Schilling's Return Helps Young Sox Hurlers

November 7, 2007 @ 07:07:15

By Rob McCarthy
Edited by Ryan Dodson

On Tuesday, Oct. 6 the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox re-signed veteran starting pitcher Curt Schilling to an $8 million, one-year contract with the ability to make up to $5 million in performance bonuses. The contract contains $3 million in incentives based on innings pitched and up to $2 million in incentives based on weight clauses. The deal was officially completed today after Schilling underwent an MRI.

In 2007, the soon-to-be 41-year-old righty was limited to 24 games due to a shoulder injury that led to significant time on the disabled list. Due to Schilling's recent injury history in Boston, most notably last season and the 2005 season when he started a measly 11 games and made headlines serving as Boston's closer, many believe Schilling's tank is teetering on empty. But is it?

In 2007, Schilling went 9-8 with 101 strikeouts, 23 walks, a 3.87 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 151 innings. In addition, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound veteran went 3-4 in August and September combined with 30 strikeouts, four walks, a 3.34 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 56 2/3 innings. Plus, he went 3-0 with 16 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in Boston's spectacular postseason run. The tank sure looked full to me!

Schilling's velocity has definitely decreased as his age has increased, mainly due to poor conditioning and a tiring arm, which the weight clause in his contract hopes to remedy. But, there is no doubt that his intense demeanor on the mound and in the clubhouse led Boston's front office with no choice other than to sign the ageless ace. 

Consider this, in Schilling's four years in Boston, he has won two World Series championships and has gone 53-29 with 574 strikeouts, 108 walks, a 3.95 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 675 innings. His value as a pitcher and as a mentor to young Boston Red Sox pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz is priceless. His presence only increases the chances of a 2008 campaign where Lester and Buchholz make significant strides and create a potential fantasy buzz around Fenway Park that can be felt through computer monitors everywhere.

Fantasy owners should count on Schilling for roughly 175-plus innings barring any significant setbacks throughout the year. His ability to morph from a power pitcher to a pin-point precision strike-thrower proves how talented he is. Expect Schilling to win 14-16 games with 150-plus strikeouts, an ERA around his career average of 3.46 and a WHIP of 1.25. Schilling should be considered a late-round bargain with an enormous upside that runs parallel with the status of his ageing body.

Lester is a 23-year-old lefty that was Boston's second-round pick in the 2002 draft. Over his two years in the majors with Boston, he has gone 11-2 with 110 strikeouts, 74 walks, a 4.68 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP in 144 1/3 innings. 

His most impressive victory, other than his Game 4 clinching performance against the Colorado Rockies in the 2007 Fall Classic, was his clutch effort in his life battle against one of man's most terrorizing opponents, cancer.

Lester's building blocks of success are beginning to mount in a city that never forgets, so expect the 6-foot-2, 190-pound warrior to continue his uphill climb towards potential dominance. In 2008, it's safe to expect 170-plus innings with 12-14 wins, 125 strikeouts, a 4.00-plus ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. 

Of course, as a pitcher begins to mesh into his surroundings the chance for a breakout performance becomes a reality, so don't be surprised if Lester becomes a stud as family foliage trips are planned throughout New England. But, for now, Lester is worth a flier in shallow leagues and a must have in deeper formats.

Boston has a deep rotation, so the chance of Buchholz having a reserved role to begin the season is a distinct possibility. What most likely will happen is that Red Sox starting pitcher Tim Wakefield will continue to play a key role in Boston's rotation and bullpen with the young arms of Lester and Buchholz rotating based on health and stamina. Boston's goal will be to have Lester and Buchholz fresh for the months of September and October.

In 2007, Buchholz started 23 games between the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs and Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. In those starts, Buchholz went 8-5 with 171 strikeouts, 35 walks, a 2.44 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 125 1/3 innings. Plus, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound righty limited opposing hitters to a paltry .193 average. 

Buchholz eventually made it to the big leagues and went 3-1 with 22 strikeouts, 10 walks, a 1.59 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings. His short stint was highlighted by a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 1 when he fanned nine birds.

The talent that Buchholz encompasses is immense and will be tough to keep in the minors, but with the fact that he was shut down last season due to what was called a tired arm, could indicate that the Sox feel he is best suited to develop slowly. With the signing of Schilling, there is no need to rush Buchholz to the bigs, unless of course they are showcasing him for a deadline deal come July 31.

As Spring Training slowly approaches, Buchholz is definitely worth keeping an eye on. He is a must have in American League-only formats and a true sleeper in deeper leagues. Although, if he is traded for any reason to a team with an inadequate staff, consider Buchholz a late-round necessity in all formats. However, there will probably be an owner in each league that reaches for him since his name has been so sensationalized.

The 2008 campaign may very well be Schilling's last as age continues to tug at his coat tails. So, expecting anything like his 2004 season with Boston when he went 21-6 with 203 strikeouts, 35 walks, a 3.26 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a controversial bloody sock in 226 2/3 innings is nothing more than a fairytale. There is no doubt that flashes of the old Schilling will make an appearance on occasion, but don't be fooled, he should be considered a No. 4 option for your staff come draft day.

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Rob McCarthy
Rob has been with KFFL since 2007.

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