Curt Schilling had a reputation for being a gritty player during his MLB career, but he says he would not try to showcase his toughness by intentionally throwing at Houston Astros hitters if he were still playing.
In a recent appearance on WFAN’s “Moose & Maggie” show, Schilling was asked if he thinks pitchers are going to retaliate against the Astros by plunking their hitters in 2020. The three-time World Series champion referenced when former Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster intentionally hit Alex Rodriguez after MLB announced in 2013 that A-Rod would be suspended for performance-enhancing drugs. Schilling called that “one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.”
“I think that would be like (throwing at Astros hitters over the sign-stealing scandal). Your job is to win games, period,” Schilling said. “You’re paid $15, 20, $30 million per year, you’re getting paid to win ballgames. That personal stuff, if you want to take it out on them, do it on your own time. If you have a 9-0 lead and you’re comfortable, sure go ahead, whatever you feel like doing.
“Getting yourself suspended for 7-10 days is not what’s in the best interest of your team.”
Schilling added that he plunked numerous hitters intentionally during his career, but he says he never once did it because of issues involving gamesmanship or cheating.
“I hit 52 guys in my career and I think only three of them were accidental,” Schilling said. “It was all for protecting my teammates — if someone on my team got hit or thrown at. I didn’t do it for performance stuff.”
We don’t know exactly what Alex Bregman was referring to when he said he likes when players get plunked for doing “stupid stuff,” but there are definitely pitchers across MLB who disagree with Schilling. One pitcher already admitted the idea of throwing at Astros hitters to send a message has already crossed his mind, and it seems like a virtual certainty that it will happen at some point.
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