Did we just get Beckett?

[RoyNHSox]

With a half season to use as a basis, I’m wondering what everyone’s opinion is with Beckett on two points:

 

1. How do you think he’s adjusted to pitching in the AL?

 

2. What kind of contract (if any) should the Sox offer him when his expires?

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

1. He can deffinitly pitch in the AL. People need to remember he is 25 years old.

 

2. Considering he has not had any injury issues the Red Sox would be wise to keep him around.

[riverside sluggers]

With a half season to use as a basis, I’m wondering what everyone’s opinion is with Beckett on two points:

 

1. How do you think he’s adjusted to pitching in the AL?

 

2. What kind of contract (if any) should the Sox offer him at the end of this season when his expires?

 

He has still some way to go to realize that AL lineups will be sitting on his fastball, just a matter of time. A flyball pitcher being dominant at Fenway Park is very encouraging.

 

He isnt a free agent until the end of the 2007 season so still time for Sox to evaluate him at what type of contract he deserves

[Papelbon58]

he has been tremendous at Fenway, if he can keep the home run ball down the rest of the season, I think he should be a top priority to re-sign

[RoyNHSox]

He isnt a free agent until the end of the 2007 season so still time for Sox to evaluate him at what type of contract he deserves

 

Thanks…I thought it was up at the end of this season. I’ll edit my other post.

[Cocos Disciples]

Definitely keep him around, he's been super at Fenway, which is where people said he would falter.

[riverside sluggers]

Definitely keep him around' date=' [b']he's been super at Fenway, which is where people said he would falter. [/b]

 

essence of Rivernator

[RedSoxRooter]

weei and espn are reporting it. Ramirez and an arm in trade for Lowell and Beckett.

 

I started this thread

[RoyNHSox]

I found this on Boston.com Ask Edes from earlier today. Good observation and insight on what happened tonight.

 

Does it look to you as though Josh Beckett--and Jason Varitek--seem to have a little too much confidence in the heater? To me Josh, no doubt encouraged by Jason, is reluctant to throw his curve or splitter (which I don't think he has) or other breaking ball. Beckett and Schilling lead the team in homers in part because they both rely heavily on the fastball. Schilling does a better job of spotting his, plus he throws more breaking balls. My opinion is that the fastball works best when the batters can't sit on it. But with Josh, they usually can.

Creighton Abrams, Springfield, Va.

 

A: Your observations regarding Beckett are quite valid. Beckett is coming to a new league, widely regarded as "the fastball league". He has not been able to simply blow away hitters in clutch situations as often as he was able to do in the National League, known as "the curveball league".

 

Terry seems confident that Beckett, who does have command of a number of pitches, will develop his ability to keep batters off balance as he matures. This development has been proven time and time again with many young power pitchers who begin their careers relying on their heaters. But remember, Beckett got burned by a hanging breaking ball on Dye's second home run Saturday. Varitek's role in all this? I think you've noticed that Beckett shakes off Varitek a fair amount, so there may be a bit of stubbornness involved here.

[Optimist]

http://nomaas.org/images/hrallowed1.jpg

[yankeessuck013]

Did you just realize that?

[Optimist]

Yeah, I don't follow Beckett's statistics. They had it on NoMaas.org.

[ORS]

If NoMaas is where you go to get informed about baseball.....well, I guess that just says it all.

[Optimist]

If NoMaas is where you go to get informed about baseball.....well, I guess that just says it all.

 

No, it's where I go for entertainment.

[ORS]

And that's all it's good for, but you said earlier that NoMaas enlightened you to Beckett's struggles.

 

It's obvious he's been a disappointment, and everyone is aware of it. That didn't stop you from posting that pic of the top HR allowed, though. Let's save the, "I wasn't aware so I wanted to post the info in case anyone else wasn't". If that was your intent, the stats would have sufficed. You wanted to post the pic for maximum effect.

[Optimist]

I did it because clicking "copy image location" and "paste" is easier than typing stuff out. Feel free to tell me my intentions though.

[ORS]

Hey, thanks, permission to share my opinion. Thank God I have that now.

[Optimist]

Never mind, I'm not getting into a stupid argument with you. If you want one, find 26 to 6.

[ORS]

When I'm talking about why I think someone did something, how could it be anything other than opinion? Do you really need me to add, "I think......", in order to get that? I thought that the natural assumption would be that it was my opinion.

[RoyNHSox]

Can someone answer this for me though: why doesn't Beckett throw a splitter? His stuff would be perfect for it given his velocity and good (when on target) curveball.

 

This was asked in yesterday’s game thread and it bears further discussion. Maybe a way too simplified answer is that blister concerns are there and the Sox have instructed him not to use it so much. I also think when he starts to miss with the curve early on, he quickly loses any confidence and goes back to the fastball, and here and there a changeup.

 

It’s so damn frustrating because we know he has the talent, but relying on two pitches to get him through most AL lineups will get him shelled more often than not.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Beckett just didnt have it last night. Hes pitched pretty well this season, better than his 5.12 ERA indicates. He just has these games where he is just TERRIBLE, 1 being last night(7 ER), 8 ER vs. CLE, 7 ER vs. TOR, 7 ER vs. NYY. Take out those 4 starts and he has a 3.22 ERA, so he gives us a ledgitimate chance to win 75-80% of the time. Hes going to have these moments, but hes only going to get better and see no problems going forward.

[RoyNHSox]

Beckett’s problems are mostly location and varying his pitches. Living off the fastball can only go so far and I wonder if part of his reluctance to learn/try to use other pitches (like a cutter) is just stubbornness. I’d like to see him throw inside a bit more too, and it wouldn’t hurt if someone like Schilling took him aside and gave him some mentoring. It’s time he made some adjustments in his repertoire if he expects to be successful in the AL, rather than a league average starter with a 5+ ERA.

[Dana Kiecker]

This just may be the "Stupidest Waste of Time Thread Ever"

 

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