Beckett Questionable to Start the Season

[onlybereaved]

I sort of wish that this Saturday game coming up was a night game. Seems to me that either Sweeney is really much more uncomfortable as a right fielder as I thought he would be or he was just fighting the sun all day on Thursday. If he was not fighting the sun then he was fighting the ball. If he plays every game like that eventually he is going to get do-inked right of the head with a pop fly.

 

Not sure how the heck he has made it this far with only four outfield errors for the career but while the stats may not accurately reflect what a player will or can do, they don't lie either.

 

I couldn't agree more on Sweeney looking completely uncomfortable and borderline unprofessional in right field on opening day. Even the ball that was over his head and possibly 'un-catchable'...He looked like someone who had never played baseball on that play.

 

The ball he did catch, looked like he was going to drop it. Sure there are nerves, and I am all for giving this guy a break, even if he didn't come through with that huge at-bat in the clutch at the end of the game...But this guy needs to ride the pine if he continues looking so shaky in the OF.

 

On a more positive note, Cody Ross is going to be a frigging monster this year. I am incredibly excited to have this guy on our team.

 

On topic, I am a Beckett-hater. I don't mind him when he performs well and the team reaps the benefits of it, but I just see him as a no-class pollution for the team. I really dislike having attitude-problem players on my fav team. I wish I could choke that f00l

[mvp 78]

Ok, so the Sox shouldn't have relied on Bailey because of his injury history, but we'll ignore the history of Padilla and Cook?

 

Just trying to follow the train of thought here.

[BecKett]

Agreed COMPLETELY on Sweeney. I mean, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it was just one day, but it's rare to see a major leaguer look that confused on routine/semi-routine plays.

 

Let's hope it was a fluke or we're in a lot of trouble, at least until Crawford returns.

[SoxSport]

Bobby has some fried chicken shipped from his restaurant ready in the clubhouse if they win today. It's a secret. Nobody tell the Globe.

[ibot2much]

Beckett according to him---repeatedly---needs to "execute pitches". Hope he gets that done today since that is all he has to do.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Beckett according to him---repeatedly---needs to "execute pitches". Hope he gets that done today since that is all he has to do.

 

He looked more like he was executing the Red Sox chances of winning the game.

[onlybereaved]

He looked more like he was executing the Red Sox chances of winning the game.

 

Yup. QFT

 

Beckett needs to become classy, humble, and lose his s***** attitude. Then I will give him a break when he shits the bed like he did today.

 

Until then, no love to Beckett from this guy

[mvp 78]

Yup. QFT

 

Beckett needs to become classy, humble, and lose his s***** attitude. Then I will give him a break when he shits the bed like he did today.

 

Until then, no love to Beckett from this guy

 

Classy and humble? That will never happen. I'm not sure it needs to. He just needs to not put it on a tee for the heart of the order.

[a700hitter]

Thumb’s down: Beckett allows five home runs in 2012 debut

DETROIT — Let the questions begin about Josh Beckett.

 

Less than a week after getting multiple medical opinions on a bothersome right thumb, and three days after insisting he’s unconcerned about a problem that has persisted for 18 months and required two cortisone injections, Beckett matched his career-high by serving up five home runs to the Detroit Tigers here today. He also allowed five homers on Aug. 23, 2009 against the Yankees.

 

How bad was Beckett? Consider this: Last season, he didn’t allow his fifth home run until June 28.

 

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder each went deep twice, while Alex Avila belted a two-run homer. When manager Bobby Valentine finally lifted Beckett, with two out in the fifth inning, the Tigers were leading 7-0. All seven runs were charged to Beckett, who hadn’t given up as many runs since Aug. 8, 2010 against the Yankees.

 

Surely, the condition of Beckett’s thumb will be a topic of conversation after the game. Before the game, Valentine said the athletic trainers hadn’t alerted him to any limitations regarding Beckett, but he also was unaware that Beckett indicated Wednesday that he eventually may need surgery, possible after the season.

 

Meanwhile, veteran sinkerballer Aaron Cook, waiting in the wings at Triple A Pawtucket and holding a May 1 opt-out clause in his minor league contract, pitched a complete game in a 4-1 victory today over Lehigh Valley.

