A well needed win...
I stand by my earlier statements regarding Curt Schilling and the degradation of skills. That said, it was a hell of a showing yesterday when the Sox needed it. While the story the press is reflecting on is the no hitter that got away in the ninth inning, it really should be wrapped around the fact that Schilling only threw 100 pitches to come away with the complete game one-hit win.
Schilling, who has historically gone deep in counts, walked no one and faced 29 total batters.
Why is all this so important? Because over the last couple of years when Schilling has been allowed to throw more pitches in a game, his following start to two starts have suffered. It was particularly noticeable last year after a 130+ pitch outing against Cleveland and Schilling just looked old for his next two starts.
One other observation: Is it just me, or have Schilling's trouble spots come up whenever he has shaken Varitek off?
Good job boys...now let's get number nine for Beckett. Number nine, number nine, number nine...
From bad to worse...
I'm trying to figure out if the Feds getting involved in the Vick dogfighting case bodes worse for Vick or Gerald Poindexter, the Surry County prosecutor who appeared to be dragging his feet on this case.
Poindexter upon being ousted by the Feds, made the following statement as part of the AP article:
"There's a larger thing here, and it has nothing to do with any breach of protocol," Poindexter said, still trying to rationalize where the federal government fits in. "There's something awful going on here. I don't know if it's racial. I don't know what it is."
Vick and Poindexter are black.
Of course, here are some of the issues that have taken place under Poindexter's watch:
- Shortly after the May 25th raid, the state animal control rep who was with the police on the raid noted that there was enough evidence to begin issuing indictments/warrants for arrests, particularly in light of the fact that neighbors could place Vick at the house in spite of his assertions that he was never there. Those warrants still have not arrived.
- Multiple witnesses have come forward over the last two weeks connecting Vick with dogfighting. Still no warrant.
- During Poindexter's watch, the Vick home where this all took place was broken into. Publicly Poindexter seemed unconcerned, stating that he believed that whoever broke into the home was probably just after furnishings...never mind the fact that it was a crime scene, and it could easily have been someone going there to destroy evidence.
- At least one witness noted that a number of dead dogs are buried on the property. Somehow Poindexter's office screwed up that warrant, and had to wait for that one to expire while a new warrant was in the works.
- As a breeder of these dogs, and an allegedly individual involved in fighting the dogs in both North Carolina and Virginia, the crime crosses state boundaries and becomes a federal offense.
Do I think there might be some racism at play? Maybe, maybe not. If there is, I don't think it's on the part of the Feds. Have the Feds lost confidence in Poindexter's ability to prosecute this case because of other issues? I'm guessing that's a yes.
Shoring up the minors...
According to the Herald, this is our newest first draft pick...
The Sox took University of Washington left-hander Nick Hagadone with their first selection, the 55th overall pick and the 25th pick of the compensation round. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior averaged 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings while posting a 6-1 record, 11 saves and a 2.77 ERA in 25 games this season.All in all, that doesn't look too bad for a team whose first pick didn't come until the second round. Especially considering the kid is a lefty.
Coming Soon...Post 200!
Stumble It!
2 comments:
Congrats on Post #199.
From what I've read (the game was not televised in Erie, PA, sadly), Schill pitched very well and seemed to have his command in order.
For as unpopular as Schill is outside of Boston, no one deserves a no-hitter more than he does considering his history. It was highly disappointing to hear the live broadcast of the bottom of the ninth on ESPN radio when Stewart laced that single into right. Schilling deserved the no-hitter...and what a way that would have been to break out of a losing streak.
Thanks for the congrats.
I have no issue as to whether or not he deserved it, or how well he pitched - anytime you throw only 100 pitches in a nine-inning complete game, you're obviously on. I'm just bothered by what I have seen recently when Schil shakes Tek off.
That said..What an outing! That was needed. For a couple of outings the hitting picked up the pitching when the pitching was rough. It's the pitcher's turn to pick the hitters up.
Still pondering what to do for post 200.
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