I think Curt Schilling talks too much.

:-)

Lynne <lynne@...> wrote:
This just in from The Providence Journal:

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In a pair of public appearances over the last two days, Curt Schilling
may have shed more light onto the Red Sox' offseason plans than the
organization has all autumn.

Speaking at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick on Wednesday night,
where he was given the "Spirit of Lou Gehrig Award" by the Rhode
Island chapter of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association,
Schilling said the possible trade of superstar slugger Manny Ramirez
may be best for all concerned. He said Ramirez' desire to leave Boston
is so strong that Manny "might not be here [mentally] if he does"
return, and he hinted that a reprise of the end of the 2006 season --
when Ramirez sat out 26 of the team's last 33 games, allegedly because
of a knee injury but amidst loud whispers that he was refusing to play
-- might be in store throughout 2007.

And yesterday morning on WEEI Radio's Dennis and Callahan Show,
Schilling strongly defended J.D. Drew, whom the Sox are expected to
sign as a free agent within the next week, against a growing legion of
fan and media critics who feel Drew is too injury-prone and/or
passionless to succeed in a hot market like Boston.

Schilling's comments on Ramirez came in response to a question from
the crowd during a Q&A session that was taped by WPRI-TV. The entire
session can be seen on the station's Web site.

"I think the belief is that trading Manny, and bringing somebody in,
would be more valuable than having a Manny here that didn't play,"
Schilling said.

The veteran starting pitcher quickly added that "I don't know that to
be a fact; that's pure speculation on my part." But he continued: "I
live with the guys, I have some insight. I don't know for sure [but] I
do know that I've spoken with Manny [and] Manny does want to be
traded. Manny wants to play somewhere else.

"I believe that if they don't trade him . . . " he added, and then
paused. Apparently not wanting to follow through on that thought, he
said, "My hope and belief is that he'll stay and play like he always
has. But I'm not so sure that that's the case anymore. And that
concerns me, because in the last year of my career I want to win a
World Series."

Ramirez -- who dislikes the intense scrutiny that comes with playing
in Boston -- has asked to be traded many times, beginning

as early as the end of his first season (2001) with the Red Sox. The
team has tried to accommodate him in each of the last several years,
and the feeling is that, with as many as six teams in serious pursuit
of Ramirez, the Sox may be able to make a deal this offseason, perhaps
as early as next week's winter meetings.

"Here's the thing you have to understand . . . [general manager Theo
Epstein] doesn't show up at the ballpark one day and decide that Manny
wants to get traded," Schilling told the crowd. "Theo doesn't talk to
other people, other than Manny, to find out Manny wants to get traded
. . .

"Manny has the heart of a child. He is an incredibly kind person. And
he is a good person. [But] I think Manny is less than comfortable
playing in Boston, for whatever reason. That's his right. I think it's
gotten to the point now where there's some thought that, even though
Manny might stay, he might not be here [mentally] if he does."

His departure is expected to dovetail with the arrival of Drew, and
it's hard to know which move is more unpopular with some fans and
media people.

During his nine-year career, the oft-injured Drew -- a career .286
hitter who averages 27 home runs and 86 RBI per 162 games -- has
played more than 135 games in a season only twice. He's had four
seasons of 104, 109, 100 and 72 games. He's also been criticized by
some of his past managers, most notably the Cardinals' Tony La Russa
and the Braves' Bobby Cox, as being too laid-back. The conclusion in
some circles is that Drew would wither under the blazing sun that is
Boston baseball, and it has been a hot topic on Internet boards and
sports-talk radio over the last week.

Schilling, in an impassioned call to WEEI yesterday, denied that would
happen.

"It's a shame," he said, "that people are poisoning the well against
him before he even gets here."

Schilling said Drew's quiet demeanor should not be interpreted as lack
of desire. He compared him in that regard to Hall of Fame first
baseman Eddie Murray, another quiet individual whose effort was
sometimes questioned during his playing career.

Schilling raved about Drew's skills, calling him a five-tool player
"the likes of which have rarely been seen" in Boston.

"He's as gifted as any player in the big leagues," Schilling said.
"There's nothing he can't do. He can fly, he has a cannon [for an
arm], he can hit for average, hit for power. The key is staying
healthy. If he stays healthy and plays 135, 140 games, he is a very
special player."

Ironically, Drew and Schilling once were involved in a controversy
over Drew's refusal to sign with the Phillies -- the team Schilling
was playing for at the time -- after they chose him in the first round
(second pick overall) of the 1997 draft. "I said some foolish things,"
Schilling admitted, though he said they were directed at Drew's agent,
Scott Boras, and not Drew.

They've mended fences since then. Drew, he told the crowd at the
Crowne Plaza, is an "incredibly gifted human being . . . a very strong
Christian, which I love."

Source: ART MARTONE / Journal Sports Editor/ projo.com






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