[jayhoz]

Dalton Jones, on Feb 23 2007, 07:37 AM, said:

Whether they knew it or not, there was no reason for him to go public with it.

This is a business people. Discussing a possible extension of sorts in the media to gain some leverage in the negotiations is G38's right, and he would be stupid not to. It's not like he's leaking private information regarding a trade that could hurt the Sox ability to get the deal done. I suspect G38's desire for leverage is three fold.

1) $
2) Desire to play in this environment
3) Desire to not uproot his family again.

It's also the right thing to do from a PR perspective. We have seen what happens when contract extension negotiations are done behind closed doors. If and when the extension does not get offered it becomes a he said she said scenario where both sides point the finger at the other and say it was their fault. More often than not the FO is given the benefit of the doubt in this town. Curt put his desire to play here in '08 on the table and forced the FO to disclose their position publicly. We all know the situation now and no one can play the blame game come the off season.

[epraz]

Dalton Jones, on Feb 23 2007, 07:37 AM, said:

Whether they knew it or not, there was no reason for him to go public with it.

Maybe, but that's Curt, and that's always the way he's been since he got here.

[jose melendez]

This is much ado about, well not nothing, but not that much. Schilling's original stated position was that 2007 would be his last year. Okay, he changed his mind, but if he changes his mind and goes elsewhere, we are no poorer than under the original deal.

What's the upsdie of resiging him now unless you can do it really, really cheap? It's just not that much. You let him pitch and if you need to pay him to keep him around next year, go ahead... or not. Locking up 41 year old pitchers is just not that high a priority for me.

[HomeBrew1901]

Dalton Jones, on Feb 23 2007, 07:37 AM, said:

Whether they knew it or not, there was no reason for him to go public with it.

That's pretty much my point. He is a shrewd negotiator and hoped by going public he would force the FO's hand. I don't blame him for that, but I don't have to like it.

Quote

This is much ado about, well not nothing, but not that much. Schilling's original stated position was that 2007 would be his last year. Okay, he changed his mind, but if he changes his mind and goes elsewhere, we are no poorer than under the original deal.

What's the upsdie of resiging him now unless you can do it really, really cheap? It's just not that much. You let him pitch and if you need to pay him to keep him around next year, go ahead... or not. Locking up 41 year old pitchers is just not that high a priority for me.

I agree with Hesketh on this part as well. There is more risk to resigning him at this point than waiting until October or November and giving him an additional 5 MM.

The Sox are not the Kansas City Royals where 5 million is a big jump in salary for them.

Schilling has more to lose right now than the Sox do. If his ankle can't hold up or if he gets a back or knee injury then he might be out 13 Million. If he stays healthy and has a 20 win season then the Sox are only out the additional 5 or 6 MM for a health Schill than out 13MM for an injured one. Not a bad move IMO.

[absintheofmalaise]

HomeBrew1901, on Feb 23 2007, 10:27 AM, said:

That's pretty much my point. He is a shrewd negotiator and hoped by going public he would force the FO's hand. I don't blame him for that, but I don't have to like it.

He said he went public with it because it was going to leak soon. This way he could control how it got out. How would going public with it force their hand? It hasn't seemed to in the past.

[Crazy Puppy]

Quote

Still, if Schilling is guilty of anything this spring, it is that he asked the Sox for a contract extension and then showed up for camp in relatively poor shape. That is not a criticism as much as it is a fact. Some members of the Red Sox organization were disappointed at the pitcher’s condition when he arrived in Florida, though it should be stressed that Schilling has never exactly looked like Benjamin Watson.

“It’s safe to say he’s in good position to (be ready to) start the season,” Sox general manager Theo Epstein said, when asked of Schilling’s physical state.

Translation: He’s got plenty of time to get into shape.

Quote

Next fall, Carlos Zambrano, Mark Buehrle, John Smoltz, Bartolo Colon, Jason Jennings, Freddy Garcia and even Tom Glavine are among the potential free agents.

Know what that all means? It means the Red Sox can wait. It means that if Schilling still wants to pitch here and the price has gone up to, say, $17 million a year, the Sox can pay it without buyer’s remorse. It also means that the Sox will have other options available if and when Schilling decides to go elsewhere.

Boston Herald

[PooNani]

jacklamabe65, on Feb 23 2007, 05:52 AM, said:

(considering how miserable Johnny Damon feels about playing in New York and not in Boston)

this based off anything other than a blind assumption?

[normstalls]

Schill talks a great game - now we will find out if he walks it. There are reports (I'm not in FL so I dont know for sure and am relying on others) already that Schill has turned a bit pissy about the situation. Apparently he was visible upset while talking to the media yesterday and later in the afternoon JWH tried to grab him for a conversation but Schill being the mature adult that he is tried to ignore him and walk at a faster pace. JWH picked up his pace and caught him but the conversation was didnt last long as schill appeared to break it off.

