Josh Beckett News: Pro Sports Daily

Comment

October 10

Boston Herald

columnist Sean McAdam

"It wasn't that long ago that Josh Beckett was regarded as the game's best Big Game Pitcher, the heir apparent to the crown jointly shared by John Smoltz and Curt Schilling for many of the last 15 years. He was a World Series MVP in 2003 and was positively unbeatable in the Red Sox run to their second title in 2007, and as he entered the prime of his career, seemed born for October, made for the big moment. Remember? But 2007 seems like a long time ago now, far longer than two short years ago. Beckett took the mound at Angel Stadium last night, trying to pitch the Red Sox back into their Division Series. But things got worse instead of better. For six innings, Beckett checked the Angels on ..."

Josh Beckett fuels big concerns

Comment

October 9

Boston Herald

columnist Steve Buckley

"For sheer comedy, nothing beats the porridge being ladled out about how the Red Sox have two No. 1 starters for the postseason. We're talking Jon Lester and Josh Beckett, 1A and 1B, the Frick and Frack of the starting rotation. But while it sounds nice - Wow! Two No. 1 starters! - the reality is something different. Lester, by virtue of the fact he was on the mound for last night's Division Series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, is No. 1. And Beckett, who goes tonight, is No. 2. It's impossible to argue with the math. It's not like the Sox were in some last-day-of-the-regular-season, down-and-dirty, go-for-broke, must-win game to make the playoffs, necessitating a start by Beckett ..."

Lester, Beckett provide new 1-2 punch

Comment

October 5

Boston Globe

"Throughout much of the season - with the exception of the seven-out start in which he got nailed by a line drive against the Yankees - Jon Lester has been the ace of the Red Sox staff. More than that, Lester has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, author of a brilliant stretch beginning at the end of May that solidified a standing made clear by a dominant 2008. That position was made official yesterday as the Red Sox announced their postseason rotation for the first three games of the American League Division Series against the Angels. Lester will start Game 1, ahead of Josh Beckett, in a move that has much to do with his ability to bounce back if needed, but also much to do with ..."

Cortisone shots help get Beckett back to work

Comment

October 4

Boston Globe

"When Josh Beckett was scratched from his last start, slowed by back spasms, the memories of last season's end crept in. It was then that the pitcher, fashioned as one of the all-time best postseason pitchers, endured a rough end. Three poor postseason starts lasted a total of 14 1/3 innings and featured an 8.79 ERA. The injury crippled the Sox, turning a team that could have overturned the Rays into one left watching the World Series. And, now, Beckett appeared to be hurting again."

Amid this messy ending, there are things to tidy up

Comment

October 1

Boston Globe

"The last five days of the 2009 season. Who cares? Josh Beckett cares, because he'll pitch Saturday to show his bosses that his sore back won't be a problem in the playoffs. Jon Lester cares, because in his start tonight, he needs to alleviate fears about the contusion he sustained on his quadriceps when Melky Cabrera's liner hit him last Friday night."

Good news on Red Sox's injury front

Comment

September 30

MLB.com

"As they continue to get their house in order leading into the postseason, the Red Sox had a plethora of positive developments on the injury front before Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays. Ace Josh Beckett, a day after missing his start against the Jays because of mild muscle spasms in his upper back, declared himself good to go for his final tune-up start before the postseason on Saturday night against the Indians. "Absolutely, I think I'll make my next start," said Beckett. "I think if I had to, I don't think we're going to need this, but I could go sooner than Saturday. I think right now, we're just kind of looking at Saturday to hopefully set things up." And Beckett made it clear ..."

Beckett's outlook appears optimistic

Comment

September 30

Boston Globe

"Even with the memory of last season's injury-marred playoffs, and after having woken up with back spasms before his scheduled start Monday, Josh Beckett yesterday said he anticipated no further issues with his back. He appeared optimistic about his chances to pitch during the rest of the regular season, and the postseason. "Absolutely, I think I'll make my next start,'' Beckett said. "I think if I had to I could probably - I don't think we're going to need this - but I could go sooner if I needed to than Saturday. I think right now we're just kind of looking at Saturday to hopefully set things up.''"

