Look who's endorsing Fan Fanatic Sports

"Fan Fanatic Sports is a really good up and coming site. It's a good source to get team information and a good way to check up on your favorite players."

--RON BRACE
New England Patriots
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Fan Fanatic Sports is your spot for up to date sports info for everything New England sports."

--RYAN DURAND
Tennessee Titans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Curt Schilling: Hall of Fame or not?

By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Curt Schilling was a very good major league pitcher. He was even better in the post season, as you can see from his numbers: 11-2, 2.23 ERA and 4 complete games. Tremendous, amazing and big game pitcher are all ways to describe Curt Schilling's playoff career. If there was a Hall of Fame for the playoffs, then Curt Schilling would be a unanimous, first ballot Hall of Famer. There is just one problem. There is no playoff hall of fame. You need to take into account a player's entire career, including regular and post season.


Schilling's career numbers are very good. His 216-146 record, 3.46 ERA, 3,116 strikeouts are all impressive. If you take a closer look at his 162 game average, a 14-9 record, 3.46 ERA and 210 strikeouts don't exactly shout Hall of Famer. Yes, his 3,116 strikeouts put him 20th overall, but how many of those came against an opposing pitcher. I'm a huge National League fan, so I am not trying to bag on the NL, but some concessions need to be made when someone plays 13 1/2 years in the NL.

www.baseball-reference.com is one of my favorite websites. I often go there for stats that aren't burned into my brain. If you look at Curt's page, which the link above will take you directly to, there is a list of comparable pitchers. That list is below.
  1. Kevin Brown
  2. Bob Welch
  3. Orel Hershiser
  4. Freddie Fitzsimmons
  5. Milt Pappas
  6. Don Drysdale
  7. Dazzy Vance
  8. Jim Perry
  9. Catfish Hunter
Only three of that list are hall of famers (Don Drysdale, Catfish Hunter, Dazzy Vance). While John Smoltz will be a hall of famer, he's also a far superior pitcher in my estimation. The rest really shouldn't even be in the discussion.

I appreciate all he's done in the game considering the era he's played in. He's had to go up against the likes of Barry Bonds, Mark Maguire, Sammy Sosa, etc. That is not an easy thing to do. Is he one of the best playoff competitors of all time? Yes, but Reggie Jackson also had a great regular season career. Kirk Gibson didn't make the Hall of Fame for his World Series home run, and neither did Joe Carter.

Living in the Boston area, many people may say that I am just writing this to make a splash. While I might not be a Red Sox fan, I am also not a Red Sox Hater or Yankees fan. To be perfectly honest, I like Curt Schilling. I may not agree with some of his personal views, but enjoy listening to him speak on the radio. I just happen to be very conservative when it comes to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I am the person who thinks Cal Ripken shouldn't be in there either, but that is a discussion for another time.

McDaniels, are you a man or a mouse?

By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Are you kidding me?
New Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is now saying that cry baby Jay Cutler is his quarterback.
For now.
But for how long?
McDaniels don't you wish you were back in New England with the protection of guru Bill Belichick?
Joshy boy, it's your chance to put a stamp on this team right away.
We know Cutler isn't your boy and you wanted one-year-wonder Matt Cassel to be your quarterback, but Uncle Bill wanted you to earn your keep so he traded him to the Chiefs and good friend Scott Pioli.
Now it's your move rookie!
Lets see, I think it's a no-brainer, you need to kick Cutler to the curb and develop your own guy.
Why don't you come out and just be honest -- you like Cutler's arm (he can make every tough NFL throw) but you don't like his decision-making and his inability to read a defense. But most importantly, you don't like his attitude. He's shown he's not a leader. Chalk it up to youth, but it appears from a distance that Cutler is about himself and his stats. Maybe he's a great locker room guy, but on the field his leadership qualities don't come though.
Big deal, he threw for over 4,000 yards. Denver always seemed to trail in games and Cutler's stats were inflated because he had to throw just about every down to try to get back into the game. He's a fantasy producer, but in real football he's a mediocre quarterback with a bad attitude.
Do it Josh, cut bait.
Cutler's bashed the organization (isn't he suppose to be the franchise?), and basically called you a liar. People are laughing at you Josh, we're all laughing at you!
You better trade him before or during the draft or you'll forever be labeled as a pushover.
Your credibility as a head coach is being questioned. You're better than that. Everyone in New England realized you had a great football mind, but perhaps you're in over your head as a head coach?
Maybe you've got us all fooled and have a plan to trade him?
I hope so.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, but don't take the banana in the tailpipe.
Do the right thing -- the only thing -- ship Cutler to Detroit so he can get his head beat in like he did back in college.
But you better not trade him to the Jets.
Bill taught you better than that!