Kurkjian: Sox have #1 rotation

[jacksonianmarch]

One decent year? The Sox didnt trade away premier talent because Beckett had a decent year and has a World Series ring. The guy has talent and is just entering his prime years. His 2006 campaign isnt going to be duplicated further down the road. He's too good to let that happen.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6403/career

 

Certain pitchers translate well to the AL East. Large arsenals, good control, power ful pitchers. Beckett has the last 2. He regressed as a pitcher last yr rather than "fought through an adjustment yr." He needs to reverse the trend or he could get worse.

[rician blast]

No' date=' his ERA was 4.2 for the yr and 2.8 in the last half of the season.[/quote']

 

Forgive me. I didn't realize he achieved an astounding 4.20 ERA pitching in the oh-so difficult NL Central. You act like 2006's performance bodes well for '07.

 

He was 10-12 with about a 5.00 on August 6th. Then he sunk his teeth into the likes of Pittsburgh, Cinci, the Nationals, Milwaukee, Chicago...those teams won a combined 44% of their games.

 

If Pettitte does indeed perform well for the Yanks in 2007 please don't try and B.S. us that 2006 was in any way an indication that he still had it...because 2006 was NOT a good year for him. Save for feasting on the dreggs of the NL he sucked.

[jacksonianmarch]

So we are to believe that one bad half of a season invalidates a solid career in the AL East? He is still in his prime (provided the back end of it), still throws just as hard and throws with the same bite. He had an unprecedented first half of the yr last yr and if he kept that up, I would be very worried. But he didnt and returned his number to respectability. I dont expect him to be the pitcher he was in the first half all yr, nor do I think he will be as good as he was in the last half. He is an easily predicted pitcher when on the yankees. 200IP 15-20 wins 3.8-4.2ERA and nothing will change.

[a700hitter]

I'll keep Beckett. He's a young stud that has already had a significant amount of success in the majors. His rough spots will turn out to be learning experiences that will only make him better. Young pitchers don't usually succeed unscathed in the majors. I would expect that Wang will experience some rough spots as the league adjusts to him. Adjustments by the hitters are inevitable. The guys with staying power can make additional adjustments to stay ahead of the hitters.

[rician blast]

He is still in his prime (provided the back end of it)' date=' still throws just as hard and throws with the same bite. [/quote']

 

uhhh, ok. if you say so.

[Mr Crunchy]

the yanks let petitte walk in favor of carl pavano and jarret wright

thats what the yanks thought of andy petitte 3 years ago

 

and now we're to believe hes the returning prodigal son??

f*** petitte

hes done and has been for a while but hes still an improvement over wright

[jacksonianmarch]

he has been done for awhile? Did anyone see his composites in Houston? NL or no, they were impressive. And as for letting Pettitte walk, it was obviously a poor decision and one very akin to Damon's treatment in Boston. The yankees were fresh off 2003 where our offense failed us. Steiny was in full swing and decides to get Sheff and ARod while passing on retaining one of the most reliable pitchers in yankee history. Pettitte was put off by the lack of respect and signed with Houston. What people fail to realize is the yankees offered more yrs and more money than Houston did. Funniest thing of all, though, is the sox trumped everyone. If I remember correctly, the yankees offered 4yrs 52, while the sox were in the 5 yr 60+ range. He was offered a significant contract, but Steinny was too busy acquiring the Kevin Brown's and Javy Vazquez's of the world to notice that he had a great yankee pitcher walking right out from under him.

 

Pettitte is no savior and never was a savior. He is a solid pitcher who will give consistent, unspectacular performances throughout the season and will elevate his game a little in the playoffs. He wont K 15 batters and sure as hell wont pitch any perfect games. But he very quietly wins a lot of games and posts quality starts.

