Weekend Buzz: Don't expect another pink slip parade soon
Schilling has been a very good pitcher for 20 years, though not the best of his generation. His 216-146 career record is fine, but 216 wins is awfully light in the Immortal Dept. His strongest case is made by his postseason performances, where he is 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 starts while helping Arizona and Boston win a World Series.
Is it enough? Maybe -- a big maybe -- but, even if so, not before a lot of arguing.
For me, if Jack Morris isn't a Hall of Famer -- and so far, voters have said he isn't -- then Schilling isn't, either. Over two fewer seasons, Morris has 38 more victories (254). His October numbers aren't quite as sterling as Schilling's (7-4, 3.80 ERA in 13 starts) but he did help Detroit and Minnesota to World Series titles and he pitched what some think is the greatest game in postseason history, Minnesota's 1-0, 10-inning victory against Atlanta in Game 7 in 1991.
The biggest knock on Morris is his 3.90 career ERA. Schilling's is 3.46. Baseball fans, start your debates.
4. Windy City Series: While making preparations for this fall's all-Chicago World Series (aw, c'mon, you know you are), pay close attention to which league wins the All-Star Game, thus gaining Fall Classic home-field advantage. The White Sox have lost nine consecutive road games. The Cubs have won 14 consecutive home games.
5. Hank Steinbrenner is wrong: Maybe the AL should move back to the 19th century: Did you see C.C. Sabathia's 440-foot home run for Cleveland in Dodger Stadium on Sunday? Some pitchers actually, gulp, have a chance at the plate. And that's why the DH should go: Pitchers who can hit should be rewarded. But, apparently, Sabathia needs a cleaning person. "What surprised me is that he went up there after taking just one practice swing because he couldn't find his batting helmet," Indians infielder Casey Blake told Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. "It fell down behind the bat rack."
6. My bad: In last week's Weekend Buzz, after Minnesota's Scott Baker tied a major-league record by fanning four Brewers in one inning, I made this joke: "Happened Sunday against Milwaukee. It would have been a record five strikeouts in one inning, but Ryan Howard doesn't play for the Brewers." While mirthful, technically, it wasn't quite accurate. How do we know this? Because the Angels' Scot Shields tied the record Saturday in Philadelphia -- and Howard was one of the four hitters he whiffed.
7. Downbound train ... or was that upbound?: Cincinnati rookie pitcher Daryl Thompson threw five shutout innings against the Yankees on Saturday despite taking the wrong subway train and arriving late to Yankee Stadium. Yep, Thompson, Jay Bruce and Paul Janish jumped on the No. 4 train going the opposite direction of the Stadium and ended up in Brooklyn. "I think they wanted to see Ebbets Field," said manager Dusty Baker, and anytime the Reds find somebody who can actually pitch, you can expect Dusty to be in a forgiving mood.
8. Here's your Rocky Mountain High: Yeah, Jeff Baker tied a Rockies record by homering in four consecutive games, but shortstop Troy Tulowitzki rejoined the lineup Saturday after being absent for 51 days with a torn quadriceps tendon. Now the Rockies trail Arizona by only six games in the NL West. They won't even need to win 21 of 22 when they get hot this year.
9. Yeah, but can he pinch-run? Andy Pettitte ran his scoreless innings streak to 19 in a row Sunday against Cincinnati. Do you think. ...
10. Ink shortage in the military town: So Detroit activated set-up man Joel Zumaya for the weekend in San Diego, and what does it mean for the Tigers? "Well, we've got more tattoos," manager Jim Leyland quipped.
