The scandalous photos!

So there are a few biology things to put out there, up front, for anyone that is interested in what happened but not real informed on the physical makeup of a pitchers shoulder. I emphasize pitcher because there are parts of this that are relevant to me being a throwing athlete.

The first piece to this is regardless of what anyone in the medical profession has ever told you about MRI’s, even Gadolinium MRI’s (which is an MRI where they inject a fluid into your shoulder to give the images much better contrast, hopefully giving the experts reading the images more information on the condition of the joint being examined) it’s as inexact a science as there is. MRI’s are a very nice way to get an idea of a potential problem, but at best they are very obscure and inexact.

Update incoming.

I’ve been busy, sort of, and apologize for neglecting the blog. I’ll post an update this week and talk about the teams first half as well.
As far as rehab goes, it’s coming along, albeit slowly. There is/was a lot more pain than I expected after this one and these first few weeks bring 1995 back in a big way. Basically the daily program right now is using a pulley 3x a day to raise my right arm in 3 different angles as well as beginning to address ankle mobility issues Coop believes are at the root of all the other problems. I was told that when I was under they did a mobility test on my right ankle and it’s literally ‘frozen’ in place.
I was planning on posting pics and a break down of the surgery for those that can stomach it.
Needless to say my bicep was ‘rotting’ in the canal and actually was split in two, with pictures to show of all.
So I’ll get post an update later this week.
Congratulations to JD on the MVP and to the AL for once again securing home field. Love to see that home field turn into Fenway again.

Not a thing in the world to be upset about.

22 years ago January the Boston Red Sox picked a Freshman Pitcher from Yavapai Junior College (the best JC team in the nation btw!) in the 2nd round of the (Last!) January Draft.

3 World Series rings, 3k innings plus later, there’s a chance it’s all over.

UPDATE: As much as I dislike even acknowledging CHB, when his personal issues get in the way of reporting actual facts (which seems to happen much more often with me than others) I for some reason, right or wrong, feel a need to clarify and allow people to form their opinions on actual facts surrounding events he deems worthy enough to cover. If he can’t get his facts straight I figure I’ll be the good guy and help him out. It is after all, a matter of confirming things before you print your story right? Or does that step get skipped when in doing so part of your story disappears?

This quote

“Without telling his bosses ($8 million for not pitching doesn’t buy loyalty the way it used to), Schilling last Friday broke the news of his upcoming surgery on his paid radio gig (yes, the money goes to charity, but Schilling would not be talking to WEEI if the financial arrangement didn’t exist, and he knows there will be no tough questions)”

Is a lie. It’s not the first time he’s lied or misrepresented something, and knowing him it surely won’t be the last. The Red Sox did know that I was telling WEEI about the surgery and it was discussed with them the night before it happened. There was no desire on either side to call a press conference or something like it, but rather Theo and Tito would take questions off this morning announcement. Everyone knew, no one that needed to be informed was left out. It appears that CHB feels he’s in the “need to know” camp, when he in fact isn’t, and never has been.

The easy part is that this is just another example of why so many athletes feel disdain for certain members of the media, who, when facing declining readership and losing their relevance and impact, force themselves into their stories rather than sticking to just writing them.

And as for the paid radio gig, ya, WEEI donates and helps raise a ton of money for SHADE and for ALS, it’s why we do the show, to create awareness and raise money for charities. Poo on us. I do agree though, that not having someone as ethically pure and talented as him around means no one can ask a ‘tough question’, need to have someone of his HOF skill set for that to happen…..

38 Studios redesign and rehab…

If you haven’t seen it yet, the fabulous folks here at 38S have given our corporate site a total overhaul. While Munch might not gobble your mouse cursor anymore, there are some hidden things you need to search out that he’ll have fun with.

Here is the link! Have fun!

Two other things as well. Todd McFarlane sat down with Scott and Randy to do two interviews. The first was for Scotts show, Extra Life Radio, and can be found here.
The second one was for The Instance, Scott and Randy’s podcast covering The World of Warcraft. I have not heard that one yet but here is the link to the site to stay up to date.

Scotts a natural and Randy and he are a perfect match.

I’ve been listening to a few other podcasts that I’ll link to as well when I can. I have been in touch with the folks from 1UP and there may be a possible appearance at some point in the future. Their WoW podcast can be found at this link.

The 1UP folks are a little bit more adult in content, just letting you know ahead of time.