Josh Beckett's next shot

Comment

September 30

Boston Herald

"Josh Beckett received three partial cortisone injections in his troublesome back Monday, but expects to make his next start Saturday. The procedure, which was first reported by WBZ, was considered to be a minor one. Beckett received small amounts of cortisone in trigger points around the muscle in his upper left back that had spasmed, forcing him to be scratched from his scheduled Monday start. The injections are the only cortisone shots the right-hander has received this season. The procedure is standard for the type of injury, according to a team source, and not considered a danger because the cortisone is injected into muscle, not cartilage. Beckett said before last night's 8-7 loss to ..."

Some good news on this pair of aces

Comment

September 29

Boston Globe

"Although Josh Beckett was scratched last night because of back spasms and Jon Lester was struck in the quad by a line drive Friday night at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox remain positive about the probability that both pitchers will be healthy once the postseason begins. Manager Terry Francona said yesterday that the upper left side of Beckett's back stiffened Sunday night as the team returned from New York and they thought it best to hold him out and start rookie Michael Bowden. "On the plane last night he tried to get comfortable and didn't,'' Francona said of Beckett during his pregame chat with reporters. "I think he thought he'd wake up, take a hot shower and go about his business. When ..."

Josh Beckett out with injury

Comment

September 29

Boston Herald

"Josh Beckett was scratched from last night's scheduled start against the Toronto Blue Jays with mild spasms in his upper back that may sideline him through the weekend. Beckett had trouble getting comfortable during the flight home from New York on Sunday and awoke yesterday feeling no better. He called manager Terry Francona, who replaced him with Michael Bowden. "He's been feeling it," Francona said. "Again, this time of year, guys feel a lot. On the plane he tried to get comfortable and couldn't. He thought he could wake up, take a hot shower and go about his business. When that didn't happen he called me, and it wasn't a real difficult decision." Francona said the Red Sox probably will ..."

Red Sox bounce back

Comment

September 24

Boston Herald

"After beginning this week-long series on the road with a pair of underwhelming starts and surprising losses, the Red Sox lifted their lonely eyes to Josh Beckett last night. Beckett, with Victor Martinez catching and David Ortiz dealing, met the gaze and stared down the Royals. The right-hander did allow a season-high 12 hits, but he held the Royals to two runs in the 9-2 Red Sox victory. Ortiz, who had an RBI in the Red Sox' six-run fifth, got three more when he jacked a home run in the ninth inning. He tied his season high with the four RBI by blasting his 25th homer of the season. The joint effort brought the Red Sox one game closer to a playoff berth, shrinking their magic number to ..."

In postseason preview, Victor Martinez catches Josh Beckett

Comment

September 24

Boston Herald

columnist Sean McAdam

"For the first time since Aug. 18, the Red Sox lineup last night featured Victor Martinez catching Josh Beckett. Last time, it was born of necessity. Last night, it was done very much with a purpose. "Just trying to cover everything," manager Terry Francona said prior to his club's 9-2 win against the Kansas City Royals. "If we get to a certain point in the year, I just think we kind of owe it to us to be able to. I'd hate to get to some point in the season and go, I wish I would have thought of this. We've obviously thought about it a little bit. Just want to kind of cover all the bases." There's more to it than that, of course. This is not about late-season experiments or change for ..."

Beckett regaining form

Comment

September 13

Boston Globe

"Josh Beckett, because of his startling ineffectiveness, had already waited nearly two weeks to reclaim the dominance typically attached to his late fall. Last night nature provided an extra, two-hour impediment. Before Beckett threw his first pitch, rain converted his routine into randomness. He sat around the clubhouse, where the Red Sox watched college football for most of the afternoon, and waited for the game to begin."

Beckett pours it back on

Comment

September 13

Boston Globe

"The curse came in the form of a giant white tarp, the one that spent most of the day on the field, and the one that mercifully ended the game early as the rain poured down. That, of course, came after the Red Sox poured it on, making Tampa Bay, a team that had once been a favorite to make the postseason, look like a team ready for golf games in October."