 

Last yr he put up 20QS's in an off yr. Higher than anyone in the NYY-BOS battle aside from Mussina who had 23. In 2005 he led the majors in QS with 27. 2004 he was hurt, but in 2003, he had 20 again. For many and for me too, QS is not the best indicator of how good a pitcher is, but it is a good indicator for how they will fit into your team. If you have a solid bullpen and a great lineup, a QS will lead to a lot of wins. If your pen and lineup suck, a QS is meaningless. He is not spectacular. Not by a long shot. But when you put up QS's with NY's lineup and NY's bullpen you are going to win a fair share of games.

[rician blast]

Last yr he put up 20QS's in an off yr. Higher than anyone in the NYY-BOS battle aside from Mussina who had 23. In 2005 he led the majors in QS with 27.

 

Against who? Milwaukee? The Nats? The vaunted Cubs offense? Please.

[jacksonianmarch]

he's done it in pinstripes as well against the sox and the like. He's got a better resume going for him than Beckett who spent his entire career in the NL least, Papelbon who has started 4 games in the majors and Matsuzaka who has faced a level equivalent to AAA. Lets be serious here, the guy has shown he could do it in NY, he still has great stuff and put up better numbers than he did in NY while in Houston.

[BudLight]

I'm still waiting for somebody to substantiate, with facts and stats, Josh Beckett's status as a solid #1 or #2 starter in the AL East.

[jacksonianmarch]

They cannot because he is not. Last yr he was a 5, and if he doesnt incorporate that curve back in or develop that change further, he will continue to be a back of the rotation starter.

[VA Sox Fan]

Beckett is a #2 in our rotation right now until we see how Pap and D-Mat perform. Sorry no stats, that's just how it is, currently.

[Rodney Harrison]

One decent year? The Sox didnt trade away premier talent because Beckett had a decent year and has a World Series ring. The guy has talent and is just entering his prime years. His 2006 campaign isnt going to be duplicated further down the road. He's too good to let that happen.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6403/career

 

The only reason the Sox traded for him was because of the fire sale Florida had. It's not like Boston asked the Marlins, "What do you guys want for Beckett?" Beinfest was shopping him around after 2005.

 

Gee, he's entering his prime years and he's been on the DL nine times already? Sound like too big of a risk to trade away premier talent for him.

[jacksonianmarch]

Beckett is a #2 in our rotation right now until we see how Pap and D-Mat perform. Sorry no stats' date=' that's just how it is, currently.[/quote']

 

I completely agree with this statement. As you know, people seem intent on labelling someone. While Beckett will be in the 2 hole, he is not a #2 pitcher currently. Kinda like how Wang will be our #1, but he isnt an "ace" per se.

[Mr Crunchy]

beckett was a disappointment

i witnessed back to back blow outs against ny and detroit down the stretch when we still had a pop

he was a let down and if anyone tells you otherwise they speaketh with fork tongue

 

that said

he won 16? which means if he improves as he should hes a 20 game winner this year

he had some games where he pitched well

he had some games where i longed for lenny dinardos rapid return

 

you should expect some bigger things from this guy

you yank fans shouldnt be blowing each other over becketts season

he still has 1 up on you when it mattered most.

and

us sox fans should remember that beckett was outstanding for about 6 weeks in 03

since then?

less than consistant

[BudLight]

beckett was a disappointment

i witnessed back to back blow outs against ny and detroit down the stretch when we still had a pop

he was a let down and if anyone tells you otherwise they speaketh with fork tongue

 

that said

he won 16? which means if he improves as he should hes a 20 game winner this year

he had some games where he pitched well

he had some games where i longed for lenny dinardos rapid return

 

you should expect some bigger things from this guy

you yank fans shouldnt be blowing each other over becketts season

he still has 1 up on you when it mattered most.

and

us sox fans should remember that beckett was outstanding for about 6 weeks in 03

since then?

less than consistant

 

 

2003, jeez Crunch, you expect me to remember 2003, hell it's hard enough to remember what I had for supper last night. As for Beckett, nobody is saying he is not serviceable, but to believe he will consistently put up 200 innings per year and is a solid #1 or #2 (true #1 or #2, not just his place in the order because of those around him) is unfounded. His stats don't support it.