The ball is clearly in his court. Time to put up G38. Pitch like a super star in 2007 and get paid like a super star in 2008. Simple as that.
Do us proud G38

(p.s. showing up to camp 20+ pounds overweight and then asking for an extension is very odd...I dont get Schill's thinking on this one?)

[Dalton Jones]

Schilling has a right to do anything he wants, but going public IS a PR move, IS meant to put pressure on the Sox, and WAS rightly refused by management. In these types of situations I don't believe anything anyone says, player or management, and I simply assume that a deal will get done if both parties see one as being in their interest.

I'd be surprised if this negatively affects Schilling's performance on the field. Just the opposite. And both the Sox and he will benefit from his righteous anger. Unless he's a complete horse's ass, which I don't think he is, and sulks. He's been a great pitcher and I look forward to seeing him on the mound again this year.

[biollante]

The only contract to give him would be one based on incentives.
Ironically, Schilling has to come around and pitch well this year so he can command good loot for next year.
Schilling must have seen this coming. Theo may come to your house for Thanksgiving to sign you but don't think there is any sentiment in this group - there is none. Absent injuries, Schilling will pitch well and by the end of the year his value will be more than the Sox want to pay.
As for Damon, when has he said he would prefer to be in Boston ? Blind rumours without a source ?

[redsoxstiff]

Schill talks a great game - now we will find out if he walks it.

Curt has nothing to prove...

Both sides understand this is business so Theo won't commit unnecessarily early to an aging ...SUPERMAN...[at least for me Superhombre]...forever...and He is looking to maneuver a stance for the upcoming market...

There is nothing happening...nothing but media froth...of course the sharp knives are out of the drawer and slice and dice in progress...oooh he is a fat bastard...oooh...

He knows that if he doesn't stay AHEAD of his conditioning ,the rate of decline rapidly accelerates and maybe beyond recovery...

I have one complaint about Herr Schilling...He is incapable of reversing the aging process...He talks and walks very very tall...

This post has been edited by redsoxstiff: 23 February 2007 - 12:31 PM

[Carroll Hardy]

If I were looking to be in an optimum position to obtain the most favorable financing terms available for as significant a venture as Green Monster Games, I probably would try to get under contract for 2008 as early as possible, too.

[Ted Cox 4 president]

I'm sure the F.O. very carefully weighed the pros and cons of a publicly disgruntled, talkative G38 vs. a publicly relaxed, talkative G38, and decided that not having a contract would be more of an incentive for him to get in shape and stay in shape and pitch as if his future is on the line--which it will be, up to and into (deep into, we hope) the playoffs. Clearly, money not guaranteed now can be made available in the future. Having said that, I was surprised to learn that an extension was not offered. I thought it would be.

[Manny's Hammies]

biollante, on Feb 23 2007, 12:13 PM, said:

As for Damon, when has he said he would prefer to be in Boston ? Blind rumours without a source ?

Not to take this thread off-topic, but I'm interested in this too, jack. By all accounts, Johnny was perfectly happy with his haircut and Giambi-esque gold chains in NY last year. And frankly, a crummy September notwithstanding (they really should have rested him), he was very good for them. I just don't see the corollary here with Schilling — both guys thrive on the big stage, wherever and whichever it is.

[Gehrig38]

Can you guys imagine if we were actually pissed at each other? This could get ugly fast? Now we'll just have to let hacks and idiots like CHB stir up something that does not exist.

John Henry and I had a very comfortable discussion walking across the field yesterday. I have nothing but the utmost respect for him, and think he feels the same way about me.

Theo and I had a very comfortable discussion the last two days as well.

The Red Sox knew I was doing the morning radio show on WEEI and contrary to what Hemingway wrote in the Globe it's not a 'paid appearance' and never has been. THe money raised on EEI is for ALS and always has been.

The Red Sox knew, and we spoke at length prior to, this going public in January. We both knew that someone in the media had found out from someone other than Theo or I about the discussions and that person was going to write about it, with what would have been incorrect facts. No one was blindsided and no one really cared about the perception of it going public other than to want the facts to get reported.

I know CHB finds it hard to believe, which is understandable, but the 'gun to the head' approach was never a factor here, both sides knew this.

I'd love to tell you I look like Gabe Kapler with my shirt off, I don't. However I weigh 243 pounds right now, which is exactly 2 pounds under what I weighed in at at seasons end last year. The clothes make me look fat.......

Am I disappointed? Yep. Am I surprised? Nope. Is everyone but the parties involved making way too much out of this? Yep.

I've forever needed baseball a whole hell of a lot more than it needs me, I've always known that. I have also always known that it is a business, even when you don't want it to be.

