SarroSports

8/20/2008 5:17 pm

During the 2007 season, the Red Sox rode their ace to a 20-7 record along with four more wins coming in post-season play. The 2008 season has not seen the same success from Josh Beckett, boasting an 11-9 record with a 4.34 ERA. After a season of ups and downs, the Sox starter thought he had turned a corner, winning his last two starts against the White Sox and Royals. In those games, Beckett pitched a combined 14 2/3 innings, allowing only three earned runs while punching out 15. This led Red Sox nation to be very encouraged by the recent success of their top three starters. With Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka’s combined record standing at 27 wins and a measly 6 loses, one would think the Red Sox would have a comfortable lead in the American League East.

Reality struck in a bad way for both the Red Sox and Beckett last Sunday, to a tune of eight earned runs in 2 1/3 innings at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. Beckett’s pitches had little movement and most were down the middle of the plate, something that the Sox ace isn’t used to. An outing like this naturally brought questions about Beckett’s health the following day, but the Red Sox were quick to dismiss the notion that the 28 year old Texan had been feeling discomfort.

Fast forward 24 hours and the news on Josh Beckett’s health drastically changed in the form of an ailment that no Red Sox fan wants to hear. The pitcher termed the problem, “numbness in his pitching hand”. Maybe this doesn’t sound like a big deal, but considering this is the same ailment that temporarily derailed the career of David Cone, Red Sox nation should be at the least a little worried.

Asked if the injury affected the pitchers outing on Sunday, Sox manager Terry Francona stated, “Probably a little bit. It probably didn’t help his location. Somebody asked me if he was healthy and I don’t want to lie. Its not something were concerned about.” After running Beckett through a series of tests, the Sox have ruled out circulatory problems or an aneurysm. If we are to take what the Sox brass is saying as accurate, I wouldn’t expect the Sox ace to miss too much time.

With Beckett scratched from the weekend, the Sox will move both Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka up a day in a three game series against Toronto. The expectation is to see Beckett back in action Tuesday in Yankee Stadium opposing Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees. If all goes well for Beckett the rest of the season, the Sox have a rotation that matches up against any opponent in the post-season throwing Beckett, Dice-K, and Lester, a very dangers threesome in any series. This puts Boston in great position to battle against any team in the American league including the Angles big three of John Lackey, Joe Saunders, and Ervin Santana. The White Sox would throw Mark Buehrle, John Danks, and Gavin Floyd. Also the American League East leading Rays would have Scott Kazmir, James Shields, and Matt Garza at their disposal.

With a healthy Beckett, the Sox look to be in good shape coming down the home stretch of the season and into the playoffs. If he misses significant time at any point from here on out, Boston is looking at an uphill battle in a very potent American League.

-Sarro