Schilling

[Bwanna]

Aug 19 Schilling's fastball topped out at 90 mph in Boston's victory over the Angels, the Boston Herald reports.

Recommendation: Schilling still has a nasty splitter, but the heater is nowhere near it was during the best years of his career. The Angels swung and missed just four times on Schilling's 85 pitches and his rate of 6.33 strikeouts per nine innings this year is his worst since 1992. "(The Chone Figgins homer) puts out there for everyone to see how inconsistently bad my fastball command has been. I missed by probably 3 feet. That can't happen," Schilling said after allowing eight hits, two homers and five runs in six innings. "My fastball's got to change. I've got to be more concerned about commanding the ball and keeping it down in the strike zone than throwing it hard."

The dude is 40 years old and he's just now figuring out that he can't throw a heater like he used to?

[Smileyman9]

Hey, I'll give him some credit, ESPN still talks as if he's in his prime...

[masterpinky0509]

Big worry heading into the postseason. But you never know: Beckett and Matsuzaka are pitching like they could be No. 1 and 2 postseason starters, so if you're treating Schilling as a No. 3 then Boston's fine. Schilling still has good enough stuff (coupled with still-excellent control) to throw the 6 IP, 3 ER types of starts that you expect from a No. 3 in the playoffs.

And if he really doesn't pan out, then Boston could go Beckett/Mats/Wakefield/Bucholz or Lester for a 4 man playoff rotation. Not exactly what one would want against a strong staff like Cleveland or Detroit, but not bad.