Staff ace shows signs of old self

Comment

September 13

Boston Herald

"Six days ago, Josh Beckett went out and gave up three runs in seven innings against the Chicago White Sox. He took the loss, but this didn't stop a lot of upbeat Red Sox folk from looking past the 'L' and focus instead on the joyous news that, hey, at least Beckett wasn't shelled. Remember his four starts before the Chicago outing? Beckett was bad, as in 0-2 with an 8.88 ERA bad. He gave up 12 home runs in 24 innings. To put that in perspective, consider that in 2007, when he went 20-7 and was a Cy Young Award contendah, Beckett gave up only 17 home runs the entire season. So, yeah, when he lost to the White Sox six days ago and didn't surrender a single home run in doing so, it was party ..."

Beckett, Red Sox make short work of Rays

Comment

September 13

Boston Herald

"It took the Rays and Red Sox more than two hours just to start last night's rain-delayed game. And then the Red Sox acted like they didn't want it to end. With the offense exploding against an increasingly hapless Rays pitching staff, the Red Sox rode an eight-run third and Josh Beckett's first strong start in a month to a 9-1 demolition shortened to five innings by the rain. The victory extended the Sox' wild card lead to three games over the Rangers, who lost to Seattle last night. The Sox-Rays game included three hours of delays - two hours and five minutes to start when barely a drop fell from the sky, and then 55 minutes at 11 p.m. when the floodgates opened. "It wasn't ideal," said ..."

Josh Beckett's bad 3rd costs Red Sox

Comment

September 8

Boston Herald

"Josh Beckett is not big on silver linings. And make excuses for him at your own peril, because he hates those, too. But even Beckett had to be encouraged by the way he threw yesterday after a series of poor starts. The White Sox seized upon one bad inning to touch him for three runs en route to a 5-1 victory, but otherwise the erstwhile ace looked more like his old self than he has in quite some time. "It's tough to look at that way," Beckett said. "We need to win ballgames right now. That's what everybody in this room gets paid to do. We didn't win today." In truth, the loss had less to do with Beckett and more to do with the offense's inability to capitalize against White Sox ace Mark ..."

Red Sox in good mood

Comment

September 4

Boston Herald

columnist John Tomase

"Don't look now, but the Red Sox [team stats] are suddenly one of the best teams in baseball again. The offense is humming. By and large, the starting pitching has been pretty good, and projects to get even better when Josh Beckett [stats] rights the ship. The bullpen boasts half a dozen guys with closer stuff. Last night all of the above was on display in a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field that virtually knocked the hosts out of the wild card race while reinforcing the notion that the Sox are picking a good time to start playing their best baseball of the year. "I like our spot right now," said left fielder Jason Bay, who drove in a pair of runs. "There's still a ..."

Josh Beckett better after early struggle

Comment

September 3

Boston Herald

"By now, it should be obvious: The Josh Beckett Reclamation Project will not be completed overnight. It's been four starts now since Beckett has been Beckett. From May 1 through the middle of August, he was as good as any starter in the league, so good that in nearly half of his starts (8-of-18) in that span, he didn't allow so much as an earned run. After that? It's as if someone snatched his stuff and replaced it with just another guy, a guy with an 8.88 ERA. The low point came on Aug. 23 when he got hammered for five home runs by the Yankees. Come to think of it, the next start - which included five walks, four with two outs - wasn't much better. Last night offered a small step forward, ..."

John Farrell: Josh Beckett's woes mechanical

Comment

August 25

Boston Herald

"Having spent the last month trying to patch and fill the back end of their starting rotation, the last thing the Red Sox needed was a problem with their ace. Josh Beckett was thumped for eight runs Sunday night, allowing a career-worst five homers to the New York Yankees. In his last two starts, Beckett has been bashed for 15 runs in 13 1/3 innings while yielding a staggering eight homers. During a season in which the Sox already have overcome injuries and underperformance, a downturn by Beckett is something they can't survive. Losing Daisuke Matsuzaka or Tim Wakefield is one thing; not having Beckett at his best is entirely something else. Surely, a healthy Beckett last October would have ..."

