Josh Beckett

According to Ian Browne from redsox.com, Wakefield was one of the pitchers they were saving in the case that the game went into extra innings.  “Okay,” one might say, “then why did it have to be Wake? Why did they have to save both him and Beckett for extras?”  Ian Browne comes to the rescue again saying that Wakefield was well rested.  I also think that they took into consideration his ability to pitch more than one inning without hurting himself.   Wakefield is blessed with being able to pitch without his full five days rest because of the slow knuckleball.  In addition, Maddon was told to save extra pitchers because last year both the AL and the NL nearly ran out (who could forget that 15 inning game?)  So Wakefield was on the list of pitchers to save in case of extra innings. 

Continue reading "Why Wakefield Didn’t Get To Pitch ..."

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You can’t even talk about heroes of the game without mentioning the one and only Josh Beckett, who once again dominated through 6 innings of work (6.0 IP, H, 2 BB, 8 K).  He has now throwing 18.2 shutout innings.  Me, having always wanted to see a no hitter, was very much aware that Beckett didn’t allow a hit until late in the fourth (although the 4th is too early to be thinking about no hitters).  Pedroia almost recorded the final out of the inning with an amazing grab off of Robinson Cano, but was unable to complete the play.  However, after looking at his numbers, Beckett would have been unable to complete the game regardless if he was throwing a no-no.  Although he was striking out batters left and right, he was throwing a lot of pitches.  After just six innings of work, he was already up to 90.  He would have had a hard time completing the game, and I don’t think Tito would have let him.  This was also why Beckett was taken out after just six innings of work. 

Continue reading "Sox Are 6-0 Against Yanks for the ..."

But how can we talk about last night’s game without talking about our pitching?  Josh Beckett had a great start (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K) and really making it a pitcher’s duel against Matt Garza (7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K).  I absolutely love games like this where it’s close up until the very end.  Of course you can’t have a close game without having good relief pitching in addition to great starting pitching.  We got some of that last night from Hideki Okajima who was lights out – 1.2 IP and no one got on base.  That was nice flashback of the Okajima we know and loved from 2007.  Ramon Ramirez (I love this guy) recorded the final out of the 8th, leaving the door open for Papelbon to come in for the 9th. 

Continue reading "Beckett, the Bullpen, and Bay make us Believe"

A lot of people have their proverbial panties in a bunch over Josh Beckett’s high-and-tight pitch in the first inning of Boston’s game against Los Angeles on Easter Sunday. Pundits, fans of other Major League clubs and even some who root for the Red Sox have labeled Beckett’s "misfire" as dirty, dangerous and suspension worthy. I say, relax people, stop being so sensitive. Boston’s ace was doing what his pitching brethren have taught him through the decades. Beckett was sending a message. You can call it archaic, but it’s part of America’s pastime.

Continue reading "Beckett Simply Keeping with Tradition"

esterday?  I’ll answer that for you.  He was video game good!!  I may refer to Josh Beckett as “Becks” in the future, so bear with me on that.  The only issue, I thought, was the 3rd inning.  Becks got into a bases-loaded jam but got out of it with only one run coming in on the sac fly by Crawford.  He then goes into cruise control and ends up with seven K’s after retiring eight in a row through five innings. 

Continue reading "Play Ball!!!"

I'd say 11-12 with a 4.40 ERA. Not great, but not terrible for a No. 4. 

2-Boston Red Sox: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, and Brad Penny. Wild cards: John Smoltz, Clay Buccholz, and Justin Masterson. 

Continue reading "MLB's Top Five Starting Rotations"

Baseball is an amazing game: You spend six months falling in love with 25 guys you've never met, spend almost 200 nights tuning in to see how they do, and then with one half-swing by J.D. Drew it's all over.

Continue reading "Warming up the hot stove"

hoking is now on the edge of becoming one of the greatest comeback teams in history.

Hurt or not, Josh Beckett again showed why he is one of the greatest big game pitchers of all time.  5 solid innings and left the Red Sox in position to win.