 

Stay tuned. …

 

(Twitter: @Sc

Cook with a complete game victory today. Hmmm?

[redsoxbeatz]

Bring Cook up!

 

When is Crawford due back? I read a while ago he needed ~15 games in AAA, so about a month or less?

[seabeachfred]

Cook with a complete game victory today. Hmmm?

 

700, we both said two things. Earlier before ST we both said out loud that Cook was a broken down old mule, but we changed our tune when we saw him in ST. He both surprised and pleased us and I insisted he should be kept on the Red Sox roster. Today should have clinched it. He looks like he is back and we need to get this guy up as soon as we can. Remember, if we do not bring him up by May 1, he will opt out of his contract and start winning for some other organization that doesn't have a bunch of dumpkopfs running their front office.

[ORS]

Cook with a complete game victory today. Hmmm?

Pawsox play a double-header today, so the game was only 7 innings. Nonetheless, encouraging outing. A recap I read said he was making them hit grounder after grounder.

[onlybereaved]

Classy and humble? That will never happen. I'm not sure it needs to. He just needs to not put it on a tee for the heart of the order.

 

Trust me, I know that Josh Beckett would never be classy or humble. I am just saying that I will always dislike him because of that. I can't stand the fact that he is seemingly the only bad-attitude arrogant dick on our whole team. Before, it was at least a laughable thing for me because he still pitched well consistently. Now, it bothers me more.

[example1]

Pawsox play a double-header today' date=' so the game was only 7 innings. Nonetheless, encouraging outing. A recap I read said he was making them hit grounder after grounder.[/quote']

 

Why would the Red Sox want a workingman-like pitcher who can get hitters out with minimal effort, eat innings, and not hurt himself with nibbling in an attempt to overpower and mystify hitters? That's not what the highest paid pitchers get paid to do.

[SCM33]

Trust me' date=' I know that Josh Beckett would never be classy or humble. I am just saying that I will always dislike him because of that. I can't stand the fact that he is seemingly the only bad-attitude arrogant dick on our whole team. Before, it was at least a laughable thing for me because he still pitched well consistently. Now, it bothers me more.[/quote']

 

Its bothered me, good or bad.

[FredLynn]

Trust me' date=' I know that Josh Beckett would never be classy or humble. I am just saying that I will always dislike him because of that. I can't stand the fact that he is seemingly the only bad-attitude arrogant dick on our whole team. Before, it was at least a laughable thing for me because he still pitched well consistently. Now, it bothers me more.[/quote']

 

Beckett is a cancer on this team Bereaved. IMO he has to be traded if we can get anything resembling quality in return. I know it will hurt the team in the short run, but since this is a rebuilding year, this is the year to do it. Not everyone will agree with this. I think he is 1. Hurt and headed toward the DL just like Bailey and 2. Still concerned about finding "the snitch" who ratted him out last year.

We really need to get rid of him...and this is not because of today's game. I have been saying this on the other forum all along.

[onlybereaved]

Beckett is a cancer on this team Bereaved. IMO he has to be traded if we can get anything resembling quality in return. I know it will hurt the team in the short run, but since this is a rebuilding year, this is the year to do it. Not everyone will agree with this. I think he is 1. Hurt and headed toward the DL just like Bailey and 2. Still concerned about finding "the snitch" who ratted him out last year.

We really need to get rid of him...and this is not because of today's game. I have been saying this on the other forum all along.

 

I have always kept my opinion of him to myself (other than to my girlfriend/family) out of respect for the fans who like/love him. Last year that changed. This year I am an outright advocate of ridding the team of his pollution.

 

Everything about him off the field alone is enough for me to want him gone. I don't even care if he lived up to playing like he did in 2003 era. Just the way (mannerisms) he says things like "my wife was having our kid in September and that's more important to me" bothers me. Like, obviously that's more important and I agree with that...but any classy player would have relayed that with a bit less arrogance than Josh.

 

He has always been an outright prick, and I have always outright disliked pricks. I love class-act players who could be role models for kids (Jacoby Ells, Demar DeRozan, etc)...I just don't understand how someone so blessed could be such a f***ing *******.

 

Boggles the mind. I imagine (and hope) that at least 50% of the Red Sox organization dislikes him and shares my opinion. Same with the fan-base.

