's pretty unlikely that Schilling will be an effective starter given his physical condition. And it's not out of the question that Schilling, with his past record of success, would be a better bet in the playoffs than David Weathers.
But he hasn't proven that he's even remotely close to being a lights-out closer, so let's not anoint him as the next Mariano Rivera just yet.
Labels: curt schilling, ryne sandberg