Yankees club Josh Beckett, take series

Comment

August 24

Boston Herald

"The Pitching Matchup of the Century lasted as long as it took Josh Beckett to throw one pitch. And then it became just another easy Yankees victory. With Beckett producing his second straight poor start and Yankees counterpart CC Sabathia doing enough to keep the Red Sox at bay, the Yankees took the rubber match of their three-game series with an 8-4 victory that dropped the Red Sox 7 ½ games out of first in the AL East. Beckett allowed runs in each of the first five innings. His undoing was the long ball. He allowed a career-worst five home runs - to Derek Jeter leading off the game, and then Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Matsui again. Those blasts undid what was ..."

Josh Beckett falls short of big-game rep

Comment

August 24

Boston Herald

"After Josh Beckett was lit up to the tune of seven runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays last Tuesday at Rogers Centre, he refused to sign off on the glittering array of excuses that were placed at his feet. Remember? His pregame routine had been spoiled, with Jason Varitek being pulled from the lineup because of neck spasms. He was working with newcomer Victor Martinez for the first time. The Red Sox were without pitching coach John Farrell, who had returned home to Cleveland on family business. The Stat Police were brought into the discussion, pointing out that Beckett was 14-2 with a 2.52 ERA with 'Tek behind the dish, as opposed to an 0-2 record and 11.25 ERA with either ..."

Once strong pitching rotation is now spoiling Boston's playoff chances

Comment

August 24

New York Daily News

"The Red Sox are dealing with a serious issue at a very bad time. Their rotation has become unreliable as they head into a stretch where they play 11 of 14 games against teams in contention for a playoff spot. Boston's schedule after Sept. 7 is relatively soft, with only one road series against a team with a winning record - the Yankees on Sept. 25-27. Before things get easier, however, there are four home games with the White Sox, four road games with the Chisox and three road games with Tampa, which is 8-4 against Boston this season. How the Red Sox play the next two weeks may determine if they make the postseason. "There's still time left," Jason Bay said Sunday night of closing the ..."

Yankees Celebrate Bad Day for Beckett

Comment

August 24

New York Times

"The Yankees have seen Josh Beckett at his best, and now they have seen him at his worst. In their final game at Fenway Park this season - until a possible playoff date, anyway - the Yankees stung their nemesis for five home runs Sunday night. The result was an 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox for C. C. Sabathia, who leads the majors with 15 wins. Beckett had fired 16 scoreless innings against the Yankees before Sunday, and he shut them out for Florida in the Yankees' last World Series appearance, in 2003. But he had never before allowed five home runs. "Beckett is a great pitcher, but this lineup is unbelievable," said Sabathia, who threw 80 of his 118 pitches for strikes. "I've had ..."

CC Sabathia and Red Sox's Josh Beckett are set for duel in finale

Comment

August 23

New York Daily News

"CC Sabathia would like nothing better than to take away one of the potential choices Joe Girardi will face tonight when the former Cy Young winner starts the finale of the Yankees' three-game series at Fenway. "I'm trying to get deeper in the game with a lower pitch count so Joe doesn't have to make a tough decision come the seventh or eighth inning," Sabathia said. If any Yankee can do that, it's the lefty ace. Not only has he pitched into the seventh inning or beyond 21 times in his 26 starts this season, he's also on one of his typical August hot streaks, so he's pitching well enough to go deep. Entering his start tonight against Red Sox ace Josh Beckett, Sabathia has won 10 ..."

Sox hope Beckett continues to be armed force

Comment

August 19

Boston Globe

"Back in spring training, before Josh Beckett had proven anything in regards to his 2009 season, they could see it. The way he had trained, the lack of injury, the way the ball made that reassuring popping noise when hitting the catcher's mitt. So manager Terry Francona and pitching coach John Farrell said it: the Beckett who arrived amid the palm trees and lackluster competition of the Grapefruit League was the same one who, back in 2007, dominated the American League."