[FredLynn]

I have always kept my opinion of him to myself (other than to my girlfriend/family) out of respect for the fans who like/love him. Last year that changed. This year I am an outright advocate of ridding the team of his pollution.

 

Everything about him off the field alone is enough for me to want him gone. I don't even care if he lived up to playing like he did in 2003 era. Just the way (mannerisms) he says things like "my wife was having our kid in September and that's more important to me" bothers me. Like, obviously that's more important and I agree with that...but any classy player would have relayed that with a bit less arrogance than Josh.

 

He has always been an outright prick, and I have always outright disliked pricks. I love class-act players who could be role models for kids (Jacoby Ells, Demar DeRozan, etc)...I just don't understand how someone so blessed could be such a f***ing *******.

 

Boggles the mind. I imagine (and hope) that at least 50% of the Red Sox organization dislikes him and shares my opinion. Same with the fan-base.

 

I agree that he should be traded if at all possible, but I realize that there are good arguments against that position too. We are unlikely to get equal value (as a baseball player) in return, and in the short term losing a decent though inconsistent #3 SP will hurt. But in the long term making sure that ALL the players are on the same page is more than good payback for getting rid of him...IMO, of course.

[a700hitter]

I have always kept my opinion of him to myself (other than to my girlfriend/family) out of respect for the fans who like/love him. Last year that changed. This year I am an outright advocate of ridding the team of his pollution.

 

Everything about him off the field alone is enough for me to want him gone. I don't even care if he lived up to playing like he did in 2003 era. Just the way (mannerisms) he says things like "my wife was having our kid in September and that's more important to me" bothers me. Like, obviously that's more important and I agree with that...but any classy player would have relayed that with a bit less arrogance than Josh.

 

He has always been an outright prick, and I have always outright disliked pricks. I love class-act players who could be role models for kids (Jacoby Ells, Demar DeRozan, etc)...I just don't understand how someone so blessed could be such a f***ing *******.

 

Boggles the mind. I imagine (and hope) that at least 50% of the Red Sox organization dislikes him and shares my opinion. Same with the fan-base.

My niece has lived in Florida since 2001. She was a season ticket holder of the Marlins for several years, including their 2003 championship season. She was and has remained a big fan of Beckett's. She said that he was very nice to people. My niece also hates *******s, so if she says he was a nice guy, I believe her. Beckett is prick to the press and they hate him for it, but that doesn't mean anything to me. Ted Williams was a gigantic ******* with the writers, much worse than the way Beckett acts with them.

[onlybereaved]

 

If I had a son, who loved baseball and wanted to be a pitcher...

 

I would want him to look up to say...Verlander, opposed to Beckett...Regardless of what your niece thinks on the subject. Your niece could swear all-day long that Josh is a 'nice guy', but that he just turns into an arrogant idiot towards the media - still, I don't see a need for it - Verlander and other guys who know what's up with a good attitude and aren't idiots to anyone (media, fans, anyone for that matter).

 

I don't get it - so, someone else was arrogant to writers, so that validates Josh Beckett being an idiot to "media"? Alright?

 

I guess it comes down to Josh being an idiot to media (if that's what you claim/call it), displays an arrogance which causes problems because he is on a team. I don't see A-gon/Dustin/Anyone on our team being anything but professional/classy, Josh stands out as being arrogant. That is a problem for me.

[Gringo]

I can see how his general demeanor strikes people as arrogant and dickish...that is in fact, how he comes across, in my opinion too.

 

I can't judge what he's like as a person, and frankly, I don't really care. I just want the guy to throw strikes and win games.

 

He won't be the last good pitcher to get battered by Detroit this year....

[onlybereaved]

I guess the best way for me to explain why it "matters" to me...is that whenever I think of the New York Yankees, I always see them as some evil villain. I get a perception of arrogance from them that really turns me off, and I see that same arrogance and get that exact same perception from Josh Beckett.

 

The Red Sox are the 'good guys' vs. the evil empire, to me (for lack of better explanation)...Josh Becketts s***** arrogant attitude problem has the same traits as those I oppose in life, baseball, anywhere. f*** him, whether he pitches well or not (obviously, in my opinion)

[a700hitter]

 

If I had a son, who loved baseball and wanted to be a pitcher...

