Schilling...so close in bid for no-no

Don't shake off your catcher...especially Varitek.

The Red Sox 40 year-old starting pitcher Curt Schilling came within one out of his first career no-hitter Thursday, losing his bid when Shannon Stewart lined a clean single to right field in Boston's 1-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Schilling retired Mark Kotsay and Jason Kendall on grounders to shortstop for the first two outs of the ninth. Then Stewart stepped up and lined the first pitch through the hole between first and second for Oakland's only hit. Schilling said he shook off catcher Jason Varitek on that pitch, going with a fastball instead of a slider.

"We get two outs, and I was sure, and I had a plan, and I shook Tek off," Schilling said. "And I get a big what if for the rest of my life."

It's not the first time a Boston pitcher shook off Varitek in the ninth inning only to see a no-hitter get broken up. Pedro Martinez did it in 2000 against Tampa Bay, giving up a single to John Flaherty on a fastball instead of the curve that Varitek called for.

Hopefully the Red Sox pitchers have learned a lesson: if you are pitching a no-no into the ninth, don't shake off Varitek.

"Hindsight is always 20-20," Varitek said. "It wasn't the first time he shook off all game. We had like a half-dozen. It doesn't really matter. He made a quality pitch."

Didn't they see Bull Durham and learn from Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh? You don't shake off the catcher when you are going good.



[Crash calls for a curve ball, Ebby shakes off the pitch twice]
Crash Davis: Hey! HEY!
[walks to meet Ebby at the mound]
Crash Davis: Why are you shaking me off?
Nuke LaLoosh: [Gets in Crash's face] I want to give him the heat and announce my presence with authority!
Crash: Announce your fucking presence with authority? This guy is a first ball, fast ball hitter!
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Well he hasn't seen my heat!
Crash: Allright meat, show him your heat.
[Walks back towards the box]
Crash: [to the batter] Fast ball comin'.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Crash Davis: Charlie, here comes the deuce. And when you speak of me, speak well.

Mechanized bull noises in background]Crash Davis: Well, he really hit the shit outta that one, didn't he?
[laughs]
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: [softly, infuriated] I held it like an egg.
Crash Davis: Yeah, and he scrambled the son of a bitch. Look at that, he hit the fucking bull! Guy gets a free steak!
[laughs]
Crash Davis: You having fun yet?
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Oh, yeah. Havin' a blast.
Crash Davis: Good.
[pause]
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: God, that sucker teed off on that like he knew I was gonna throw a fastball!
Crash Davis: He did know.
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: How?
Crash Davis: I told him.

Maybe Schilling should have been wearing a garter (the rose goes in the front big guy) or breathing out of his eyelids. Still, a solid performance for Schilling, not bad for a 40 year old. Schilling would have been the third-oldest pitcher to pitch a no-hitter. Nolan Ryan did it as a 43- and 44-year old, and Cy Young was 41 when he pitched a no-hitter for the Red Sox in 1908.