Schilling's pitches a little up
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Curt Schilling prefers economy class. When it comes to his pitches, that is.
Though mostly pleased with his outing in a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers yesterday, Schilling was looking for more bang from his 87 pitches after taking the long bus ride. He lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, and one walk, and striking out four.
"I'd hoped to get seven innings out of today," Schilling said. Ninety pitches in six innings is not something I'm comfortable with. If I'm throwing 90 pitches in six innings, I'm striking a lot of people out."
Schilling was able to throw all five pitches against a lineup that featured six hitters he had faced before.
"I was talking to Greg Maddux and how he can get seven or eight innings out of 80 pitches," said Schilling. "He said to me, `I can't complain because you throw 95 [miler per hour] and I don't.' He said, `If I threw 95, I'd throw a lot more pitches, too.' The harder you throw, the more foul balls you get.
"One thing that the changeup is going to do for me is to allow me to throw fewer pitches."
Schilling also defied conventional wisdom that you waste a pitch on an 0-and-2 count.
"I've never bought the theory," he said. "There's no such thing as a wasted pitch. If you're prepared and you know what the hitter's tendencies are and you know what he's thinking, you can make him think different ways. While other people waste a pitch, you can set up an at-bat later in the game by making a certain pitch. If you have good stuff, there's no need to waste a pitch. Three pitches can get you an out. That's what you shoot for."
Schilling said he wants to stretch out to 100-105 pitches in his next outing.
Mendoza scratched Another day, another setback for Ramiro Mendoza. Scheduled to make his first appearance yesterday, the hard-luck righthander cut the tip of his middle finger on a seam while playing catch before the game. It appears less and less likely that Mendoza can be ready in time to open the season as the team's long reliever. "He sliced it. It was a freaky thing," said manager Terry Francona. "Hopefully he'll be available over the next couple of days. It's not life-threatening. We'll see how it goes." . . . Scott Williamson continued to work hard toward his role of set-up man for Keith Foulke, striking out the side in his only inning of work. Williamson called his slider "the best I've had this spring." One thing he has not done yet is work back-to-back games, but he doesn't appear concerned with that. Williams said his preparation hasn't changed because he's no longer anticipating a closer role. "Really, getting ready is getting ready," Williamson said. "I still have time to build on things toward Opening Day. I'm still a little bit spotty with my fastball, but otherwise I was pleased with the way I threw."
Mueller a go Bill Mueller is scheduled to play today against Tampa Bay at City of Palms Park. He strained his elbow swinging a leaded bat Saturday, forcing him to miss Sunday's game against the Orioles, but Francona indicated Mueller would be well enough to play third base . . . Frank Castillo, now in his 17th season of professional baseball, made his first major league appearance of the spring, allowing four hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings . . . Mark Bellhorn scraped off the rust from a recent bout with the flu to go 2 for 4 with an RBI. He also made a fine diving stop at third base . . . Johnny Damon singled off Eric Gagne, the first hit off the ace closer this spring. "I think it was good for our team to see him," said Damon, "so that when we face him [in June] we won't be surprised."
