Schill-hab Options

[Omar's Wacky...]

Gammons was just on Michael Kay's show really tearing Schilling a new one for showing up so out of shape at ST......

[Rooster Crows]

Not to kick Schilling when he's down, but this is exactly why you can't pay attention to a damn thing he says when he's struggling. He's always fine, always feels good. And then, just like after the '05 season, he tells the truth that he wasn't/isn't fine and didn't/doesn't feel good. Which is why I was a little miffed when he made his snipe at Theo last week. Chalk it up to his motor mouth and a large degree of frustation, of course.

This being said, ideally his arm at least starts responding to rehab positively in the next 2 weeks -- in time to make some decisions about deals at the deadline. Hopefully he's honest with management about how he really feels then.

Except that what he says to "us" the public, through the media for which he has such high regard, isn't necessarily what he has told those that count within the organization. Indeed, Schilling said

"I have not felt right this year," Schilling said in a weekly radio interview. "Pain is a relative term. There's been a lot of this year trying to discern what's because I'm 40 or what's because I don't feel good."

There is no reason to assume he wasn't communicating these struggles, at least at some point this year, as he tried to figure out why he didn't feel right. With no specific cause of "pain" though, and attributing it to simply being one year older, how much was he supposed to complain about it, before being considered by the media as Pavano-esque?

Furthermore, I would take anything he is quoted as saying in this regard with a grain of salt knowing (a) how frustrated he must be, and (b) how likely it is he was misquoted and/or taken out of context. Not to turn this into what it is not, but I am really rooting for him to come back strong, for him and the team - he can be an inspirational warrior going into the post-season, particularly for the new kids.

This post has been edited by Rooster Crows: Jul 5 2007, 06:00 PM

[reggiecleveland]

Gammons was just on Michael Kay's show really tearing Schilling a new one for showing up so out of shape at ST......

And he should. I would be pleased if reports of his rehab involved plenty of stairmaster and "lost 15 pounds."

[Tizzolator]

And he should. I would be pleased if reports of his rehab involved plenty of stairmaster and "lost 15 pounds."

Did you see those pics of him playing catch? Yeesh. I will be happy to read that he has *only packed on* a few pounds.

I am actually with Gammo on this one. It has always felt odd to me that in what is essentially a "contract year," Schilling reported to ST so woefully out of shape.

[Tony C]

from rotoworld:

Several reports have indicated that Schill won't pitch again until around August 1. "I won’t know (how soon it’ll be) until I get on the mound, and start throwing the baseball after the (All-Star) break," he said. "Anyone who understands the game understands the timetable is different than what we initially hoped - or I initially hoped."

i love the 'anyone who understands the game' line -- this after he ripped Theo for, apparently, in the end, knowing the game better than he does.

i'll love schill forever for having been so key to winning a championship. on some level he can do no wrong because of that.

on every other level, though, the guy is a pompous, self-righteous ass who should learn to shut-up.

[someoneanywhere]

Did I miss something elsewhere on the board? This is off the blog, dated July 7th:

Rehab is going well and we are making daily strides. The goal right now is to be back on the mound by next weekend. We are really taking it day by day and so far it’s gone great. There is a noticeable difference in all things related to my arm, thanks to Paul, Mike, Scott and Dr Gil. So we work on daily goals and reassess each day.

It’s going to be longer than I had hoped but the overall goal is that we don’t have to worry about this again for the next 1.5 years.

First, he is now optimistically saying either the 14th or the 21st, depending on how you read "next weekend."

Second, check out the interesting tidbit: "not worrying about it for the next 1.5 years." Anyone got any insight?

[Smiling Joe Hesk...]

1.5 years is how much longer he wants to pitch. That will take him to the end of 2008.

I am extremely skeptical we'll be seeing him pitch before August.

[thisyearisthe]

Sounds like Schill is planning to play in 2008 and then call it a career. That's about all I read into 1.5 years.

[sfip]

Second, check out the interesting tidbit: "not worrying about it for the next 1.5 years." Anyone got any insight?

Schilling has been known to change his mind before (ex. not pitching for the Sox because being a flyball RHP in Boston would be bad, retiring after this season, etc.). I wouldn't read too much into it.

[Cuzittt]

Did I miss something elsewhere on the board? This is off the blog, dated July 7th:
First, he is now optimistically saying either the 14th or the 21st, depending on how you read "next weekend."

Back on the mound does not mean back in the majors. It means throwing off of a mound. He's been, at best, long tossing in his rehabilitation.

[Gehrig38]

Back on the mound does not mean back in the majors. It means throwing off of a mound. He's been, at best, long tossing in his rehabilitation.

Right. Back on the mound means them letting me get back on the mound and start throwing. That's a far cry from competing in a ML game against ML hitters.

[Tony C]

Sounds like Schill is planning to play in 2008 and then call it a career. That's about all I read into 1.5 years.

previously, though, he swore to high heaven that he only wanted to pitch through 2007. so, these statements aren't really meaningful.

[Gehrig38]

previously, though, he swore to high heaven that he only wanted to pitch through 2007. so, these statements aren't really meaningful.

Planning on playing next year, period. I haven't thought, and won't until then, about anything beyond that. Like to try for one more WS (who wouldn't) and I've never, in 20+ years, been a free agent.