Continue reading "Sunday Morning"

here they have only won two of eleven games this season? It will all be decided by the right arm of Josh Beckett. He is the epicenter of what will be a season changing game for the Boston Red Sox. When you compare these two teams position by position, it is a wash. Tampa does have a slight edge based on the current effectiveness of their bats, but Boston’s experience and the after effects of game five make it a wash. Beckett is the difference maker. If he is able to round back into form, you have to remember that this guy has been one of the best post-season pitchers in recent history, he will put the Sox over the top. I know Beckett has not pitched well this post-season, but the Red Sox have had some real post-season magic in recent years. Whether it be Curt Schilling and the bloody sock, or Dave Roberts stolen base, or even the way David Ortiz always seems to put this team on his back and carry them when it seems improbable, the Red Sox seem to find a hero when they need to, regardless of that players’ previous performances, role or injuries. Now, Beckett does not need to be dominant, he just needs to be good. If

Continue reading "Game Six is Game Seven"

Tom Caron just said that a little while ago on the Carlson and Mackenzie show.  He couldn’t be more right.  Although last night’s game was long, frustrating, and exhausting, now things are getting exciting.  We’re one game away from advancing, yet this isn’t something we can take for granted.  And to be quite honest, we should have had last night’s game.  So now I’m writing at 8:00am, a little more tired than I would have liked to be.  A five hour game is something we usually don’t see unless we’re playing the Yankees in the Championship Series (yeah that made me laugh a little too). And with all that being said, I'm a little frustrated after last night.  

Continue reading ""We got ourselves a series""

was simply bested by the Red Sox pitchers.  Last year, Lackey had the dubious honor of facing Josh Beckett in game one of the ALDS, who pitched a complete game, four hit shutout in front of a raucous Fenway Park crowd.

Continue reading "Same as it Ever Was"

e mid-August and with Mike Lowell looking like he needs a walker to get around, not to mention with Josh Beckett battling what can become one of the most nagging and lingering injuries in sports (the dreaded oblique). And yet my feelings of doom are assuaged slightly by the fact that the big man has been tearing the cover off the ball lately.

Continue reading "After my bedtime"

in a virtual tie for first place, looking to move into first place for the first time in 2 months. Josh Beckett started today looking to get his 13th win of the season, a season which has been a down one by his standards as he won 20 games last season. He would face Andy Sonnanstine in what would be one of the most important games for the Red Sox and Rays this season.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/16"

A win tomorrow would fix that. Josh Beckett goes tomorrow for the Red Sox against the Rays' Andy Sonnanstine as the Red Sox look to regain their rightful place atop the AL East for the first ti

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/15"

Lost in the shuffle of Matt Cassel beating Brett Favre in the most hyped Week 2 game in years around these parts on Sunday afternoon, Jon Lester continued his march toward becoming a truly elite pitcher by outdueling a man largely respected as perhaps the best hurler in the AL, in a game the Sox needed to have. Any question marks that surrounded Lester at the All-Star break have been officially converted into exclamation points. In fact, pencil him in for Game 2 right now - it doesn't matter who we are playing or what Daisuke's record ends up being ... Lester's earned the spot right behind Beckett in the playoff rotation.

Continue reading "Q & A ... well, at least some Qs"

Game 2 will be on Tuesday and featured Josh Beckett against Andy Sonnanstine and the series will wrap on Wednesday with Tim Wakefield and Matt Garza.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/14"

Both sides, Andy Sonnanstine for the Rays, and Josh Beckett for the Red Sox, pitched great games and the offenses just kept leaving guys on base. The two teams combined to leave 29 men on base in the game. Is that lack of clutch hitting or just plain clutch pitching? I don't know. Maybe it was a little bit of both.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/11"

in.

