An open letter to Curt Schilling: Take a cue from the Bee Jees

Somewhere in the aftermath of Boston’s 7-1 victory in Game 5, a lot of Red Sox fans seem to have lost sight of an important fact: The Sox are still down, three games to two. Like the Bee Jees, they’re still looking to Stay Alive.

Stayin’ Alive: That’s the goal Monsieur Schilling. We’ll talk moolah later if you get the job done.

The backs are still against the wall as Boston rolls back into what is sure to be a raucous, if nervous, Fenway Park tonight. And the man on the mound is the one who made himself a legend in 2004, once on the very same mound. There’ll be no bloody sock, but as much drama as there was before the last time Curt Schilling pitched in a Game 6 with the Sox facing elimination, back in the ever-enchanted year of ‘04.

The difference is that this is a different Curt Schilling than the incarnation that dominated the Yankees and then the Cardinals after experimental cadaver surgery on his ankle. That Schilling was still a power pitcher who relied on his stuff above all else. There was less stuff to draw on in his two playoff victories, but he had enough. This Schilling is a mental chess player, a gambler who’s betting he can confuse you with enough of a change up to keep you honest on his suddenly mediocre heat.

It’s a terrifying difference. He still has immense guts, as he flexed in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Angels, where he went on the road and thoroughly trounced the LA lineup. But those guts couldn’t get him through the fifth inning of Game 2 back at Fenway, and that ultimately cost the Sox dearly. With Schilling out early the snowball started rolling. Pushing Manny Delcarmen for a second inning is what tied the game, and then eventually meant that the Sox had no one to turn to except Eric Gagne. We know what happened after that.

But Schilling is pitching for more than just a big win tonight. He’s also pitching for a future in Boston. Should the Sox fall and face a long, cold offseason of Patriots talk, Schilling will almost certainly not be pursued. Boston has young arms ready to go and take his place, but his postseason acumen might be enough to save him a rotation slot and earn him his $10 million or so should he find a way to win tonight and, perhaps, again if things keep going. By the same token, a loss tonight would mean he essentially was the determining factor in two losses while pitching only one playoff win. That’s not worth $13 million in Boston.

So what’s it going to be, Curt? The man the Indians are sending to the hill, Fausto Carmona, is probably going to put up a better game than he did in his outing No. 2, where Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz got to him a bit. You ready to up the ante a bit? Always were in the past.

Here’s hoping for an evening of reminiscing. Red Sox fans could really use one. Scratch that. They really need one.

– Cameron Smith, Globe photo