Josh Beckett Retires

[a700hitter]

Thanks for 2007. And thanks for all the big wins against the Yankees.

[Palodios]

Thanks for that game in 2012 where you gave up 6 runs before I found my $100 seat in the first inning. Thanks for ruining Popeyes chicken for me forever. Thanks for letting us miss out on six cost controlled years of Hanley and Anibal. Thanks for getting Terry Francona fired, that was real cool of you.

 

He may have won the team a championship, but he also destroyed the team and everything it stood for. f*** him.

[a700hitter]

Thanks for that game in 2012 where you gave up 6 runs before I found my $100 seat in the first inning. Thanks for ruining Popeyes chicken for me forever. Thanks for letting us miss out on six cost controlled years of Hanley and Anibal. Thanks for getting Terry Francona fired, that was real cool of you.

 

He may have won the team a championship, but he also destroyed the team and everything it stood for. f*** him.

Hanley is a dog and anibel's mailing address is the DL. What the heck do the Red Sox stand for? LOL! Get some sleep my friend.

[seabeachfred]

Well if you posters on this board want contrast, you got it!!!!!!! Seems my friends 700 Hitter and Palodios have contrasting opinions of Beckett. Safe to say that you can take any position on him you want and you wouldn't be far off accurate wise. Josh always seemed to pitch well when I was in attendance whether it was in Boston, at Yankee Stadium or Anaheim, and he must have beaten the Yankees six or seven times I saw him pitch against them......and he never lost to them with me there. So I have nice memories of him. Having said that I also know he was kind of a dick weed with a very grating and irritating personality. Well you can't have everything---gotta take the good with the bad.

[Spudboy]

He had talent and was a puke. I don't miss him. The Sox dumped him for good reasons, I imagine.

[Palodios]

Hanley is a dog and anibel's mailing address is the DL. What the heck do the Red Sox stand for? LOL! Get some sleep my friend.

 

From 2010-2013 Sanchez was averaging 190 innings per year, with a blip this year. I'd be surprised if he even had a summer home in the DL.

 

It would also really suck to have Hanley's lazy ass .873 career OPS bat on this team.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Palodios

[gojohn99]

Both are indeed facts. Beckett has great in 2007, but fell off the board toward the end. He was actually having a decent season for the Dodgers this year, and he's only 34 but is going to retire.

[gojohn99]

I had this with Jon Lester this year. It was May 22, 2014 - 7 runs allowed to the Blue Jays over the 1st two innings!

 

Thanks for that game in 2012 where you gave up 6 runs before I found my $100 seat in the first inning.

[Palodios]

I had this with Jon Lester this year. It was May 22, 2014 - 7 runs allowed to the Blue Jays over the 1st two innings!

 

That's just the way Beckett pitches though. He'll alternate between throwing shutouts and batting practice on any given day. I went to two such batting practice games of Beckett's, and he either hadn't prepared for the game, or just wanted nothing to do with pitching before he even stepped on the mound. He seemed like he had hall of fame talent, and absolutely no self discipline.

[seabeachfred]

That's just the way Beckett pitches though. He'll alternate between throwing shutouts and batting practice on any given day. I went to two such batting practice games of Beckett's, and he either hadn't prepared for the game, or just wanted nothing to do with pitching before he even stepped on the mound. He seemed like he had hall of fame talent, and absolutely no self discipline.

 

Well glad he saved his better games for the ones I saw him pitch. He was devastating in those contests, especially the games he pitched against the Yankees in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He never lost to them when I was there. For that I am grateful to him.

[a700hitter]

I was very critical of Beckett in 2008 when he shut himself down for almost a month with a phantom injury -- tingling in his pinkie and ring fingers. After he got clearance from every specialist in the country, he returned to the mound out of condition and hurt himself rendering him useless in the playoffs. I still believe that he cost us the division and the AL championship.

 

But I will always be thankful to him for 2007 -- a perfect season from beginning to end. I'll take the results of that trade any day.

 

I am also thankful that he shut down the skanks in the 2003 World Series after we had our hearts broken.

[Jasonbay44]

Beckett was incredibly inconsistent and the way he left sucks, but he was a huge contributor on a world series winning team, so Ill always be grateful we had him

[Bellhorn04]

I was very critical of Beckett in 2008 when he shut himself down for almost a month with a phantom injury -- tingling in his pinkie and ring fingers. After he got clearance from every specialist in the country, he returned to the mound out of condition and hurt himself rendering him useless in the playoffs. I still believe that he cost us the division and the AL championship.

 

I don't know. In that 2008 ALCS Beckett was 1-0 and Lester was 0-2. We were 2-2 in Tampa and 1-2 in Fenway. The Rays lit us up like fireworks at Fenway, in fact. We played a lot better in their park.

