Curt Schilling (SP), Ari

CURT SCHILLING - ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Starting Pitcher
Age: 35 (November 14, 1966)
Height: 6-4 Weight: 231
Throws: Right Bats: Right


History

Curt Schilling is one of only eight major league baseball players that were born in Alaska. In 1985, Schilling graduated from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. After high school, he attended Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, AZ, where his 1986 club advanced to the JUCO World Series. That summer, he was drafted in the second round by the Boston Red Sox.

The Talent

After a season in rookie ball, Schilling started the 1988 season with Double-A New Britain by losing four of his first five decisions before going 7-1 in his last 11 starts with the organization. He was then traded to Baltimore mid-season with Brady Anderson for Mike Boddicker and was immediately assigned to Double-A Charlotte. Schilling lost his first start, then went 5-1 in his last six starts with Charlotte, including a one-hitter in his last start vs. Greensville. He earned his first big league promotion Sept. 2 and lost his last three starts of the season.

Schilling had a solid season in 1989 at Triple-A Rochester. He led the International League with 185 1/3 innings pitched and was tied for the league lead in wins (13), starts (27), complete games (9), and shutouts (3), and his 109 strikeouts were fifth in the league and his 3.21 ERA was eighth-lowest among qualifiers. He joined Baltimore when the team's roster expanded, Sept. 1, started and lost vs. Cleveland in his only decision of the season, and made four more appearances in relief for the Birds. Schilling’s third and final season with the Orioles' organization began the season at Rochester, only to be recalled June 29 after 15 appearances. He earned his first major league save that day vs. Minnesota, and did not allow a run in 20 of his first 23 appearances and had a streak of 20 consecutive scoreless innings.

Schilling began the 1991 season with Houston after being traded from Baltimore with Pete Harnisch and Steve Finley for Glenn Davis. He set career highs with Houston in saves and appearances, and converted five of his first six save opportunities, but struggled in May and June and was optioned to Tucson June 26.

To start the 1992 season, Schilling traded by Houston to Philadelphia for Jason Grimsley. He was moved into the rotation, finished second in the NL in complete games, tied for third in shutouts, and finished fourth in ERA. His 2.35 ERA was the lowest for a Phillies right-hander since Jim Bunning (2.29) in 1967. Schilling started the 1993 season strong, having finished with a 16-7 and reached the 200-inning mark for the second consecutive season, establishing a new career-high with 235 1/3 innings. He started Game 1 of the NLCS vs. Atlanta and set a record by striking out the first five batters he faced, but did not earn a decision in the Phils’ victory. He did not receive a decision in his next start, Game 5, but managed to win the LCS MVP award without winning a game (16 IP, 1.69 ERA, 19 SO). He started two games in the World Series vs. Toronto, having lost his first outing, but came back to win his second start in Game 5 by throwing a five-hit shutout.

Schilling got off to a terrible start in 1994, beginning the season 0-7 in nine starts, then was placed on the DL for the first time in his career with a tender right elbow. Then he underwent knee surgery after a freak accident where his knee popped after getting up from a seated position. The 1994 season started on better note, as he was among NL leaders in innings (116), strikeouts (114), and opponents batting average (.220). But Schilling underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery to repair a superior lateral tear, clean up a tiny fraying of the rotator cuff and remove a bone spur from the right shoulder. He was placed on DL on July 25 through the remainder of season. Then, he pitched seven solid innings, giving up no runs, striking out 10 and collecting the win, in Phillies 7-0 victory vs. San Francisco on May 14. It was his first MLB game Schilling pitched since last season’s shoulder surgery ended his season. He led the NL in complete games (8), was 7th in ERA (3.19) and 10th in strikeouts (182) despite missing a month and a half of the season, and tossed four straight complete games from in September.

Schilling made 35 starts in each 1997 and 1998 and combined for a 32-25 record. He follow that with a 15-6 record in 1999. In both 1998 and 1999, Schilling led the league in strikeouts with 319 and 300, respectively. Then, halfway through the 2000 season, Schilling, frustrated that the Phillies' commitment to winning had disappeared after their 1993 NL championship season, approved a trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks. That season was one of transition, as he struggled to an 11-12 record between the two teams.

2001 Season

At age 34, Schilling had his best season in his career. Schilling ended the regular season with a career-high 22 wins, surpassing his personal best season by five while tying the Cards' Matt Morris for the major league lead. He finished second to teammate Randy Johnson in the National League Cy Young balloting, which was the first time since 1956 that starting pitchers from the same club finished 1-2 in the voting. Schilling’s 293 strikeouts ranked second in the league to Johnson as the duo combined for a major league record 665 strikeout to break the mark previously held by Nolan Ryan and Bill Singer, who totaled 624 for the 1973 Angels. It was also the first time a pair of teammates have ranked 1-2 in strikeouts since Dizzy Trout and Hal Newhouser did with the 1944 Detroit Tigers. He finished the year with a major league best 256.2 innings while leading the N.L. in complete games (6), ranking second in winning pct. (.786) and third in ERA (2.98). Schilling cracked the 2,000 mark in career strikeouts when he fanned Colorado's Juan Uribe on September 18 in Denver, becoming the 56th pitcher in history to do so.

Schilling’s World Series totals included a 1.69 ERA, allowing only 4 earned runs over 21.1 innings while walking 2 and fanning 26. He cruised to a 9-1 win in Game 1 of the Series, allowing a run on three hits over seven innings, extending his personal post-season winning streak to 5 consecutive starts dating back to the fifth game of the '93 Series, posting a 0.63 ERA with 3 earned runs over 43.0 innings. Schilling was then called upon twice on abbreviated rest and each time provided the Diamondbacks a chance to post a victory. He worked seven innings in Game 4 at Yankee Stadium, leaving the contest with a 3-1 advantage after allowing only 3 hits and a walk with 9 K's. Unfortunately, the Yanks rebounded to post a 4-3 win in 10 innings. All told, in the NLCS and WS, Schilling went 4-0 with a 1.12 ERA in 6 post-season appearances, allowing six earned runs in a post-season MLB record 48.1 innings. He also established major league post-season records for starts (6) and strikeouts (56) while his three complete games tied the top spot.

2002 Outlook

Schilling posted the best year of his career and, along with Johnson, carried his team to its first World Series title. He is expected to post another strong season in 2002, but he has proven to be an injury risk earlier in his career when he threw comparable innings to his 2001 total.

The Results

Schilling has somehow surpassed he 2001, having posted a 20-4 record with a 2.69 ERA and 250 strikeouts through mid-August. He has been increasingly effective as he ages.

The Projection

As long as there is not a strike, Schilling will have an excellent chance for 25 wins, his third 300-strikeout season and, possibly, his first Cy Young award.

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Jeff Brown
Cubs & Rockies Correspondent