Vazquez says he's not fazed by Schilling's comments

BALTIMORE - Javier Vazquez had little reaction to Curt Schilling.

The opinionated former Red Sox pitcher in two separate interviews disparaged the Yankees righthander, who is off to a bad start.

"Everyone's entitled to their opinion," Vazquez said before last night's game. "I feel good [physically] and this is just four starts. I've struggled before for four starts."

After Sunday's start in Anaheim, one in which he lasted only 32/3 innings, Vazquez's record fell to 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA.

"I never ever thought the move to New York the first time was a good one [for Vazquez]. And I didn't think this [move] was good, as well," Schilling said Monday on ESPN Radio's "The Herd with Colin Cowherd." "I don't think he suddenly learned how to pitch when he went back to Atlanta and [pitched] last year. He's a phenomenal National League pitcher. It's hard to say this without sounding disrespectful and I don't mean it that way - the National League is an easier league to pitch in, period. And some guys aren't equipped to get those same outs in the American League, and he's one of those guys."

Schilling backed off a little bit Tuesday on 1050's ESPNNewYork.com show with Seth Everett, but not much.

"It is easier to pitch and be successful in the National League than it is the American League," Schilling said. "If anyone thinks that Javier Vazquez is going to be different the second time around than he was the first time, I think they are fooling themselves."

Vazquez, who said he has never met Schilling, didn't discount the difference in pitching in the AL compared with the NL, but that it's more a case right now of him just not pitching well.

"I've had success in the American League; I'm just not making my pitches," Vazquez said. "I'm just making terrible pitches and if you make terrible pitches in the National League or in the American League, they're not going to help me."

He said he was told about Schilling's remarks Tuesday afternoon.

"If you listen to what everybody has to say in this world, you're going to get crazy," Vazquez said. "I never listen to what anybody says and I just go about what the guys in this clubhouse and what I think.

"It's tough but I have to get through it. I have to get through it and there's a lot of season left."

Vazquez's next start will be Saturday against the White Sox at the Stadium, where he was booed off the mound in his last start.

"I know they're not probably going to be pretty," Vazquez said of the fans' reaction. "But I'm looking forward to hopefully start getting in a groove and getting cheers."