Hail King Theo!

Brian Loeb's recent sports column ("Thanks a lot, Theo!," Dec. 2) attacked Red Sox GM Theo Epstein for his Thanksgiving acquisition of Diamondbacks stud Curt Schilling. I would like to share a different, more informed, perspective on the trade. While Brian pointed out that Schilling was only 8-9 this season, he did not take into account other factors -- namely that the Diamondbacks offense was a joke.

Schilling was tenth in MLB in support-neutral wins, which takes into account only pitcher performance and not the support his offense gives him. In the same way that Pedro might have received credit for 4-5 more wins if his bullpen had not blown games, Schilling's run support just was not there in 2003. I tend to think the Red Sox record-setting offense will provide him with the support he needs.

Also, while Schilling's walk rate may have increased from 2002 to 2003, as Brian pointed out, he forgot to mention a few crucial factors. In 2002, Schilling posted one of the best-ever walk rates (1.14 BB/9) in the history of the game. And while his 1.71 BB/9 in 2003 did not match that, it was far better than AL Cy Young candidate Esteban Loaiza (2.23) and Yankee free agent Andy Pettit (2.16). So, while his walk rate did go up and he did not record the freakishly good numbers he did in 2002, it certainly should not be of great concern to the Red Sox as he still amongst the best in the league in this category.

There are few players in the game who can post these numbers at 37. Wow, 37 is old. Let's hope he does not age as poorly as his power-pitching predecessors Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens (oh, wait...). While Schilling did have two stints on the disabled list last year with Arizona, they were due to non-age related problems. The first stint on the DL was for an emergency appendectomy and the second was due to a fractured metacarpal bone in his throwing hand. Statistics show that once beyond the age of 24-25, power pitchers are far less prone to catastrophic injury.

Brian also points out Schilling's penchant for the Long Ball. While Curt Schilling is a flyball pitcher, his 10.4 K/9 keeps many balls from even entering play, let alone leaving the park. Also, Cubs star Mark Prior had great success in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field while posting a higher fly ball rate (.94 GB/FB) than did Schilling (1.01 GB/FB). To compound that claim, although people tend to think of Fenway Park as a homerun haven, it is a product more of the prolific Red Sox offense rather than the "short fences" at Fenway, as adjusted numbers prove. Since the construction of the press boxes atop the .406 Club (originally the 600 Club), Fenway has actually played very close to offensively neutral.

Lastly, to point out Schilling's struggles with new teams is very inaccurate. While Schilling did struggle with Baltimore, it must be pointed out that he was only 21 years old (traded at 23) when he pitched for them. Most pitchers are toiling in the mid- to high-minor leagues at that age. So his struggles are more indicative of growing pains and youthfulness rather than ineffectiveness in the American League.

Also, Brian called Schilling's year in Houston one of his worst, which is also extremely inaccurate. Schilling spent one year in Houston and he was only 24 years old. He posted a 3.81 ERA but compare that to Tim Hudson's 4.14 ERA as a 24-year-old in pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. Wouldn't you want both of those pitchers on your team now? And let's look at his first full year in Arizona. Schilling posted a 2.98 ERA, was second in Cy Young voting, first in the NL in wins, third in the NL in strikeouts, and led the league in innings pitched, among many other accomplishments. Oh yeah, and he won a World Series.

The Diamondbacks brought him in to win, to win immediately, and they did. The Red Sox have done the exact same thing. While you can pick and choose random statistics that may indicate Schilling's regression as a pitcher, the overall truth remains that he is an effective, top-of-the-rotation starter. Perhaps those who hate on the Red Sox nation should be more worried about a certain Sox opponent that recently signed a fragile 36-year-old outfielder and a 36-year-old power reliever with a history of arm trouble. So blame King Theo for what you will, but in the end blame him for the fact that the AL East will belong to the Red Sox in 2004. Do not look at this trade through pinstriped glasses, but rather from an informed baseball perspective, and the truth will be revealed.

Adam Kacamburas is a senior majoring in Political Science