Threw 40 pitches off the mound yesterday. Wasn’t a great day and didn’t feel all that well but I am writing that off as just an off day or bad day, which I guess is all part of the rehab thing. Plan is to throw again Friday and gear up to face hitters at some point late next week if everything stays on schedule.

Manny, JD, Papi, Lester and the NBA Finals.

Gabby texting (not a boy btw), Gehrig watching the Celtics dancers and Dad explaining to him, well, dad things….

Manny hits 500, wow. 500 of anything means you’re good. Be it walks, hits, runs, anything, but 500 home runs, while it can be argued is not the milestone it once was, is still an incredible feat. The thing about Manny is this. Those 500 homers come with other even more impressive numbers that make his 1st ballot HOF selection a lock. His consistency year in and year out are astounding and in some cases unprecedented. I’ve said before, when you do something in a game that is more than a century old, for the first time, or only time, you’ve truly done something. Congrats to Manny and here’s to him hitting 600 here at Fenway.

“My Friend”

Heard the news this afternoon about the tragic death of a former teammate and friend Geremi Gonzalez.

The quote to head this piece is one that anybody that knew him will smile about. Gonzo could not, under any circumstance, remember ANYONE’S name. It didn’t matter who you were, to him you were “My friend”. It’s how he started every conversation. It didn’t matter if you said your name in the previous sentence, his opening words in any conversation were “My friend”. It got to the point where he’d make you laugh at every turn. We tried as hard as we could to stifle him, trying to figure out if he was kidding or if he really did not know. In the end it didn’t matter, he was a big teddy bear and a great great friend and teammate to anyone he played with.

He was a fantastic guy with a huge heart who absolutely loved the game of baseball. He’d take the ball any day, everyday. I can remember a few times during the season when he spot started or relieved after throwing a ton of pitches the day before. He was a gamer, who wanted to pitch. I remember when he first came up with the Cubs as a big prospect. He had the tools for sure.

He was always, and I mean always smiling. Never had a bad day, even when it seemed he did. I always pegged him as someone who loved life and got the most out of it each and every day.

I know the guys on the team all send our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends on such a tragic occasion.

Geremi rest in peace and know you will be missed My Friend.

Man oh man….

About a year ago Dustin Pedroia, soon to be rookie of the year, saves Clay Bucholz’s no-hitter with an incredible play. Yesterday Jacoby does the same for Jon Lester. That group of 4 players is like the Mount Rushmore of why the Red Sox have put themselves in a position to win, a lot, over the next decade. All of that done with the “rock” behind the plate that is Jason Varitek.

It’s no coincidence that he’s now caught a record 4 no-hitters, trust me. I would BET, BIG MONEY, that I’d have been the 4th if I hadn’t shaken him off…..

Anyway. Congratulations to Jon, what an incredible story for so many reasons beyond baseball. From surviving cancer to spreading the word about strength, integrity, faith and courage, to winning the clinching game of the 2007 World Series, to this. Wow, good stuff.

The thing I smiled most about, and was most proud of, well things actually, was the fact he kept within himself, never let a pitch, or an at bat get away from him, and showed why he’s a potential top of the rotation, ace kind of guy. I know what it’s like in that 9th inning, right up to the 2 out part, and I know you are breathing heavier, but I also know it’s about control, internal and external, and not forgetting what it is you’re trying to do, which is make pitches. The Jon Lester of a year ago would have had trouble doing that, this guy now, won’t.

His stuff is quality, ace like, and damn good. Add that to a guy possessing character out the ying-yang and you might be able to now understand why the team wasn’t all that excited about trading him, or Jacoby, or any of these young kids away this winter.

It’s the thing that will always make baseball the greatest game on earth. On ANY given night you have many chances to see something you’ll never see again, or that’s never happened before, after over a 100 years of the game being played already.

The Lord does work in mysterious and wonderful ways.

Congratulations Lefty, thanks for the life long memory!

Schill

ESPN commercial….

Is funny. Can’t help but laugh at it. They asked me to be a part of the shoot but it was done during spring training and I didn’t think flying up to Orlando for the day and back was the smart thing to do when not being able to play and going through rehab. Love Peter Gammons as Tito, rubbing his head.

After everything that’s happened and all that has been said and done I laughed. I have yet to see one they have done that wasn’t funny.

Much needed day off for the guys. This has to be one of the weirdest schedules I’ve ever been part of.