Game 3 is the rubber match tomorrow night, once again in Boston, as Andy Sonnanstine takes on Josh Beckett. That game has a 7:05 start time and will be on ESPN Wednesday Night Baseball. T

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/9"

Game 2 features Daisuke Matsuzaka (16-2) against Scott Kazmir (11-6), while game 3 has Josh Beckett (12-9) scheduled for the Sox against the Rays' Andy Sonnanstine (13-7).

As for injuries, th

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/7"

Helping the cause is the return of Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett. Lowell started at 3rd for the first time in over 3 weeks and Beckett made his first start since his return from the DL as well.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/5"

The Red Sox will send Josh Beckett to the mound tomorrow against the Rangers in his first start since returning from the disabled list. Those are kind of rough conditions for Beckett to return to as he has to face that Major League leading Rangers offense in Arlington, a noted hitters’ park. However, the Red Sox have had the Rangers’ number this season, beating them in all 6 meetings.  

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/4"

beaten all 6 times they have met this season including a thrilling 19-17 win in Fenway last month. Josh Beckett goes for them on Friday, as he makes his first start since returning from the disabled list. Mike Lowell is also scheduled to return sometime that series as will Youkilis. With Drew returning next week, this team should be full strength heading for the stretch run which is bad news for the Rays.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/3"

eal that brought him here? Wait, we already gave the Braves someone? And it wasn't Julio Lugo?

6) Josh Beckett's X-ray came back clean. I am now going to step down from the Tobin Bridge.

7)

Continue reading "Law and Order"

all you man!

Keep the Faith Red Sox Nation! I know you will. 

Post game notes:

-Josh Beckett:  Beckett’s next start will be pushed back again, as the tingling fee

Continue reading "Despite all our injuries, Red Sox Nation believes"

After a horrific weekend against the Jays, the Sox are back in a groove.  They've taken the first two games against the Orioles and are thereby keeping a tight grip on the lead in the wild card r

Continue reading "Good News and Bad News"

t some insurance runs in the top of the inning (as well as the top of the next inning). 

-Josh Beckett:  Beckett’s next start will be pushed back until next Tuesday, accord

Continue reading "Game 1 - Sox win"

They're 2-6 against them on the season. Great! Does anyone know what was Josh Beckett's problem yesterday? Doesn't he realize after the outstanding numbers he put up last year that it's strictly against the rules to suck on any ocassion? Who didn't include him in on that memo? Also, Paul Byrd, your performance has caused me to not make any concrete judgments on you. I'll analyze you at a later date.

Continue reading "THE BLUE JAYS AREN'T GOOD."

In two days we've seen a total of 27 runs and 29 hits.. by just one team. What do we attribute this to? The Red Sox have finally found the perfect offensive line up? Yes, just about as perfect as Alicia Sacramone's beam and floor routine last night.  The Rangers' horrible pitching? I'm sure it deserves some credit. Hitter friendly Fenway Park? We all know what the Sox are capable of at their home field.

Continue reading "Helloooo Offense!"

What would we do without Josh Beckett?  I’ll tell you one thing – we sure wouldn’t have gone 8 innings seeing the White Sox get 7 hits, 1 run, and 8 strikeouts, not to mention zero walks.  He really had his stuff last night, and it showed.  It’s too bad because Danks really deserved a win last night with his outing (7+ IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 9 K).  But that’s way it goes sometimes.  Last month Beckett had a very similar start to last night’s game, where he went 8 innings giving up only a run.  But he was beat by Joba Chamberlain, who didn’t give up any runs. 

Continue reading "Just give up already – you’re ..."

mention he is undefeated on the road with a 5-0 record.   

There is no doubt that Josh Beckett is struggling this year (you can read my article “Very UnBeckettesque) but Matsuzaka and the young crew, even the knuckleballer (my favorite Red Sox pitcher) Tim Wakefield, are pitching well.   

Continue reading "Has Dice-K Boded Well?"

The title says it all. 

What a great game for the Sox!  Last night was another one of those nights where I couldn’t wait to fall asleep (not until after the game ended, of course) but I can honestly say that I went to bed happy. 

Continue reading "Now THAT'S the road game we've been waiting for!"

