Over the weekend, I was able to catch up with legendary pitcher Curt Schilling. I asked him a few questions about a few different topics, including his future, and a few of the current issues in baseball, excluding the steroids circus, since he has already spoken many times about that, and to be quite honest, we've talked enough about that as well.Curt is a former World Series co-MVP, has played on 3 World Series winning teams, and is a 6-time All Star. He is 15th on the all time list with 3,116 career strikeouts, has a 7-2 postseason record, and has been in the top 5 in Cy Young voting 4 times.
Not that you needed the introduction. Here's the interview, which is part of a new part of FanIQ that we will refer to as "FanIQ&A". Enjoy.
Pat: Curt, you've said that you want to come back, and the Cubs and Rays have been mentioned as ideal landing spots. How likely do you think it is that you'll end up back in baseball later this year, and which team do you think is the most realistic fit?
Curt: I think it is unlikely I'll play again but if I did decide to play I don't know that I could identify the most 'realistic' fit today. Boston is where I live and where we want to be, but I don't think it's a very realistic landing spot for me. Arizona, Philadelphia, both former homes and both full of great memories are potentials as well for me, but as I have stated before it takes far more than me wanting to be somewhere, to go there.
The one huge attraction to waiting it out would be to see how the first half of the season shakes out and who is and is not in contention come the all-star break, and then weighing the options at that point.
Pat: You recently listed Jason Varitek on your blog as someone whom you would want your son to emulate. Do you feel that his recent free agency episode tarnishes his image at all, and what were your initial thoughts when you heard that he had rejected arbitration?
Curt: Not at all. I know Jason as well as anyone I've played with and he does the thing, the only thing, you ask of your teammates. He plays the game, every night, as hard as he possibly can and to the best of his ability.
Pat: Hypothetical situation: It's 5 years after your career is over, and you're a random member of the BBWAA. You see Curt Schilling's name on the ballot. How do you vote, and why?Curt: I've spoken many times on this and I haven't changed my opinion. I've played with sure fire first ballot hall of famers, and I think and feel I know a HOF player when I see one.
(Editor's note: If you're wondering what he has said before on this topic, check out the last paragraph of this article)
Pat: On your blog, you recently discussed the WBC, and how you feel it negatively affects pitchers. What would you do, if anything, to change the WBC in a way that could alleviate these concerns? Or is it even possible?
Curt: It's not possible because I think the only solution would be to hold it in April, for the entire month, and eliminate that portion of the MLB schedule. That just won't happen for the same reasons you will not see a shortened season. Teams will not give up gate revenue.
Pat: Speaking of international baseball, what is your opinion on baseball being taken out of the Olympics?
Curt: Mixed really. In much the same vein as the WBC, what they are touting, and what you see are two different ideologies. The world 'best' are not on display. It's a competition between the best 'available' talent in both cases.
Pat: After seeing the money that was thrown around this year, do you think that a salary cap will eventually be unavoidable in baseball?
Curt: No. As long as there is a players union there will not be, nor should there ever be, a salary cap.
Pat: I know you've been raising money for years for ALS awareness for years now. What current charities and related events are you involved in now, and how has that progressed since you first became an active force in ALS awareness?
Curt: Shonda and I have been involved in ALS since 1992, and her Shade Foundation was formed in 2002 after her battle with Cancer. We have recently gotten very involved in Autism as well and will continue to be involved in all three to some degree or another.
Thanks, Curt, and good luck in whatever you pursue next.
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