Since the announced retirement of Curt Schilling, the question du jour is whether or not he should be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. My initial, knee-jerk reaction was no. However, I’m now having second thoughts.

I am not a stat machine, so if you’re looking for all the numbers, you can look ‘em up on numerous sites. However, what I do know is that Schilling has 216 wins; six all-star appearances; one World Series co-MVP; one of the best post-season pitching records in baseball history; and three championship rings.

A friend and colleague of mine said, “He absolutely does not belong in the Hall.” However, my friend also thinks Schilling is a blowhard – and that the blood-soaked sock was really ketchup. So, his judgment may be influenced by his disdain for him, rather than analyzing his accomplishments.

Players need not win championships to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. See Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, et al. However, those who have accomplished the feat, especially multiple times, definitely deserve consideration.

Curt Schilling has been known for speaking his mind…and, in 2004, when he stated, “I’m going to Boston to break an 86 year-old curse,” he fulfilled his brash prediction. His memorable, bloody-sock, game-six win versus the Yankees in the 2004 AL Championship Series was one of the gutsiest performances I’ve ever witnessed. He later repeated his bloody sock heroics in a game-two World Series win versus the Cardinals when doctors, in an unprecedented procedure, made a wall of stitches to keep Curt’s tendon in place. Even if it were ketchup on his sock, Schilling later had surgery on his right ankle to repair the ruptured tendon.

And, in 2007, Schilling was part of a second Red Sox World Championship.

So, whether you like him or not…you can’t deny his accomplishments. While his 216 regular-season wins might not be Hall of Fame numbers, his post-season record of 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA might get him over the hump.

And, oh yes, there’s also those three rings.

Classic: highest in quality; of enduring interest; noteworthy – worth remembering; traditional event. Thank God the dictionary includes traditional event in the definition of classic, or I wouldn’t understand what the World Baseball Classic meant.

Of course, we all know the World Baseball Classic has begun, right? Japan opened the event versus China in the wee hours of the morning in the U.S. I set my alarm for 4:30 a.m. so not to miss the fist pitch. Ya, right.

I’m sure the “Classic” will gain interest as it progresses, especially if the U.S. does well. But, don’t count on it. Baseball is back, but it’s time for spring training. Even baseball fanatics need time to warm up to our national pastime. Also, when the best of the best don’t play, Americans have little interest. And when MLB teams prefer their star players stay home, how can its fan base support it?

The World Baseball Classic was developed for the rest of the world to watch. And that’s exactly what they’ll get. No one here cares.

Also, due to the Classic, the 2009 World Series will be played in November this year. Ridiculous.