Watch out for the Rays. People made all kinds of fun of me last year when I mentioned that would be a place to consider, luckily for them I didn’t, but that’s a good young team. Joe Maddon is one of the men responsible for my career and I think the world of the guy, and I think they’ve got immense amounts of young talent. Troy having a bit of a revival has certainly helped too. Great to see him back in the game and doing fantastic, couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. They’re going to be good for a long time, and in a tough division, and from what I understand they’ve just scraped the surface on the wealth of young pitching talent they’ve got coming up.

My rehab is going well. We’ve increased the workload and distance in my throwing program and so far so good.

38 Studios has made a few more hires recently and I just cannot grasp the talent level we have, team wide, in the company at this stage. Lots happening and still so much to do.

Doesn’t look like we’ll have the desired (by me anyway) coming out party at SD Comic Con this year, for about a billion reasons. The main one is that we just aren’t ready to do it and if we were to go through with it, we’d be intruding on development as well as pushing things that aren’t ready. We’ll still be there and we’ll certainly have something to show, but it won’t be the ‘lift our skirts’ to the world I said it might be last year.

Getting the ‘go ahead’.

Well that day is here, finally. Today I’ll be ‘allowed’ to play catch for the first time since January. A lot has happened and there is probably even more left to do, but it’s a step.

As we were talking through things the other day a point I was trying to make to anyone involved was this. Not only do I need to get moving and throwing now, but everyone just assumes that we do X, which leads to Y, and we end up at Z. The “Z” being me pitching again. The thing is, we’re good, real good. I not only need to get healthy, but I need to be good as well…..

Just because I am healthy doesn’t mean I get the ball. I feel very confident about how I’ll be throwing when I come back, but I still have to “DO IT”, and be good at it.

I think we are all very happy with where I have come and how much improvement I’ve made, but at the end of the day we really are at the bottom of the mountain at this point. Throwing, bullpens, long toss, rehab games, those will start the clock ticking on the health of my shoulder and where it is at. The last few weeks I’ve been pushed extremely hard and in my mind if there were significant injury issues the fallout would have been pain, enough pain to notice and hinder our work. That hasn’t happened and that is obviously a great sign.

Having said that it still comes down to how the arm bounces back once we start putting a heavier load on the shoulder. We won’t be able to get there for a few weeks of throwing at least.

If we can get through that part, long toss and into bullpens, and the feel remains the same, then I think I’ll start getting excited about what might be.

To all of you that have offered support here I want to extend a sincere thank you.

For all of those that donated and were in attendance for the unveiling of the Schilling Fields this past week at Blake Middle School, thank you as well. It was a very special time and a day of memories that will last a lifetime. Seeing Mike McQuaid, my little league coach and life long friend was icing on the cake. Thanks to my wife Shonda for making that all happen.

There’s some pitching going on.

Great starting pitching wins games, except, when the other teams starting pitchers are matching your guys. The rotation is coming along and the guys are starting to ramp it up. Any time you can be on a staff that sees each starter pushing the other, especially with a talented mix, great things happen and young pitchers get better faster.

John Farrell has positioned these guys in a way that they are all getting better, and will continue to do so. His teaching style is perfect, regardless of the student, and with the mix we have you could not ask for a better situation.

Josh is rounding into form, and I expect him to start running out there every 5th day and throw ‘can’t miss’ games more often than not. Jon Lester is getting it. His command is coming and when it does he’s going to be a force. Clay is just so damn natural you have a chance to see a 1-hit shut out any night he takes the ball. Dice is Dice. He’s got a year under his belt and is doing things that to me show he has learned and is continuing to learn how to get better here. Wake, well what can you say about Wake. He takes the ball every 5th day and you have a chance to win. Teams pay a premium for ONE guy like that on your staff.

Don’t fret the bullpen, every teams pen goes through stretches and ours is no different. They’ll figure it out and given how close Tuck has those guys they’ll do it together and this staff will start to do some pretty special things.

As far as offense goes, I know what I’ve watched. we’ve run up against some fantastic arms. I’ve thought Jason Shields was VERY good from the time I first saw him. Playing in Tampa means the world’s going to catch on to him later than others might. Doc was Doc, a horse and a stud. John matched him on a night when a lot of guys couldn’t and that was a great game. The McGowan kid has as electric an arm as any young pitcher in the game and on his good nights you’re lucky to scrap across 1-2 runs. A.J. is and always has been a no-hitter waiting to happen. I hope for our sake he never figures out that fastball command thing to any degree because if he does he takes it to another level.

Anyway, this team is going to hit, and score runs, and when it does I would bet the staff will be righted from front to back. Staying healthy is the key.

Rehab is going well. I am nearing that first day of throwing, just waiting impatiently to get the go ahead.