Questions and answers with Curt Schilling - Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher - Interview

Baseball Digest, August, 2003 by Dennis Manoloff

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS RIGHT-hander Curt Schilling has been a 20-game winner in each of the last two seasons, and from the beginning of 2001 through mid-May 2003--including playoffs and World Series--he has a 52-15 record. No one in the majors has won as many games in that span.

Despite an appendectomy last April, the hard-throwing right-hander was 3-3 with a 3.36 ERA and 78 strikeouts through May 26. And with 2,426 career strikeouts, he is in line to join the 12 pitchers who have struck out 3,000 hitters.

All of which gives him a platform. Schilling, 36, can speak on a variety of subjects, and people will listen. It helps that he is one of the more intelligent, articulate players in any clubhouse.

Schilling recently allowed for a peek into his world. As is his wont, he kept it hopping.

Q: What makes you tick?

A: Fear of failure.

Q: Who would join you at your dream pitching roundtable?

A: Greg Maddux, Johnny Podres, Jim Palmer and Don Sutton. There wouldn't be any idle chatter, I guarantee you.

Q: What is your dream World Series matchup, mixing/matching all eras?

A: The 2001 Diamondbacks against the 2001 Yankees.

Q: Dream batter-pitcher matchup, mixing/matching all eras?

A: Babe Ruth against Randy Johnson.

Q: The outcome?

A: Three pitches and sit your fat butt down, Bambino.

Q: Are you serious?

A: Yes. I've held one of Babe Ruth's bats, and let me tell you: He could choke up to the label and not get around on R.J.

Q: What would Johnson throw him?

A: Three fastballs--and he'd tell Ruth before each pitch.

Q: How would you deal with him?

A: Same way. All fastballs--and I'd tell him, too.

Q: You wouldn't even mix in a split or hook?

A: No need. He's not going to get a 48-, 50-ounce bat around on the hard stuff. If he does, I better quit.

Q: Wouldn't he adjust accordingly?

A: If you assume that, though, then you have to ask how he was able to be so successful in the first place using the bat he did.

Q: Where would you locate the fastballs to Ruth?

A: I'd keep them up and in. But if it's a day game, location wouldn't matter. He'd go down, regardless, and I don't have to tell you why.

Q: How would Ruth fare today?

A: He wouldn't hit 714 homers. He'd have to go with a lighter bat and go on a diet.

Q: Do you think the majority of players today could have played in Ruth's era?

A: No question--and not only played, but thrived. There's nothing wrong with cherishing the history of this game, but it shouldn't come at the expense of the guys who play now. Funny how this is the only sport where the players have gotten worse over the years. Nobody talks about how football or basketball players are worse than they were 40, 50 years ago. They're bigger, faster, with more skills. But we couldn't play back in the day? Come on.

It's especially true of pitchers. All we ever hear about is how amazing Cy Young and the boys were. I'm all for giving them their due, but how do you think R.J., Pedro Martinez--or the seventh, eighth, ninth man on a staff today--would have looked back then? I like their chances.

Q: Are you a 'throwback'?

A: I'm built like a throwback.

What's a throwback? Ten years ago, I thought that was one of the highest compliments you could receive. The more I play, though, I wonder if the reverse is not true.

Q: Explain.

A: I mean, could some of the guys from the past play now? You had guys as recently as 15, 20 years ago who were barely .200 hitters but played great defense, and they were considered good. They wouldn't make a big-league roster today. Those players don't exist anymore.

Q: What is your best pitch?

A: Strike three.

Q: Describe the Big Unit in 30 words or less.

A: I can do it in one: introvert.

Q: Is he a mystery?

A: To me, no; to 99.9 percent of the public, sure. And that's how he wants it.

Q: Is he misunderstood?

A: There are some aspects of him that are grossly misunderstood, mainly that he's mean. Just because you're introverted, doesn't mean you're mean.

Q: Are you tight with him?

A: Yes. His is a friendship I will have when I'm done with the game.

Q: What do fans most misunderstand about players?

A: That we're greedy. Tell me, how on God's green earth did we get the word greedy attached to us, especially when it comes to negotiations between owners and players?

Q: Because of all the money you make, obviously.

A: But we're not asking for anything; we've asked for the status quo. Nobody's forcing the owners to pay us. The bottom line is, I can't give you $10 if I only have 85 in my pocket

The owners have been asking us to stop them from spending money on ... us. You apply that to any other industry, and people would be like, 'What?' But because it's baseball, it's different

Q: Why do you suppose that is?

A: The difference between baseball and the other three major sports--basketball, football, hockey--is that 99 percent of the male population has played this one, and they feel they can relate to what we do.

Well, I can grab someone out of the stands anywhere in the ballpark and there's a legitimate chance that he can't play catch with me from 60 feet. Yet, he's the same guy who's up in arms screaming about .somebody booting a line-drive one-hopper.