Sox hope Beckett continues to be armed force

Comment

August 18

Boston Globe

"Back in spring training, before Josh Beckett had proven anything in regards to his 2009 season, they could see it. The way he had trained, the lack of injury, the way the ball made that reassuring popping noise when hitting the catcher's mitt. So manager Terry Francona and pitching coach John Farrell said it: the Beckett who arrived amid the palm trees and lackluster competition of the Grapefruit League was the same one who, back in 2007, dominated the American League."

On the growl

Comment

August 13

Boston Globe

"For months now, the agony has outweighed that long-ago memory of the ecstasy. It has been strikeouts, and fly balls, and ground outs. Hits have been few. Home runs and RBIs have been fewer. And just when Jason Bay began to feel right, the bat making contact in just the right manner with just the right sound and just the right result, Bay found himself cramping up and out of the lineup for three of the most important games of the season. He crept back to Fenway Park, no longer wounded in body, though his spirits still lagged. Something had switched on against Tampa Bay, on that home run that came a week ago, and that switch has remained on since. Through his injury timeout, Bay maintained ..."

Burnett, Beckett Throw Matching Masterpieces

Comment

August 8

New York Post

"Thursday night was soft- pitch softball. Last night was the playoffs. A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett brought a touch of late October to early August. If this were, say, Game 1 of the ALCS, this would even now be an Instant Classic. Instead, we will have to settle for a darn entertaining -- and long -- night in the history of The Rivalry. The former Marlins teammates exchanged frames throwing zeroes and playing hero. After the unbecoming events of the previous evening, Burnett and Beckett served as overpowering erasers to the lingering bad memories. Neither earned a decision in the game while authoring decisive works of art. But both starters stayed in the dugouts to watch another Red ..."

Josh Beckett locked in

Comment

August 2

Boston Herald

"For a while there, the thought of having Roy Halladay join a Red Sox rotation already headed by Josh Beckett was as tantalizing as it gets. With Halladay still a Blue Jay, the reality for the Red Sox is that once every five days they have an ace just as dominating. As Beckett proved once again last night with his seven shutout innings in a 4-0 victory over the Orioles, a start by him is the closest thing to a lock the Sox have this season. "I like that on my day they feel we should win, and we've done a pretty good job about that this year," said Beckett, who spread out his six hits and two walks, and struck out five. "A lot of the credit goes to them." Strong defense was a big part of ..."

Beckett Blanks Baltimore For 13th Win of the Season

Comment

August 2

Washington Post

"Orioles rookie right-hander David Hernandez learned how difficult it was to face the Boston Red Sox twice in such a short period of time. But it was Baltimore's offense that received the biggest education on Saturday night at Camden Yards, courtesy of an all-star pitcher who was on top of his game. Right-hander Josh Beckett threw seven shutout innings, and the Red Sox continued their dominance over the Orioles with a 4-0 victory in front of 49,384, the largest crowd at Camden Yards this season and the fourth largest in the park's 17-year-history. Relying primarily on a mid- to upper-90s fastball and a sharp curveball, Beckett allowed just six hits and struck out five in becoming the ..."

Josh Beckett, bats take control

Comment

July 28

Boston Herald

"Smack in the middle of the softest portion of their schedule - back-to-back-to-back series against the last-place Orioles, Athletics and O's again - the second-place Red Sox need to be pummeling their foes right now. Last night, Josh Beckett and a revived offense did just that, putting the A's in their place, 8-3, at Fenway Park. The Red Sox took the opener of a four-game set against a team that arrived in town with a wan .423 winning percentage to go with one of the worst offenses in the league and a young, still-learning pitching staff. The Sox, who won 2-of-3 against the Orioles to begin the homestand, had no trouble exploiting the visitors' weaknesses. Although the A's reached him late ..."

