Here's a Shock: Schilling Can't Shut Up

Well, we shouldn't have expected him to keep quiet. After all, he's Curt Schilling.

Isn't that the way it seemed, after Schilling opened his mouth and chalked the medical debate over his injured shoulder up to "a conflict of medical egos" yesterday at Red Sox spring training in Fort Myers. Not only did Schilling find a way to supercede his teammates and their general hunky-dory "We're the champs and everything's good" vibe, he managed to stir a pot that was set in motion by a front office which bent over to pay him $8 MM largely to ensure that he'll end his career wearing a Red Sox jersey.



Now maybe he'll end his career wearing a t-shirt.

That's certainly the way it looks right now, and Schilling almost seems resigned to the fact that he's headed for a long season with a prominent place on the All-Star DL watch. In talking to the media (note the 38 Studios hat, as if he's transitioning to his next career phase already) he appeared fit but talked like a middle-aged boxer resigned to a beating at the hands of early 90s Mike Tyson when he steps into the ring. Either Schilling will go out with a whimper, unable to open doors let alone throw a heater, or he'll force his way through a handful more starts with a bad ankle, shoulder, big gut and more flop sweat than an outdoor high-wire tightrope demonstrator above Prudential Center.

Of course, there's a reason why Schilling will fight to earn the second option: It's one final chance to be a hero. Throughout his stay in Boston, Schilling has emerged as a savior, then reverted to the reviled status of a blabbermouth. He followed up the most courageous postseason performances in baseball history with open stumping for President George W. Bush. He subjugated personal preference and stats to fill in as the team's closer, then struggled through an up and down season before showing up for camp woefully overweight.

Finally, last fall he was a key man in leading the Sox back to another World Series. He was a hero again. So why didn't he walk away? Was it an inability to stay out of the spotlight? An inability to stay out of the clubhouse (doubtful, as many of his teammates have confidentially said he's no ones favorite)?

Who knows. Maybe Schilling does, but we wouldn't be surprised if he was as puzzled by it all now as everyone else.

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