SCHILL'S BLOGGY SOCK

By MICHAEL MORRISSEY/NYPost.com

May 23, 2007 -- Last June, Curt Schilling argued that Joe Torre deserved Manager of the Year props for navigating around a bunch of Yankees injuries.

When the Red Sox starting pitcher looks at this year's Yankees across the field, he sees an even more battered, but still unbowed, squad.

"They're definitely a lot more beat up," Schilling said yesterday afternoon. "I wouldn't use the word 'vulnerable.' "

Schilling brings a 4-1 record and 3.57 ERA into tonight's series finale against Andy Pettitte (2-3, 2.83) at the Stadium. In Schilling's past four starts against the Yanks, he's 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA.
To him, the Yankees' injuries, and their slow start, don't mean anything.

"It means what you make it mean," he said. "They're like us, they've been through the drill. They know.

"They won't panic. The only people that panic in either one of these markets is the media."
Speaking of the media, Schilling has had his run-ins with media members (think "bloody sock"). But he said he doesn't loathe everyone in the industry.

Since early March, though, the 40-year-old frequently has used an alternative outlet. He started his blog, "38 Pitches," and has updated it regularly with both pitching analysis and other thoughts.

"I've had to deal with the media one-tenth as much as in the past," he said in regards to blogging. "And that's not to say that . . . I think people think that I think there are a lot more bad people than good people in the media.

"And I don't believe that's the case. It just makes it easier to come to the park and do things and not have obligations."

Still, with blog headlines like "Why the media (stinks)" and "Ignorance has its privileges," a guy or gal in the Fourth Estate could develop a complex. Schilling also has been controversial on the radio, making disparaging comments about Barry Bonds for which he later apologized.

On the mound, Schilling has produced six quality starts in nine outings. He said as long as the blog doesn't serve as a distraction or interfere with "what I get paid to do," he'll continue it.
"Obviously we've had some bumps along the way," he said. "But (it's) nobody's fault but mine, which you deal with."

BAMBINO: Now I don't really like Schilling's team, but I really like Schilling as a pitcher, as a charitable American, and for his politics. After the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series I wasn't depressed. I was so into the 2004 Election that sports didn't matter at the moment.

CURT SCHILLING'S BLOG:
http://38pitches.com/