Too Long a Layoff

No one knows if this Series will surmount its first-night debacle. The Tigers never found their form. We can hope that this game will be forgotten quickly -- replaced by better played and more competitive contests. First-night routs have seldom meant much. Three times a team has won Game 1 by 10 runs, the '59 White Sox, '82 Brewers and '96 Braves. All lost the Series.

Though it may seem unlikely after this blowout, it's plausible that Game 2 may actually be its most important night. The best pitcher in this Series will almost certainly prove to be Beckett. However, the most important pitcher in this Series, whose performance may go furthest toward determining the ultimate winner, will probably be the elderly gentleman who will start Game 2 for Boston. Yes, Curt Schilling who, only a few years ago, was almost a duplicate of the imposing 6-foot-5, 222-pound Beckett in mound mastery and imperious demeanor.

If Schilling can summon himself once again and pitches as well as he did in Game 6 of the ALCS against Cleveland on Saturday, the Rockies may have as much chance for a comeback as a box of Rox. If he is vulnerable, then so are the Bosox.

For half of this season, Schilling railed against age, battled the frustration of no longer resembling the pitcher who fanned 300 men three times. "The frustrating part of it is gone," said Schilling, 41 in November. "I've accepted the fact that I'll go out [to the bullpen] and get loose and whatever it is, it is. And whatever I have [that night] has to work . . . Whereas I used to be able to exploit a hitter with one pitch exclusively, now I've got to be able to use multiple pitches in different spots."

In a perfect Red Sox world, Schilling would not start Game 2. Daisuke Matsuzaka, the $103-million man, or knuckleballer Tim Wakefield would. But Dice-K is in a two-month slump while Wakefield is injured and off the roster. So, it's Schilling's turn. Again. Even though he only won nine games this season and, at times, has lost a full 10 mph off the fastball of his prime. As if he hasn't done enough, given so often, including his bloody sock heroics in Boston's '04 Cosmic Quest.

"There's some wear and tear," said Boston Manager Terry Francona. "What he did in '04, everybody knew he would pay a price physically and he did. With the miles that have been put on his shoulder, he's not the guy that can pitch 96, 97 anymore. But he can still pitch very effectively, still navigate his way."

For years, nobody navigated October better than Schilling, not even the current white-hot Beckett. If Schilling can reclaim just some of that glory, the Red Sox may convince the Rox that they are perilously close to a horribly inopportune -- and artificially induced -- slump. If, however, Schilling goes to the Fenway bullpen and finds the cupboard bare, a very different type of World Series may break out. One that is so competitive that, on this bleak night for baseball, it is hard to imagine.