BOSTON –– Curt Schilling has been very critical of the Red Sox.
During spring training, Schilling ruffled feathers when he said Daniel Bard's conversion from reliever to starter was "being mismanaged on an epically horrible scale." Then he claimed the Red Sox players were already fed up with Bobby Valentine in Fort Myers.
Most recently, Schilling took Valentine to task for his remarks to rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks. In a radio interview on Friday, Schilling said he would've "taken a swing" at the manager if he was in Middlebrooks' position.
The ex-Red Sox pitcher also insinuated that Valentine would experience an ugly fallout with the Red Sox whenever he leaves the organization.
Despite Schilling's blunt commentary, he was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame on Friday afternoon. When he was introduced to the Fenway faithful, Schilling was greeted by a bevy of cheers.
"Schill's record and career speaks for itself," Valentine said. "No one wanted to be against the man, [they] wanted to be with him."
As for Schilling's criticism? Well, Valentine — a former ESPN analyst himself — brushed them aside.
"You know what they're like –– those opinions, don't you?" Valentine said. "Everyone's got one."
On this day, Schilling received a pardon from Boston, especially after guiding the Red Sox to two World Series championships.
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