[Palodios]

I don't know. In that 2008 ALCS Beckett was 1-0 and Lester was 0-2. We were 2-2 in Tampa and 1-2 in Fenway. The Rays lit us up like fireworks at Fenway, in fact. We played a lot better in their park.

 

The win loss record meant absolutely nothing in that series. Not a thing.

 

In the 2008 playoffs, Lester had a 2.36 ERA, and Beckett had an 8.79 ERA.

[Spudboy]

That's just the way Beckett pitches though. He'll alternate between throwing shutouts and batting practice on any given day. I went to two such batting practice games of Beckett's, and he either hadn't prepared for the game, or just wanted nothing to do with pitching before he even stepped on the mound. He seemed like he had hall of fame talent, and absolutely no self discipline.

 

Which was odd to watch because when he was brought to Boston he was touted as a very hard worker and a "professional" that younger pitchers could learn from.

 

For a guy that had ace stuff and could dominate seemingly at will, his inconsistency was maddening. Whenever he was slated to start I would say to myself "The Sox will probably win this game." Then he would blow up or throw a stinker.

 

Still, he did contribute to a championship. For that, I guess, we should all be appreciative.

[Bellhorn04]

The win loss record meant absolutely nothing in that series. Not a thing.

 

In the 2008 playoffs, Lester had a 2.36 ERA, and Beckett had an 8.79 ERA.

 

No, I know about the ERA. But how can you blame Beckett for losing that series when we lost both of Lester's games? And how can you blame not having home field advantage when the Rays pounded the piss out of us at Fenway (we won one of the 3 games miraculously).

 

Those are my points.

[Palodios]

No, I know about the ERA. But how can you blame Beckett for losing that series when we lost both of Lester's games? And how can you blame not having home field advantage when the Rays pounded the piss out of us at Fenway (we won one of the 3 games miraculously).

 

Those are my points.

 

If Beckett didn't give up 8 runs in game 2, the series would have gone very differently. Instead of 1-1, the Red Sox would be 2-0 coming home, with Lester on the mound. That would have been a crushing blow. Instead, in a game where the Red Sox scored 8 runs, they lost an unwinnable game.

[YAZMAN]

He retired a few years ago. He's just going to stop collecting checks now.

[Bellhorn04]

If Beckett didn't give up 8 runs in game 2, the series would have gone very differently. Instead of 1-1, the Red Sox would be 2-0 coming home, with Lester on the mound. That would have been a crushing blow. Instead, in a game where the Red Sox scored 8 runs, they lost an unwinnable game.

 

OK, that's a fair argument. On the other hand, Tito made the worst decision of his career not lifting Beckett when we went ahead 6-5, so you could argue that loss was on Tito.

 

Also, Beckett won Game 6 and then Lester lost Game 7 when he was outpitched by Garza for the second time in the series.

 

I'm just debating here, I don't even care that much about the matter any more. But you can't pin the loss of a 4-3 series on a pitcher who pitched badly in the second game of the series and should have been lifted with the lead anyway.

[Bellhorn04]

He retired a few years ago. He's just going to stop collecting checks now.

 

Beckett pitched well this year till his season was ended by the injury.

[seabeachfred]

I was very critical of Beckett in 2008 when he shut himself down for almost a month with a phantom injury -- tingling in his pinkie and ring fingers. After he got clearance from every specialist in the country, he returned to the mound out of condition and hurt himself rendering him useless in the playoffs. I still believe that he cost us the division and the AL championship.

 

But I will always be thankful to him for 2007 -- a perfect season from beginning to end. I'll take the results of that trade any day.

 

I am also thankful that he shut down the skanks in the 2003 World Series after we had our hearts broken.

 

On balance Ted from my vantage point I'd say Beckett gave us more positive stuff than negative, though I'm sure our friend Palodios wouldn't concur. About the 2008 ALCS, I always blamed and will continue to blame Francona for that loss. Before game two in a series where we led 1-0, he laid it out that he wanted Beckett to go six or seven innings---and he refused to deviate from his pre-game layout. He was stubborn in that regard. Well Josh was meat that night and squandered three leads. If Francona would have gotten his head out and him out of the game by the fifth inning we would have won that second game and gone home to Fenway with 2-0 series lead.

[jacksonianmarch]

You guys do know that they eventually figured out the whole numbness thing, right? While in LA, he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and was operated on

[Spudboy]

Well then it's settled.

 

Josh Beckett is a Saint.