 

I would want him to look up to say...Verlander, opposed to Beckett...Regardless of what your niece thinks on the subject. Your niece could swear all-day long that Josh is a 'nice guy', but that he just turns into an arrogant idiot towards the media - still, I don't see a need for it - Verlander and other guys who know what's up with a good attitude and aren't idiots to anyone (media, fans, anyone for that matter).

 

I don't get it - so, someone else was arrogant to writers, so that validates Josh Beckett being an idiot to "media"? Alright?

 

I guess it comes down to Josh being an idiot to media (if that's what you claim/call it), displays an arrogance which causes problems because he is on a team. I don't see A-gon/Dustin/Anyone on our team being anything but professional/classy, Josh stands out as being arrogant. That is a problem for me.

The point is that we don't know who these guys are or their true character. Guys with great public images are often jackasses and guys like Ted Williams who were painted as villains by the press were actually good teammates and loyal friends. I wasn't justifying Beckett's behavior by pointing to Williams behavior with the press. I was making the point that we don't know these guys. If you want to root for athletes based on their public images, feel free to do so. Meeting the "good guys" is usually a disappointment. Most of them are coddle, spoiled jackasses, even the "good guys." I root for guys that a. wear the Sox uni and 2. that give it their all for the team. I do have a problem with Becket, and it has nothing to do with his disdain for the press and dropping the F-bomb etc. I kind of admire that he doesn't whore himself out to the press. The problem that I do have is that he is a bit of a prima dona princess. I don't like that he gets so overly concerned about physical discomforts that are not impediments to performing like he did in 2008. That pissed me off. It took 3 sets of doctors to convince him that there was nothing wrong with him. In the course of this process he shut himself down for 3 weeks and really ruined the Sox season. It pissed me off that he was able to perform and didn't for 3 weeks and he was under contract for 2 more seasons. Up to that time, I had thought he was a bulldog, but he showed himself to be a diva.

[a700hitter]

I guess the best way for me to explain why it "matters" to me...is that whenever I think of the New York Yankees, I always see them as some evil villain. I get a perception of arrogance from them that really turns me off, and I see that same arrogance and get that exact same perception from Josh Beckett.

 

The Red Sox are the 'good guys' vs. the evil empire, to me (for lack of better explanation)...Josh Becketts s***** arrogant attitude problem has the same traits as those I oppose in life, baseball, anywhere. f*** him, whether he pitches well or not (obviously, in my opinion)

^ I don't get this. Manny wasn't a good guy, at least that is how the press portrayed him, and I'd take 9 of him in the line up on any given day.

[onlybereaved]

I guess so. Not me, though. I wouldn't.

 

We will agree to disagree.

[a700hitter]

I guess so. Not me, though. I wouldn't.

 

We will agree to disagree.

The Sox haven't won a championship without Manny. Whether or not he is a prick doesn't matter to me. Yes, we will agree to disagree.

[Brown28]

I like Beckett's attitude. He doesnt give a f*** what the media thinks or says about him. He's as competitive as they come and you can tell he is extremely upset with himself when he does poorly. Fox showed him in the dugout right after he got pulled today sitting by himself in the dugout looking pissed staring straight ahead. Couple innings later, they show him again in the exact same spot doing the exact same thing. You can tell today and all his bad days really eat him up. I would rather have a competitive guy who lives and dies with his performance but comes off as a dick than a guy who people like but spouts that "cant win em all" or "just gotta do better next time" s***. I like Beckett and believe he will turn it around and have another great year

[onlybereaved]

Word.

 

I completely understand that a good % of fans will rep Beckett until the end regardless of his attitude/effectiveness/ineffectiveness.

 

I just don't fall into that % category. Regardless... as long as he is on the Red Sox, I hope he does well for us.

[mvp 78]

Aren't almost all MLB guys "arrogant dicks?" As long as they perform, who cares?

 

I wanted Beckett gone because he went of the reservation last year and stopped working out, not because he's an *******.

[Bellhorn04]

I have a bad feeling that Beckett is headed to the DL, maybe even surgery. It feels like 'two thumbs down' is gonna be the tagline of our season.