[Gehrig38]

Is there a timeline set, or are things just going to be evaluated on a regular basis throughout rehab?

There is a loose one. We have milestones and we evaluate on a daily basis, based on the days goings on. So far it's been overwhelmingly positive but I've done this enough to know getting more than a day ahead mentally is not the smart thing to do.

[Midurty]

"I have not felt right this year," Schilling said in a weekly radio interview. "Pain is a relative term. There's been a lot of this year trying to discern what's because I'm 40 or what's because I don't feel good."

This may be a chicken and the egg question but:
Schill when you say you didn't feel right, did you feel like something in your mechanics was causing the pain/not feeling right, or was pain causing you to alter your mechanics/not feel right?

Thanks for your time, and I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Edit: forgot a noun]

This post has been edited by Midurty: Jul 9 2007, 04:49 PM

[Skins24]

There is a loose one. We have milestones and we evaluate on a daily basis, based on the days goings on. So far it's been overwhelmingly positive but I've done this enough to know getting more than a day ahead mentally is not the smart thing to do.

Is it fair to say that given the 10-game lead, the schedule is a bit more cautious/conservative?

[5belongstoGeorge]

1. If he comes back and is a real #2 type starter for the remainder of the year then who cares about anything else?

2. If he comes back and sucks then that opens the door for all the other crap.

Speaking as a Schilling fanboy from the very beginning I'd have to guess that it could go either way.

I had forgotten about the time honored annual "Red Sox fans eat their own young during the all star break" festival. Pedro isn't around to leave early so the targeting is wide open!

[koufax32]

Right. Back on the mound means them letting me get back on the mound and start throwing. That's a far cry from competing in a ML game against ML hitters.

Is it safe to assume that this mound work is just for the sake of getting some work in and not becoming atrophied? Or are we talking about working the way back to the rotation. In the mind of a ML player and staff is there a difference? If so it makes a big difference in the timetable for a return.

[Smiling Joe Hesk...]

Right. Back on the mound means them letting me get back on the mound and start throwing. That's a far cry from competing in a ML game against ML hitters.

What's the typical routine here? How often do you long toss, and at what distances? And when is the decision made to get back on the mound? Basically, what's the normal course of action in situations like these? Do you travel with the team, or is it optional depending on the pitcher and the injury? You read about some guys going to Florida to get work in there, others stay in their home cities and work out, others travel with the team and get ongoing treatment.

[Gehrig38]

What's the typical routine here? How often do you long toss, and at what distances? And when is the decision made to get back on the mound? Basically, what's the normal course of action in situations like these? Do you travel with the team, or is it optional depending on the pitcher and the injury? You read about some guys going to Florida to get work in there, others stay in their home cities and work out, others travel with the team and get ongoing treatment.

Cliche I know, but there really is no typical routine. It's all very dependant on a huge variety of things. Person, injury, organizational philosphy, trainers, doctors and such.

The throwing program was completely out of my hands, until it actually began, then they allowed me to give them feedback. I do travel with the team as well, being away from the park causes severe mental atrophy for me. The adrenalin, that game 'thing' the park, game and the environment gives you. Getting away from that is something that I think sets people way back. There is no sense of urgency.
The plan now is to be on the mound later this week, which will lead to rehab starts. We are far enough into the season that I didn't have to start from 'square one' with a throwing program, like someone post-op might.

The crux of this whole issue was that my 'little muscles' (aka Cuff) stopped firing and working like they were supposed to. I was told that this was because, due to about a billion small things that I think can be summed up with "3000+ innings", the larger shoulder muscles, back and bicep, all work together, the cuff can basically be looked at as the wire framing for the shoulder joint. When it gets hurt, everything goes places it's not supposed to, when it doesn't get 'hurt' but fatigues and shuts down, the transfer of power up the kinetic chain gets interrupted, severely. Basically the power that begins to be generated at the feet, and ups up being transferred all the way up the kinetic chain to your hand, gets cut off at the shoulder. Sometimes it's minimal, other times it's not.

I went from 90 to 83 during the course of a game, with no 'injury'. I've had signs and glimpses of various ailments all year, nothing major though. But the 'never felt right' comment was to imply that I was not 'hurt' or in pain, but the power of releasing the baseball with energy really hasn't been there since mid spring training.

My one fallback has always been good mechanics and a working shoulder. After 1995 surgery I learned everything I could about how and why the body does what it does when you throw a ball. The shoulder is the key to all of it. Before you get to the shoulder there are major areas in the hips, low, mid and upper back as well. Turning 40 not only had an effect on my eye sight (no idea why!) but my arm is older and needs to be addressed differently.

In the end it answers every question I had no answer for months ago when I noticed my top end was suddenly 90-92. Short of an injury it doesn't just disappear, and I felt that's exactly what happened. The medical staff and trainers have done some pretty incredible stuff and I noticed significant changes within 2 weeks of this beginning.

P.S. Our position in the standings has absolutely zero impact on my DL trip. There is no consolation in not doing the job I am being paid to do. That being said it's a hell of a lot better to be on the DL and 10 games up, than 10 down!

This post has been edited by Gehrig38: Jul 9 2007, 05:58 PM