Beckett takes the blame

Comment

July 22

Boston Globe

"The Red Sox offense seemed an obvious culprit for last night's 4-2 loss. But while the teammates who had given him dismal support filed out of the clubhouse, Josh Beckett, the only pitcher the Sox needed, stood in front of his locker and demanded the blame. "This one definitely falls on me,'' he said. "I think the right person got the loss.'' Beckett fired his third complete game of the season, setting a career best, and allowed four runs on seven hits and striking out seven in eight innings. But for the first time this season following a Red Sox defeat, Beckett took the loss. After the game, as he buttoned his white shirt and clasped his "JB'' cufflinks, he focused on that fact. ..."

Josh Beckett finds the zone

Comment

July 17

Boston Herald

"When Josh Beckett departed Fenway Park [map] last Sunday to join the Red Sox' St. Louis-bound All-Star Game delegation, he brought his gloves, spikes, uniform and a piece of advice from manager Terry Francona that was practically stamped on the pitcher's forehead. "Be smart," said the manager, and then he repeated it: Be smart. Beckett didn't need to ask Francona to expand on the point, for the message was clear. Just that day, Beckett had thrown a complete-game shutout in the Red Sox' 6-0 victory over the Royals. It was about as breezy a performance a pitcher could hope for - he threw just 94 pitches and walked nobody - but it also meant Beckett would be working on one day's rest were he ..."

Beckett tries to mold Clay

Comment

July 16

Boston Herald

"Josh Beckett wants to see Clay Buchholz pitch well tomorrow night in his season debut in Toronto. Beckett has long had an interest in the fellow Texan, advising him on everything from setting up opposing hitters to learning how to be a professional to taking care of his body. "I want him to live up to some of the things that he's capable of doing," Beckett said. "I don't want him to have to go through injuries and stuff like that to learn. I know I had to do that. Anytime you can catch things before they happen, that's good." Beckett said his advice for the 24-year-old Buchholz is simple. "To me, an executed pitch that gets someone out at Triple A is going to get someone out in the big ..."

Smart money on short stint

Comment

July 14

Boston Globe

"When Josh Beckett left for the All-Star Game, manager Terry Francona had some parting words for him: "Be smart.'' Because Beckett pitched a shutout Sunday for the Red Sox on the final day before the break, the last thing the manager wanted his ace to do was too much. "I'm here and ready to pitch,'' Beckett said, adding that he could go an inning or two in tonight's game. "Probably just an inning, though. I'll see what Joe [Maddon] wants me to do.'' Kidded about what he would have to do if the game went 15 innings, as it did in 2008, Beckett said, "Then I'll have to throw three. Tito would be mad at me. He told me to be smart. That was the last thing he said to me. "They trust me. So it's ..."

Josh Beckett shows aces

Comment

July 13

Boston Herald

"Though it's becoming more and more of a distant memory with each start, there actually was a time this season when Josh Beckett was a question mark. Beckett scuffled in April, compiling a 2-2 record and 7.22 ERA in five starts, leaving some wondering where the ace that finished second in the 2007 Cy Young voting had gone. Those questions have all but disappeared, as Beckett has been lights out since the start of May. In his past 13 starts, the right-hander is 9-1 with a 2.14 ERA. Yesterday's start against Kansas City was just the latest installment in Beckett's brilliant campaign. The right-hander tossed a complete-game three-hitter to secure his 100th career win, 6-0, against the Royals ..."

Josh Beckett enters a work zone

Comment

July 12

Boston Herald

"The first half of the season ends today just the way it started, with Josh Beckett on the mound. It has been an eventful three-and-a-half months for the Red Sox ace. He beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day at Fenway Park before hitting an uncharacteristic rough patch for the rest of April. But those struggles (7.22 ERA) now feel like a lifetime ago. When Beckett takes the hill today, he'll do so as one of the hottest pitchers in the game. In his last 10 starts, he's gone 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA. The turnaround isn't the least bit surprising to his teammates. Even if fans and media make more of the "ace" designation than those in the clubhouse, Beckett shoulders a sense of responsibility ..."

