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July 16, 2007
Curt Schilling threw a 31-pitch, two-inning simulated game this afternoon at Fenway Park, an effort that was so encouraging, the Red Sox have slated him to throw a rehab outing in Pawtucket on Saturday against Louisville, barring any unexpected setbacks.
And if that outing goes well, Schilling, a 40-year-old right-hander, will make another rehab start for the PawSox five days later in Toledo, according to manager Terry Francona.
Schilling, on the disabled list since June 22 (retroactive to June 19) because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, will throw three innings and/or around 45 pitches Saturday at McCoy Stadium in a game that will begin at 6 o'clock.
Francona didn't want to get ahead of himself beyond that point in detailing the Sox' plan for Schilling, but, if Schilling were to need only two rehab starts, that would put him in line to pitch either July 31 or Aug. 1 at Fenway against Baltimore.
Indeed, Schilling, who said his plan to return may be quicker than that of the protective Red Sox, hinted at that very timetable.
"I want to be healthy when I get back. I want to come back and have an impact, be a trading deadline pickup, in effect," said Schilling.
The trading deadline is July 31.
While that all has to play out, Schilling said after throwing to Alex Cora, Wily Mo Pena, Eric Hinske and Doug Mirabelli that he felt like a different pitcher relative to the one who made 15 starts before having to be placed on the DL.
"I felt great today. My arm didn't feel like it did today at any point earlier in the year. I was throwing 84 (miles an hour) so obviously there was an issue. Everything is working together better now. I'm more in sync," said Schilling, who was 6-4 with a 4.20 earned-run average when he was disabled.
Even when he came within an out of a no-hitter in Oakland on June 7, Schilling said he didn't "feel extraordinary."
"They hit the ball right at people," said Schilling, though he was able to dial up his velocity from the mid-80s to the mid-90s over the final few innings of that game, losing the gem on Shannon Stewart's two-out single to right on a 95-mile-an-hour heater.
Schilling made two more starts, lasting only five innings against Colorado (June 13)and 4 1/3 against Atlanta (June 18), surrendering a total of 11 earned runs on 19 hits in those 9 1/3 innings before going on the DL.
Francona said he saw a different pitcher yesterday than he had been seeing earlier this year.
"He threw the ball better in the bullpen (Friday) and today than at any point since the moment he arrived in spring training," said Francona. "He pitched some good games (earlier this season), but he wasn't bouncing back like we need him to."
Schilling said the Sox training staff has altered his workout program for shoulder strength and stability, and that the change has brought his arm around "quicker than expected."
So now Schilling will throw a normal between-starts side session on Wednesday and get ready for his Saturday start in Pawtucket.
-- Steven Krasner
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 4:29 PM | Permalink