[VA Sox Fan]

2003' date=' jeez Crunch, you expect me to remember 2003, hell it's hard enough to remember what I had for supper last night. As for Beckett, nobody is saying he is not serviceable, but to believe he will consistently put up 200 innings per year and is a solid #1 or #2 (true #1 or #2, not just his place in the order because of those around him) is unfounded. His stats don't support it.[/quote']

 

Hey BB!

 

It doesn't matter whether or not he's a true #1 or #2 starter per his stats...he's our #2 right now. I'm optimistic (as usual) that he will adjust better this year to the AL. He needs to pay more attention to Tek and not give up so many HR's (obviously).

 

If the rotation goes as planned, I'll see him pitch in Ft. Myers the last week of March and will give a full scouting report.......

[BudLight]

Hey BB!

 

It doesn't matter whether or not he's a true #1 or #2 starter per his stats...he's our #2 right now. I'm optimistic (as usual) that he will adjust better this year to the AL. He needs to pay more attention to Tek and not give up so many HR's (obviously).

 

If the rotation goes as planned, I'll see him pitch in Ft. Myers the last week of March and will give a full scouting report.......

 

I'll be looking for your on-site analysis at the end of March. If you want to see the 2007 AL East Champs in ST, take a trip over to Legends Field. :thumbsup:

[jacksonianmarch]

He needs to develop his arsenal or he will get worse. He at least had about a quarter of the season where he wasnt afraid to throw the curve and that was a good 8-10 starts where he was dynamite. If he comes out timid, those 8-10 starts wont be there to hold up how poor he actually threw.

[rician blast]

he's done it in pinstripes as well against the sox and the like. He's got a better resume going for him than Beckett who spent his entire career in the NL

 

overall, you are right, Captain Obvious. The issue is you're creaming your jeans over a guy who was mediocre in the NL Central last year.

 

Personally I'd rather Pettitte stayed in the NL as he used to kill the Sox...but I seriously wonder if the result will be the same this time around. Maybe...maybe not.

 

Needless to say I am pleased that the Yanks FO, and you, regard him so highly as it leads me to believe maybe they'll go with the staff they've got now.

[VA Sox Fan]

I'll be looking for your on-site analysis at the end of March. If you want to see the 2007 AL East Champs in ST' date=' take a trip over to Legends Field. :thumbsup:[/quote']

 

Now why do I need to do that when I'll be seeing the 2007 AL East Champs in Ft. Myers?

:harhar: :thumbsup:

[jacksonianmarch]

I am not creaming my pants over anybody. Pettitte is not an ace. He is no savior. He's just a solid, consistent, and yes, durable option to fit into the middle of the rotation.

[jacksonianmarch]

Now why do I need to do that when I'll be seeing the 2007 AL East Champs in Ft. Myers?

:harhar: :thumbsup:

 

You are correct. On March 12th, the yankees will be in Fort Myers.

[VA Sox Fan]

You are correct. On March 12th' date=' the yankees will be in Fort Myers.[/quote']

 

No way jacko, I'll be there for the 3/27 (Pirates), 3/28 (Twins @ Sean Hammond Stadium) and 3/29 (DRays) games.....try again dude!

[jacksonianmarch]

how are the pirates going to win the AL East, they arent even in the division. Jeepers

[VA Sox Fan]

how are the pirates going to win the AL East' date=' they arent even in the division. Jeepers [/quote']

 

They have a better chance than the DRays.....

[BudLight]

No way jacko' date=' I'll be there for the 3/27 (Pirates), 3/28 (Twins @ Sean Hammond Stadium) and 3/29 (DRays) games.....try again dude! [/quote']

 

VA

 

The DRays are getting better, but you really believe they are going to win the AL East this year?

[VA Sox Fan]

VA

 

The DRays are getting better, but you really believe they are going to win the AL East this year?

 

Of course not BB....my beloved Red Sox will!

[jacksonianmarch]

Of course not BB....my beloved Red Sox will be fighting for the wild card

 

 

fixed it for you!

[redsoxrules]

yankees suck

 

i agree