Brewers: Braun savors star power

Comment

July 5

Wisconsin State Journal

"A year ago at this time, Ryan Braun was hitting the interview circuit as hard as he does fastballs that catch too much of the plate. Radio, TV, print - anything the Milwaukee Brewers' media relations staff set up to help the club's star left fielder drum up votes for the All-Star Game. And it worked, as Braun surged into a starting berth on the National League team for the first All-Star appearance of his young career. So why haven't you seen as much of Braun in the buildup to this year's Midsummer Classic? Simply put, he hasn't needed to. "I think the fans from the get-go have been obviously extremely supportive," said Braun, who is hitting .326 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs. "They've ..."

Josh Beckett's a believer

Comment

July 4

Boston Herald

columnist John Tomase

"The decision is obviously out of Josh Beckett [stats]'s hands, but if the Red Sox [team stats] starter had a say, Tim Wakefield [stats] would be an All-Star. As the team's ace, Beckett is in a weird spot. Based purely on performance, he's the most deserving All-Star on the starting staff. But if he makes the squad, it may squeeze out Wakefield, the 42-year-old knuckleballer who is bidding to become the second-oldest first-timer in All-Star Game history. "He's been a teammate of mine for four years, and I'd love to see him there," Beckett said yesterday. "It's not for me to make those decisions. I try not to let things I can't control eat up my time. We'll let the chips fall and see where ..."

Ace guts out impressive outing

Comment

June 27

Boston Herald

columnist Steve Buckley

"In the bottom of the seventh inning last night at Turner Field, the Red Sox' media relations folks ladled out this little tidbit: The last time a Sox pitcher submitted back-to-back, complete-game shutouts was in May of 1992, when Roger Clemens blanked the Kansas City Royals and California Angels. It was important information at the time, because out there on the mound stood Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett, closing in on his second consecutive complete-game shutout. And considering that Beckett's previous shutout was against these same Atlanta Braves, another historical query was submitted: When was the last time a Red Sox pitcher submitted consecutive complete-game shutouts against the ..."

Red Sox get creative while Josh Beckett does his thing

Comment

June 27

Boston Herald

"As if dealing with Josh Beckett on one of his patented runs wasn't enough, the Atlanta Braves were also up against a Red Sox team on a roll last night. The Sox managed just four runs off young starter Jair Jurrjens, but were creative in their accounting. The Sox used the long ball, an infield double, two balks, passed ball, a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to create a 4-1 win, getting high marks for efficiency. "Whatever gives us a chance to win," said David Ortiz, who slugged his eighth homer in the fifth to stake Beckett to a 1-0 lead. "When a team is playing good, you can't be making many mistakes out there because we'll take advantage of it. I've seen that a lot. That's how the games ..."

Beckett, Red Sox shut out Braves

Comment

June 21

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"After teeing off against struggling pitchers in their previous two games, the Braves ran into a far tougher hombre Friday night, a pitcher who has handled them with ease in recent years and been particularly hot lately. Care to guess how things went? Boston ace Josh Beckett had a masterful performance, throwing a five-hitter in a 3-0 win against the Braves at Fenway Park that spoiled the homecoming of former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe. "He pitched a great game," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of Beckett, who had seven strikeouts with no walks while improving to 5-0 with a 0.45 ERA in his past six starts against the Braves. "The story of the night was Beckett," said Lowe, who received a ..."

Can't knock him for one knockout

Comment

June 15

Boston Globe

columnist Bob Ryan

"You liked the Red Sox' chances before the game with Josh Beckett pitching, you liked it when he had a 4-1 lead, and you liked it again when he hit a tying home run after allowing a four-run inning. Well, I did, anyway. But this is why I would never, ever bet on a sporting event. I don't know if anyone has ever told you this, but the great thing about sport is that You Never Know. Some 15 hours after the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies by an 11-6 score, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Red Sox by an 11-6 score. Is that a source of fascination for numerologists? Perhaps. Does it mean anything in the Big Scheme Of Things? No. That is unless you think Beckett is going to ..."

