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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Beckett: Is Schilling one of our pitchers?

Beckett: Announce first. Think later. Its the natural order!

Responding to Curt Schilling’s criticism that things aren’t going well in Red Sox camp under manager Bobby Valentine, Sox pitcher Josh Beckett said in an interview with The Big Show, “I haven’t seen him around this year. Is he one of our pitchers?”

“I haven’t seen him around,” Beckett continued. “I’d think if someone knew that much they’d probably be a little closer to it. Game’s a lot easier from over there [as a media petrson], I think. As far as him speaking about how things are being run, I haven’t seen him around here to where he would know that much.”

Beckett said that things have been “great” with Valentine and he’s particular liked some of the changes he’s made for the pitchers.

“My legs have never felt this good coming out of spring training,” Beckett said. “We don’t shag during spring training. [Valentine] actually said that, ‘We run a shag-free spring training.’ Some of that, not being on my feet during spring training has been helped. I definitely think some of the stretching and workouts have paid off well for me.”

Repoz Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:10 PM | 43 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: announcers, red sox

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1. manchestermets Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:18 PM (#4092493)

We don’t shag during spring training.

As a Brit, there will never be a time when this will stop being funny.

2. JJ1986 Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:20 PM (#4092495)

Game’s a lot easier from over there [as a media petrson]

Spelling, unfortunately, is not easier for the media.

3. Mattbert Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:21 PM (#4092496)

Well, no wonder his legs feel good. Shagging will take a lot out of a guy. Especially in that heat.

4. What did Billy Ripken have against Elroy Face? Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:23 PM (#4092498)

Given what we know about Schilling's political views, he'd be the last person to want players shagging during spring training.

5. phredbird

Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:25 PM (#4092501)

*in my worst austin powers voice*

shaggin with blokes ain't my bag, baby!

6. The Yankee Clapper Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:25 PM (#4092502)

So, this means that Beckett was Schilling's source and he is now covering his tracks?

7. What Zupcic? Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:39 PM (#4092510)

I think Schilling's source is Bobby V. That's managing baby!

8. zonk Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:40 PM (#4092513)

This is fun - for a change, I find the NE media bias to be entertaining rather than annoying.

Thus far, I must say that I heartily approve the Valentine hire and earnestly request that Schilling get a color job in the BoSox booth.

9. villageidiom Posted: March 29, 2012 at 04:54 PM (#4092522)

So, this means that Beckett was Schilling's source and he is now covering his tracks?

It means that now that Schilling is gone the front office is ripping him, but using Josh Beckett as their mouthpiece.

10. Charlie O Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:00 PM (#4092527)

As a Brit, there will never be a time when this will stop being funny.

Does "soft-tosser" elicit a giggle or two?

11. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:01 PM (#4092529)

"Is the giant mouth still in the league?"

12. Nasty Nate Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:03 PM (#4092530)

It means that now that Schilling is gone the front office is ripping him, but using Josh Beckett as their mouthpiece.

Also, the front office is ripping Valentine, but using Schilling as a mouthpiece.

13. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:09 PM (#4092536)

And Schilling is praising Bobby Valentine through Beckett's words. You gotta stay up on the kremlinology.

14. Darren

Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:26 PM (#4092543)

I have to say, this sort of STFU from a player to Schilling never gets old. Someone should remind Schilling that a manager with a backbone would have probably added 5 years onto each end of Schilling's career. And they should also remind him how many time's he's spouted off about fellow players only to be proven wrong.

15. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:30 PM (#4092547)

It seems odd that shagging fly balls would tire out the pitchers. Isn't it exercise. They stretch, run, lift weights... what is it to run after some fly balls.

16. Bob Evans Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:40 PM (#4092554)

huh huh huh SHAG huh huh huh

17. Greg (U)K Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:46 PM (#4092560)

Does "soft-tosser" elicit a giggle or two?

At baseball practice tonight we were doing some soft-tossing...and a couple of the Brits had no end of fun with it.

"Hey, do you want to be a tosser?"
"I need a tosser!"
"What am I supposed to do, toss myself?"

We had to put a ban on shagging as it inevitably ends in mass giggling fits.

18. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: March 29, 2012 at 05:50 PM (#4092562)

‘We run a shag-free spring training.’

I wish this was as much a positive as he makes it out to be.

19. TVerik Posted: March 29, 2012 at 06:02 PM (#4092568)

Someone should remind Schilling that a manager with a backbone would have probably added 5 years onto each end of Schilling's career.

I have no problem agreeing with the first part - he was underused as a very young man. But what on Earth do you mean about the latter part? The guy pitched into his forties.

20. Koot Posted: March 29, 2012 at 06:24 PM (#4092588)

I have to say, this sort of STFU from a player to Schilling never gets old.

And they should also remind him how many time's he's spouted off about fellow players only to be proven wrong.

Totally agree. I'm especially glad Beckett addressed this right away (and in no uncertain terms), it keeps the media from having an opportunity to make a big deal out of it and create a story about a divide in the clubhouse. The whole thing (from Schilling's end) just seems like he wants to emphasize he's on the inside with the guys in the clubhouse and he's still relevant.

21. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: March 29, 2012 at 06:44 PM (#4092601)

Totally agree. I'm especially glad Beckett addressed this right away (and in no uncertain terms), it keeps the media from having an opportunity to make a big deal out of it and create a story about a divide in the clubhouse. The whole thing (from Schilling's end) just seems like he wants to emphasize he's on the inside with the guys in the clubhouse and he's still relevant.

Thirded. I don't even follow Sox drama or whatever but this makes me like Beckett.

22. tfbg9 Posted: March 29, 2012 at 06:45 PM (#4092602)

Beckett...criticizing...Schilling...what to do?...how to react?!?

/head explodes.

23. TVerik Posted: March 29, 2012 at 07:03 PM (#4092608)

Do you think Beckett simply doesn't know if Schilling is on the staff?

24. Chip Posted: March 29, 2012 at 07:27 PM (#4092615)

I have to say, this sort of STFU from a player to Schilling never gets old.

But will it be as effective at shutting up Curt as putting him in front of a congressional hearing was?

25. Darren

Posted: March 29, 2012 at 08:29 PM (#4092637)

Nothing actually get Schilling to shut up.

26. Morton's Fork Posted: March 29, 2012 at 09:14 PM (#4092652)

Club sources say that last season, on their off-days, Beckett, Lester, and Buchholz were shagging in the clubhouse during games.

27. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: March 29, 2012 at 10:00 PM (#4092666)

Beckett is sooooo unlikable. Schilling talks a lot, too, but don't we want athletes to tell us what they really feel, instead of this, "We'll go out tomorrow and give 110% again."

Also, the whole bloody sock thing in 2004 - as far as I am concerned, Schilling can do whatever the #### he wants. He gets the lifetime pass in Red Sox Nation.

28. manchestermets Posted: March 29, 2012 at 10:15 PM (#4092670)

As a Brit, there will never be a time when this will stop being funny.

Does "soft-tosser" elicit a giggle or two?

It's good, but it's not up there with "shagging". The best is when I read an article with a reference to "shagging in the outfield".

29. toratoratora Posted: March 29, 2012 at 11:55 PM (#4092702)

Of course it's a shag free spring-they banned the beer!
(and we won't even discuss those poor chickens)

In his worst Roger Waters voice
"How can you have any shagging if you don't bring the wheat"

30. Jason Michael(s) Bourn Identity Crisis Posted: March 30, 2012 at 12:14 AM (#4092706)

Club sources say that last season, on their off-days, Beckett, Lester, and Buchholz were shagging in the clubhouse during games.

And now we know the root cause of Buchholz' back injury.

31. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: March 30, 2012 at 12:20 AM (#4092713)

"bring the wheat"?

32. Shock Posted: March 30, 2012 at 12:23 AM (#4092716)

Beckett is sooooo unlikable. Schilling talks a lot, too, but don't we want athletes to tell us what they really feel, instead of this, "We'll go out tomorrow and give 110% again."

I didn't have a problem with Schilling while he played. Now that he's retired, he needs to stop spouting off into everything that he thinks looks like a microphone.