Please trust me when I say, and have said, this will have zero bearing on my preperation or performance this season. I don't pitch for contracts, never have. My three best years were in the first year of new contracts. I pitch to win, just like most of the other guys in this game do.

One of the lines CHB failed to put into the article he wrote a few weeks back was me, on the phone, calling him an asshole. He knows as sure as he's reading this right now that I think he's a giant sphincter.

At some point soon he'll realize that the dislike for him here is not because he's the guy always taking the 'other side' while trying to illicit opinions and responses from readers, but rather he's disliked because he treats people like shit.

Writers like him, and there are others I can assure you, are the reason athletes come to despise members of the media. They aren't all like that but it's just hard to figure out who's who sometimes.

I'm a father of 4 incredible kids, the husband to a woman who turned her bout with cancer into a life saving organization, the boss of a man who drives an hour each day to work, both ways, in my company, that is dying from ALS, and the Lord has blessed me with the ability to spend 21 years playing professional baseball.

I guess what I am saying is that the sun came up today, life is good. If it's meant to be that I come back here then it will happen. If not then I sure as hell will relish in the fact that I got to be here and experience something I couldn't have dreamed up.

Now move along people, talk about something like my career OPS, or can Papi hit 60 this year? Don't let the media make you waste time on issues that just aren't issues to anyone but them.

They can hate the fact that I talk on EEI, or write in these forums, hell he's done it for 4 years, but it's still going to happen and at the end of the day he's still going to be the most misinformed guy in this group when it comes to the Sox and their fans.

This post has been edited by Gehrig38: 23 February 2007 - 03:52 PM

[Paul M]

Curt, since you are in the candid mood, will you be giving the Red Sox a chance to match any deal you are offered at the end of this season?

Moreover, would you take less than 2007 salary or are all bets off on that front?

Was your work-our routine different this year than in years past? (Athlete's training in AZ, karate, etc.?) Body-weight is not always the best way to assess conditioning, obviously. Some guys lose 5 lbs. and look like they lost 20, and others stay the same weight and have 10% more fat. But, the 2005 vs. 2006 vs. 2007 February photos don't look much different to me.

Last, so tell us how you really feel about Dan Shaughnessy

[TomRicardo]

Gehrig38, on Feb 23 2007, 03:50 PM, said:

One of the lines CHB failed to put into the article he wrote a few weeks back was me, on the phone, calling him an asshole. He knows as sure as he's reading this right now that I think he's a giant sphincter.

At some point soon he'll realize that the dislike for him here is not because he's the guy always taking the 'other side' while trying to illicit opinions and responses from readers, but rather he's disliked because he treats people like shit.

Writers like him, and there are others I can assure you, are the reason athletes come to despise members of the media. They aren't all like that but it's just hard to figure out who's who sometimes.

They can hate the fact that I talk on EEI, or write in these forums, hell he's done it for 4 years, but it's still going to happen and at the end of the day he's still going to be the most misinformed guy in this group when it comes to the Sox and their fans.

But isn't it his job to be "a giant sphincter"? I mean what else does the man have to write about in February that people are going to read? Making up these elaborate tells of intrigue about players and the front office is far more interesting then writing about Hansack throwing a solid bullpen session. I think CHB is a jerkoff but he is good at making people read his stuff.

People forget that being a baseball writer is a job. Some people play dirty in jobs to get ahead. CHB is very good at his job because he gets people to read his stuff. Sure his stuff is pure drivel but he gets paid to have people read, not to inform the public. The average person doesn't care about OPS or statistical analysis. Thats why guys like Ordway can cruxify players like Drew who on paper is a huge improvement over Nixon (even in health).

Fact is this interesting story, albeit apparently fictional. There is talking about this or talking about how Manny is selling a car in NJ.

[BoSox Rule]

Gehrig38, on Feb 23 2007, 03:50 PM, said:

I'd love to tell you I look like Gabe Kapler with my shirt off

Don't we all.

Good to know how it really is from someone who knows the entire situation. Thanks for clearing up a whole lot, good luck in 2007, and just get us another banner.

Oh, and I agree with Paul M. Tell us how you really feel about CHB

[William Robertson]

Gehrig38, on Feb 23 2007, 03:50 PM, said:

One of the lines CHB failed to put into the article he wrote a few weeks back was me, on the phone, calling him an asshole. He knows as sure as he's reading this right now that I think he's a giant sphincter.

Great post, I'm sure I speak for any number in saying thanks for the update. But the quote above pretty well works for me.

Best wishes for the season(s).

[Jethro Q. Walrustitty]

Paul M, on Feb 23 2007, 04:03 PM, said:

Curt, since you are in the candid mood, will you be giving the Red Sox a chance to match any deal you are offered at the end of this season?

Moreover, would you take less than 2007 salary or are all bets off on that front?

If he were inclined to do either of those things, why would he tell anyone about it now?

It's a business, after all.