Josh Beckett, Red Sox end strong run with loss in Philly

Comment

June 15

Boston Herald

"The moment Nick Green's home run hit the left field seats yesterday, Red Sox fans had every right to shut the TV and find something else to do. Josh Beckett had a 2-1 lead. The game was over. But despite what the last month has suggested, Beckett is indeed human. Following seven straight starts that seemed to grow increasingly more dominant, Beckett finally hit a rough patch yesterday, failing to hold a 4-1 lead and a 5-5 tie in an 11-6 loss to the Phillies. "It's just a damn shame," Beckett said. "Your team scores you six runs and you can't hold them to less than that, it's pretty horrible." The loss did little to diminish the accomplishments of the last two weeks. Starting June 2 in ..."

Beckett a mix master

Comment

June 10

Boston Globe

"The biggest compliment anyone could pay Josh Beckett would be this: He looks like he did in 2007. That was what the Red Sox had in mind entering this season. Get Beckett back to being dominant, showing no signs of the struggles he had in 2006 and 2008. It took a while, because in three consecutive starts in late April and early May, he allowed 10 hits each game. But things have changed dramatically; he's now allowed 15 hits in his last five starts, and that kick-butt aura has returned to his game. Last night, Beckett dominated in six innings of a 7-0 win over the Yankees, allowing one hit, two walks, and striking out eight before manager Terry Francona relieved him and saved a few bullets, ..."

Josh Beckett back in form

Comment

June 10

Boston Herald

"When, exactly, was it that Josh Beckett struggled? He did struggle this year, right? Were not there losses, no decisions, early exits? Wasn't there a time when his ERA looked like the weight of a new-born baby? Yet, now it all seems so vague, buried in the foggy past. We remember "one bad inning" in a rocky victory against the Orioles. A no-decision against the Yankees in which he allowed eight runs in five innings. A loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in which he didn't get out of the fifth. But to watch Josh Beckett pitch in his last four starts is to watch a man who surely fixed whatever was broken, or out of place, or off-kilter - call it what you will - earlier in the season. Remember the ..."

Rays' pick of Josh Hamilton over Josh Beckett is looking smarter 10 years later

Comment

June 1

St. Petersburg Times

columnist John Romano

"Josh Beckett or Josh Hamilton? Once, it was the only question that mattered in Tampa Bay. Two phenomenal talents, and one chance for the Devil Rays to get it right. Should they draft the smart-aleck pitcher from Texas, or the gee-whiz outfielder from North Carolina? Ten years later, it is obvious Tampa Bay put its faith in the wrong player. But 10 years from now, will that still be true? On the outside, he was noncommittal. Secretly, general manager Chuck LaMar was leaning toward Beckett. This was early in the process, long before a decision would have to be made. LaMar wanted to keep it to himself because he did not want anyone else in the organization to be influenced by what the ..."

Tosses a gem, and isn't tossed

Comment

May 29

Boston Globe

"It might have been a moment of weakness from Josh Beckett that prompted the histrionics in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it was his other 110 pitches yesterday that continued the Red Sox ace on an upward trajectory. It's a vital trajectory, too. With some starters - Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka - lacking, Beckett appears to have turned his season around over his last five starts. Beckett allowed just three hits in seven innings and struck out eight to up his record to 5-2 and lower his ERA to 4.60. He gave up a home run to Joe Crede in the second and walked four. "He threw a fastball to Crede that he didn't locate, but other than that I thought he repeated pitches," manager ..."

Josh Beckett a mystery

Comment

May 2

Boston Herald

"After five starts, Josh Beckett's performance this season remains something of a mystery. While his stuff has been strong, his results have been hugely disappointing. In 28 innings, Beckett has allowed 36 hits and 16 walks, for a staggering 52 baserunners in that span. His ERA, meanwhile, is a bloated 7.22. Manager Terry Francona and pitching coach John Farrell spent time yesterday trying to diagnose the problem. "I'm sure he's frustrated with the results," said Francona, "but from where we sit, he looks so strong, he just has to keep working and keep working so he can command his fastball a little better and not get in (as many) hitter's counts." Beckett appeared to be dominant in the ..."