Jimcs50
10-19-2004, 01:24 PM
Schill gets his wish: Dramatic win gives ace another shot
By Michael Silverman
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
As he got dressed in front of his locker, and then as he spoke in front of the media, Curt Schilling [stats, news] had the smile of a 5-year-old boy waking up on his birthday.
Tonight in the Bronx, Schilling gets to unwrap his present in front of 55,000 fans who want to see him fail again as he tries to keep the Red Sox [stats, schedule] alive in Game 6 of the ALCS.
Last night, after the Red Sox' dramatic 5-4, 14-inning victory, he looked supremely confident and extremely excited that the day would be everything he has been hoping for.
``I'm ready to go,'' said Schilling, who gets his chance to force a Game 7 and gain a huge share of redemption after struggling with his injured ankle and allowing six runs in three innings in Game 1. ``I'm just so proud to be a part of this team. It was a phenomenal night, it was a phenomenal two nights. This is like Round 13 of a 15-round heavyweight bout.''
The opportunity to make a positive contribution to his team's drive for baseball immortality seemed to drive the already driven Schilling into another realm of intensity.
If he pitches with one-tenth of the expectation and excitement he was oozing last night, the Yankees hitters will be shaking their heads a lot tonight.
``It's a chance to get us one step closer to the World Series, it's a chance to make up for Game 1, it's a chance to pick my teammates up,'' Schilling said. ``This team has been picking each other up the last couple of days. There's so much going on right now. I couldn't ask for anything more.''
Schilling said he had no concern that with the help of the team's medical staff, plus a new high-top cleat, the dislocated peroneal tendon in his right ankle will be stabilized and the results from Game 1 will not be duplicated.
``It was pretty much a last-gasp effort that ended up working,'' said Schilling of the high-top shoe idea. ``I think we've taken steps to ensure that we won't have the same problem we had the first time.''
Schilling had a successful side session on Saturday, and before last night's game, he had a short long-toss session in the Fenway outfield.
Tonight, he gets to pitch in a game where the meaning cannot be amplified enough.
Schilling is having no problem realizing this.
``It's been so much more than I ever imagined it to be,'' Schilling said of both of the team's last two victories and the entire series. ``I've never seen anything like this. To me, I know it's a cliche, but it's never over. This is something special and I want to be a positive part of it.''
By Michael Silverman
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
As he got dressed in front of his locker, and then as he spoke in front of the media, Curt Schilling [stats, news] had the smile of a 5-year-old boy waking up on his birthday.
Tonight in the Bronx, Schilling gets to unwrap his present in front of 55,000 fans who want to see him fail again as he tries to keep the Red Sox [stats, schedule] alive in Game 6 of the ALCS.
Last night, after the Red Sox' dramatic 5-4, 14-inning victory, he looked supremely confident and extremely excited that the day would be everything he has been hoping for.
``I'm ready to go,'' said Schilling, who gets his chance to force a Game 7 and gain a huge share of redemption after struggling with his injured ankle and allowing six runs in three innings in Game 1. ``I'm just so proud to be a part of this team. It was a phenomenal night, it was a phenomenal two nights. This is like Round 13 of a 15-round heavyweight bout.''
The opportunity to make a positive contribution to his team's drive for baseball immortality seemed to drive the already driven Schilling into another realm of intensity.
If he pitches with one-tenth of the expectation and excitement he was oozing last night, the Yankees hitters will be shaking their heads a lot tonight.
``It's a chance to get us one step closer to the World Series, it's a chance to make up for Game 1, it's a chance to pick my teammates up,'' Schilling said. ``This team has been picking each other up the last couple of days. There's so much going on right now. I couldn't ask for anything more.''
Schilling said he had no concern that with the help of the team's medical staff, plus a new high-top cleat, the dislocated peroneal tendon in his right ankle will be stabilized and the results from Game 1 will not be duplicated.
``It was pretty much a last-gasp effort that ended up working,'' said Schilling of the high-top shoe idea. ``I think we've taken steps to ensure that we won't have the same problem we had the first time.''
Schilling had a successful side session on Saturday, and before last night's game, he had a short long-toss session in the Fenway outfield.
Tonight, he gets to pitch in a game where the meaning cannot be amplified enough.
Schilling is having no problem realizing this.
``It's been so much more than I ever imagined it to be,'' Schilling said of both of the team's last two victories and the entire series. ``I've never seen anything like this. To me, I know it's a cliche, but it's never over. This is something special and I want to be a positive part of it.''