33. toratoratora Posted: March 30, 2012 at 12:25 AM (#4092717)

"bring the wheat"?

Barley, grain, wheat and hops, sir

34. The Yankee Clapper Posted: March 30, 2012 at 12:37 AM (#4092720)

Now that he's retired, he needs to stop spouting off into everything that he thinks looks like a microphone.

Well, he is an ESPN analyst now.

35. zack Posted: March 30, 2012 at 10:10 AM (#4092827)

You can tell Beckett thought this was really clever. He probably spent all morning on it.

36. Nasty Nate Posted: March 30, 2012 at 10:20 AM (#4092833)

You can tell Beckett thought this was really clever. He probably spent all morning on it.

Maybe witty rejoinders are what he is thinking about during those 10 minutes between pitches when he is on the mound with guys on base.

37. Fanshawe Posted: March 30, 2012 at 10:47 AM (#4092870)

Beckett is sooooo unlikable. Schilling talks a lot, too, but don't we want athletes to tell us what they really feel, instead of this, "We'll go out tomorrow and give 110% again."

I never really got the sense that Schilling was saying what he really felt. It always seemed to me that he was providing "colorful" quotes in the most banal way possible because he knew that's what media people wanted to hear. Pedro saying he'd brush back Babe Ruth was entertaining, and sounded sincere. Schilling telling the conflict addicted Boston media that he heard Boston is, like, super conflicted you guys, is boring and sounds manufactured to me.

To paraphrase Paul Krugman, Curt Schilling is a boring person's idea of what an entertaining person sounds like.

38. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

Posted: March 30, 2012 at 11:09 AM (#4092896)

I didn't have a problem with Schilling while he played. Now that he's retired, he needs to stop spouting off into everything that he thinks looks like a microphone.

Well, who provides Schilling with that microphone? Who keeps posting Schilling's comments on BTF? And who keeps commenting on them?

39. Morty Causa Posted: March 30, 2012 at 11:15 AM (#4092909)

The Stonecutters?

40. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: March 30, 2012 at 11:15 AM (#4092910)

I never really got the sense that Schilling was saying what he really felt. It always seemed to me that he was providing "colorful" quotes in the most banal way possible because he knew that's what media people wanted to hear. Pedro saying he'd brush back Babe Ruth was entertaining, and sounded sincere. Schilling telling the conflict addicted Boston media that he heard Boston is, like, super conflicted you guys, is boring and sounds manufactured to me.

I think Schilling is sincere, but he changes his mind regularly. I think when he opens his mouth he 100% believes the crap that spews forth. He might completely change his mind in the next five minutes but at that moment in time he really believes it.

41. Fanshawe Posted: March 30, 2012 at 11:48 AM (#4092944)

I think Schilling is sincere, but he changes his mind regularly. I think when he opens his mouth he 100% believes the crap that spews forth. He might completely change his mind in the next five minutes but at that moment in time he really believes it.

You might be right, I obviously don't really know what's going on in his head. For clarity's sake, I didn't mean to suggest that Schilling's statements were "worse" than the boring 110%-style comments they were compared to. I only meant that they were equally meaningless, and offered for the same purpose of ticking off beat-reporter check boxes. Many players try to placate with bromides about teamwork and effort, and Schilling often trys to provoke with "interesting" quotes that reflect what an important presence/guy he is. But Schilling reminds me of a third grader who just realized that his whole class will laugh if he yells out "poop" during a math test.

42. Dale Sams Posted: March 30, 2012 at 11:55 AM (#4092947)

Is he one of our pitchers?”

"Sure could have used him last September"

43. ptodd Posted: March 31, 2012 at 12:20 AM (#4093545)

Beckett is biased. Bobby V hires him a limo to take him home early in road games (from WEEI's Merloni). Can't confirm it, but fried chicken and beer might be part of the limo package.

Becketts had a great spring, so whatever is going on is working for him.

Also, when Schilling says Red Sox players tell him something, Beckett is the prime suspect. Denial is a great defense.

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Beckett: Is Schilling one of our pitchers?

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