Remember last postseason when Josh Beckett was making three of the best teams in Major League Baseball look like the Bad News Bears? It was right about then everyone anointed him the anchor of the Boston pitching staff and forecasted a shelf or two full of Cy Young trophies.

Continue reading "Ladies and Gentlemen, Jon Lester ..."

ndy Johnson ($15.1M)Mike Hampton ($15.975M, courtesy of his monster Rockies deal) John Smoltz ($14M)Josh Beckett ($10.1M)Carlos Zambrano ($16M)Mark Buehrle ($14M)Javier Vazquez ($11.5M)Jose Contreras ($10M)CC Sabathia ($11M)Jake Westbrook ($10M)Roy Oswalt ($13M Gil Meche ($11.4M) Jon Garland ($12M)Jason Schmidt ($15.2M) Derek Lowe ($10M)Ben Sheets ($10.1M)Johan Santana ($16.9M)Pedro Martinez ($11.8M)Andy Pettitte ($16M)Mike Mussina ($11M)Carl Pavano ($11M)Matt Morris ($10M)Greg Maddux ($10M) Barry Zito ($14.5M)Chris Carpenter ($10.5M)Vincente Padilla ($11M)Kevin Millwood ($10.3M) AJ Burnett ($13.2M)Roy Halladay ($10M)

Continue reading "Washburn's Farewell"

So can we please talk about Jason Giambi's mustache for a second? First the guy admits to wearing a gold thong when he needs to break out of a slump (it's hard to imagine that's all he's "breaking out of" in that kind of attire). And now he goes ahead and grows a full-out, mid-80s, Magnum PI mustache. Add these two nuggets to the fact that he's one of the 3 sweatiest humans on the planet, and that he's a New York Yankee, and you have the grossest person in America. Ever. Period.

Continue reading "Now playing first base for the New ..."

And things started well today, as he hit a leadoff double off Boston’s ace Josh Beckett, later scoring on A-Rod’s two-run double. Giambi knocked in A-Rod with a sac fly, and now it was the Red Sox looking at an early deficit.

Continue reading "More Bad Yankee Luck"

Friday afternoon's game pits Darrell Rasner, 4-6, 4.42 against Josh Beckett, 7-5, 3.65; late Saturday afternoon will find Mike Mussina, 10-6, 3.87 pitching against Justin Masterson, 4-2, 3.75. The series wraps up as ESPN's Sunday night game with Joba Chamberlain, 2-2, 2.22 facing the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, 5-6, 3.72.

Continue reading "A slump headed into Yankee Stadium...."

Very unBeckettesqueSince Boston Red Sox’ number one ace Josh Beckett came back from his lower back injury, he has not been himself.  His record is (5-3), he has an ERA of 4.67 and a WHIP of 1.09 however, he does have fifty-six strikeouts.During his first campaign with the Red Sox he had terrible outings, his second stint with the Red Sox was pure genius and now his third outing has been a mix.  The reason why he has gotten most of his wins is because of the offense.Maybe

Continue reading "Very UnBeckettesque"

/>Starting Pitching: They have experience, talented and promising starters in their rotation.  Josh Beckett has been the club’s ace since coming off a tumultuous first season with the Sox.  Curt Schilling is a clutch performer come playoffs time and deserves earning free money while being on the DL because; well...he has earned it.  Daisuke Matzusaka has been paying off the $100 million this season so far by winning six games not to mention the strikeouts he has been getting.  Tim Wakefield is his old knuckle-balling self with getting a decision every time he pitches.  At the back end of the rotation is promising, more so than the New York Yankees future pitching in Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes.  Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson will be key pitchers within five years.  Starting pitching is not the problem.Relief Pitching: Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon are the top guys in the relief positions however, even though we would love them to pitch every night, that’s just not possible.  Who can fill in for those guys?  Well thankfully not Eric Gagne anymore!  The Red Sox have some up and comers in Manny Delcarmen, Erich Hull and Craig Hansen but the one that is really getting on in years and is giving up the long ball too much is Mike Timlin who was key to the 2004 World Series run.  Relief pitching, with a couple of minor tweaks, is not the problem.

