Fantasy Players Must Shoulder Schilling Injury

February 20, 2008 @ 21:56:05

By Rob McCarthy
Edited by Richard Garcia

On Thursday, Feb. 7, the news that Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling was suffering from an undisclosed shoulder ailment rocked Red Sox Nation like a Roy Hobbs "Wonderboy" shot to the rightfield lights.

The shoulder injury is reportedly similar to the one that sidelined him for almost two months during the 2007 campaign. However, all indications point to Schilling opting out of surgery to take part in a rehabilitation program designed by the Red Sox that should have the pitcher back sometime after the All-Star break.

Cold Shoulder

The injury has caused some serious friction between Schilling and Boston due to the team's inquiries about voiding the 6-foot-5, 235-pound right-hander's contract. Fortunately, the Red Sox are well-armed to battle through such a predicament due to the presence of starting pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz.

Last season, Schilling started 24 games for the Red Sox due to the lingering injury. He posted a 9-8 recorded with 101 strikeouts, 23 walks, a 3.87 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 151 innings. His home runs allowed (21) registered at 20-plus for the second consecutive year, while opponents cranked off a decent average (.275) off of him, which was 32 points higher than his career mark of .243. Most likely, the 2008 season will be Schilling's last of a brilliant Major League Baseball career that began with four starts for the Baltimore Orioles during the 1988 campaign.

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 priceless value as a mentor to the young Lester and Buchholz is undeniable. Plus, his career 216 wins with 3,116 strikeouts, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP simply prove that he is a master of his craft.

Lester Is More

Lester is a 24-year-old southpaw who showcased his vaunted potential during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series against the Colorado Rockies with a three-hit shutout performance in 5 2/3 innings of work.

During the 2007 season, Lester notched a 4-0 record with 50 strikeouts, 31 walks, a 4.57 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 63 innings. He showed immense poise and vibrant velocity that eventually will translate into a solid left-handed arm in Boston's already elite rotation. Could it happen this year?

As he enters the 2008 campaign, keep in mind that he ended the 2007 season with a postseason record of 1-0 with eight strikeouts, four walks, a 1.93 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 9 1/3 innings against the game's elite. Not to mention, his warrior-like work ethic and determination is heroically supported by his life-threatening battle against one of man's fiercest foes: cancer.

Expect Lester to be a must-have in both deep formats and AL-only leagues in 2008, with the possibility to be a success by the time the air turns crisp and the leaves start falling in what should be another exciting fall in New England.

Clay-mation

With the ageing process literally tapping Schilling on the shoulder, Buchholz will be given every opportunity to deliver the goods in 2008. The Red Sox have indicated that the 23-year-old Angelina (TX) Junior College alum will be limited to 180 innings in the upcoming campaign. However, his innings limit could change depending on the strength of his arm and his average innings per start during the 2008 campaign.

In 2007, between the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs and Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, Buchholz started 23 contests. He went 8-5 with 171 strikeouts, 35 walks, a 2.44 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 125 1/3 innings. In addition, he limited opposing hitters to a staunch .193 average.

When he finally made it to the show in August, Buchholz went 3-1 with 22 strikeouts, 10 walks, a 1.59 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings. He threw a no-hitter on Sept. 1 against the Baltimore Orioles in only his second career start while striking out nine birds with absolutely filthy stuff. He was later shut down due to reaching his ironclad innings limit for the season.

It has been reported that the 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander followed the Red Sox's offseason workout regimen precisely and ended up packing on roughly 10 pounds of added muscle to his stick-like silhouette. His determination and grit to improve should translate well to the field in his first full big league season. However, the burning question entering the 2008 campaign as Schilling's replacement will be if he can carry the heavy load hauled by a big league starting pitcher.

Expect Buchholz to be considered a No. 4 or No. 5 starter on draft day with the ability to rack up stellar statistics in all relevant pitching categories. If you take a chance on him in the later rounds, you just might hold the bragging rights to having the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year on your roster.

Trade In Your Schillings

In 2008, Schilling's average draft position was around the 21st round. Others being grabbed around the same position are guys like Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny and the walking medicine cabinet in Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Rich Harden.

In 2007, Gorzelanny went 14-10 with 135 strikeouts, 68 walks, a 3.88 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 201 2/3 innings. If you're at odds over who to count on with Schilling no longer a draft day option, Gorzelanny should fill in quite nicely at the No. 4 or No. 5 fantasy slot that would have been allotted for Schilling. Just remember, Gorzelanny plays for the Pirates and not the Red Sox.

On draft day, Harden should be considered a high-value injury-risk with the ability to pitch like a No. 1 option if he ever harnesses the fleeting health gene that so often eludes him.

Reports out of Oakland have Harden, who reportedly feels "tremendous," making yet another comeback. He was plagued with an inflamed right shoulder that led to his disappearance for the season after his horrendous July 7 outing against the Seattle Mariners, in which he allowed four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. He finished 2007 with a 1-2 record, 27 strikeouts, 11 walks, a 2.45 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 25 2/3 innings.

On draft day, he should be counted on for no more than an end of the rotation starter for your staff with the ability to jump to your No. 1 option. His tenacity and knack for making hitters swing and miss is remarkable.

Conclusion

In fantasy, there really is no better way to steer when looking for late-round pitching than in the direction of guys approaching their mid-20s like Gorzelanny, Lester, Buchholz and Harden. Especially when trying to cultivate hidden gems that can be worth their weight in whatever waits for you at the end of a championship season. Remember, fantasy baseball was made to test your patience and wit with unexpected twists and turns. So, as draft day approaches like a Nolan Ryan heater, every owner should have those facts engrained in their head like the fine intricate stitching of a baseball.

Schilling's fantasy value in 2008 has plummeted like a rock to the bottom of a lake due to the news. Since his return is not expected until after the All-Star break, Schilling should not be drafted in mixed leagues unless you have a deep bench. In addition, he is a late-round pick in American League-only formats that should be stashed away if at all possible. However, if he does return healthy, keep in mind that the sly veteran has a lifetime 68-52 record with 1,064 strikeouts, a 3.44 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 1,141 1/3 innings after July. It would be wise to monitor Schilling's saga throughout the first half of the season.

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Rob McCarthy
Rob has been with KFFL since 2007.

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