Continue reading "What else can the Red Sox do?"

and capped off the second series of the season by committing four errors during a game in which ace Josh Beckett looked very ordinary in his return to the mound. Since getting swept, however, Boston has won 5 of the next 7 against such projected American League powerhouses as the Yankees, Tigers and Indians. Little by little, the Red Sox that we saw win the World Series last season are coming back.

Continue reading "Red Sox Should Feel Good About The Season So Far"

air can only be seen as trying to injure another player.

Red Sox fans shouldn’t panic over Josh Beckett’s recent back problems. Reports seem to indicate that the problem is entirely muscular in nature and something that should resolve itself with rest and treatment, as opposed to a disc problem which could potentially require surgery. While this will set the ace righthander back in terms of preparing for the season and may even cause him to miss the first couple of weeks, there is no reason whatsoever to rush him back. The season is a marathon and Boston will need Beckett to be strong the whole way. Pushing him to be back by an arbitrary date such as Opening Day would be foolish and probably result in a recurring problem throughout the course of the season.

Continue reading "Yankees Playing Dirty . . . And Other ..."

it at this point in the season, which hasn’t actually started yet.

 

21-game winner Josh Beckett is the obvious ace of the staff, but his recent back injury aggravation is going to take him out of the entire trip to the far east. This isn’t exactly the best news we’ve heard since his (second) breakout season last year. Beckett’s injury issues, usually attributed to blisters on his finger, have been a red flag for him for most of his career.

Continue reading "Chewbacca to Start Opening Game in Japan"

Avoiding the news about Josh Beckett’s back has become something of a pastime lately. It's kind of like going to the doctor: even though you know it's irresponsible, you find yourself putting it off, as if not knowing somehow means there can't be anything wrong with you. Of course, that's the line of reasoning that ends with you figuring out that you've had Bolivian Gonnorhea since your semester abroad in 2003, or in this case,  finally breaking down and reading the following headline: " Beckett to Miss Japan MLB Opener." That's bad news for Red Sox fans-

Continue reading "Suggestions For Josh Beckett's Back"

beraSS Carlos GuillenC Joe MauerOF Tori HunterOF Grady SizemoreOF Magglio OrdonezUTIL David OrtizSP Josh BeckettSP John LackeySP Justin VerlanderCLOSER Jonathon Papelbon

AL BATTING CHAMP

Ichiro Suzuki

Continue reading "2008 Major League Baseball Preview: ..."

of adjustments for Dice-K especially adapting to a new culture as well as American League hitters. Josh Beckett also struggled his first year in the American League but he made adjustments the second time around and was one of the most dominant pitchers in the game last season. If Dice-K can similarly adjust and cut down on the walks, Boston will have an absolutely lethal 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation.

Continue reading "Boston Red Sox Spring Training Stories To Follow"

core of any team looking to compete effectively in the major leagues is the pitching staff and with Josh Beckett and Dice-K as the Sox' 1-2 punch in the rotation, things are already looking good. Beckett ended up second in last year's Cy Young voting and, of course, went 4-0 in the post-season with a 1.20 ERA. Dice-K (Daisuke Matsuzaka) didn't have the 'super season' that management expected when they paid all those millions; first, just for the right to talk to him and then, with his contract, but he did end up winning 15 games and getting those 201 strikeouts. Expect him to have gotten over his 'cultural' adjustments and improve on that record. Then there's Schilling, who's heading into the proverbial twilight of his career (he's said that he'll retire after this season, but can you say 'Clemens'?). He seems to have figured out how to make adjustments that continue to make him a threat to opposing batters. And knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who won two more games than Dice-K last year, will be back. Rumors are that he'll play until he's about 65. There'll be a struggle for the fifth position in the rotation with lefty Jon Lester and right-hander Clay Buchholz leading the pack.

Continue reading "Getting closer"