[a700hitter]

You guys do know that they eventually figured out the whole numbness thing, right? While in LA, he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and was operated on

He didn't need the surgery until 2012 after he was with the Dodgers -- more than 4 full seasons after he ruined the Red Sox 2008 season with his princess and the pea routine.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Thanks for ruining Popeyes chicken for me forever.

The fact that Popeyes is just a big bucket of salt didn't do the trick?

 

And I say that as someone who has a major fast food addiction.

[a700hitter]

The fact that Popeyes is just a big bucket of salt didn't do the trick?

 

And I say that as someone who has a major fast food addiction.

Pal should thank Beckett for eliminating fried chicken from his diet.

[example1]

I am also thankful that he shut down the skanks in the 2003 World Series after we had our hearts broken.

 

This. For me it isn't just that he shut down the Yankees that year. It was his entire playoff run, culminating in a great World Series. He was a Marlin at the time, but 2003 was a season when both the Cubs and Red Sox looked like legitimate contenders, each losing in the LCS in a painful way. Beckett was probably the most impactful player in the entire playoffs that year, virtually unhittable over the last four games.

 

Oct-12 2003: NLCS game 5- vs. Cubs: Complete game shutout, 11k, 2H, 1BB

Oct-15 2003: NLCS game 7- vs. Cubs: Comes out of bullpen for innings 5, 6, 7, 8. Gives up 1 ER on 1 H, 0 BB. [steve Bartman game]

Oct-21 2003: WS game 3- vs. Yankees: Gets loss in 7.1, Gives up 2ER on 3H and 3BB, 10 K

Oct-25 2003: WS game 6- vs. Yankees: Complete game shutout, 9k, 5H, 2BB [walks off mound to WS celebration, in Yankee Stadium]

 

I just remember watching at the time this 23 year old mowing down some really great teams and looking absolutely unphased throughout.

 

Yes, he was a dick. Yes, later in his career he was disappointing. But even if he had never been a Red Sox I would have commended him for giving me the memories from that playoff run.

[Bellhorn04]

This. For me it isn't just that he shut down the Yankees that year. It was his entire playoff run, culminating in a great World Series. He was a Marlin at the time, but 2003 was a season when both the Cubs and Red Sox looked like legitimate contenders, each losing in the LCS in a painful way. Beckett was probably the most impactful player in the entire playoffs that year, virtually unhittable over the last four games.

 

Oct-12 2003: NLCS game 5- vs. Cubs: Complete game shutout, 11k, 2H, 1BB

Oct-15 2003: NLCS game 7- vs. Cubs: Comes out of bullpen for innings 5, 6, 7, 8. Gives up 1 ER on 1 H, 0 BB. [steve Bartman game]

Oct-21 2003: WS game 3- vs. Yankees: Gets loss in 7.1, Gives up 2ER on 3H and 3BB, 10 K

Oct-25 2003: WS game 6- vs. Yankees: Complete game shutout, 9k, 5H, 2BB [walks off mound to WS celebration, in Yankee Stadium]

 

I just remember watching at the time this 23 year old mowing down some really great teams and looking absolutely unphased throughout.

 

Yes, he was a dick. Yes, later in his career he was disappointing. But even if he had never been a Red Sox I would have commended him for giving me the memories from that playoff run.

 

Good stuff, except that Game 6 of the NLCS was the Bartman game. Very important to have the details of such cosmically tragic moments in MLB history correct.

[Behindenemylines]

He was a big part of 2007 so for that I thank him. As good as he was that season it will probably be other things that Sox fans will remember him for.

[seabeachfred]

He was a big part of 2007 so for that I thank him. As good as he was that season it will probably be other things that Sox fans will remember him for.

 

BEL, since I don't deal in ******** and am a bottom line guy, all I can tell you that if we didn't have Beckett in 2007 we wouldn't have that WS Title from that season. I will also add that he did a pretty good job in 2009 and most of 2011 before he bombed out the last half of the '09 season. Though it may be water on the bridge for most Red Sox fans, I still blame Francona for those disappointing finishes in '08 and '09. Tito refused to alter his pre-game plan in Game Two of the ALCS when an obvious injured and ineffective Beckett was penciled in for seven innings in Francona's pre-game "master plan". Even after he blew three leads and was getting his ass reamed Francona waited too late to t ake him out. We eventually lost that series and a chance to go to the 200u8 WS. In 2009, we invaded YS for a big four game series only a game or two out with Beckett having a good odd numbered year and on full rest, but Francona as only he could possibly know, decided to start a fast fading John Smoltz. We got seven runs that night but JS got torched. Next night Beckett went nine innings for a no decision in a game we lost in 18 innings. We got swept in that series and never recovered. If we had pitched Josh in that first game we would have won that opening contest and who knows how our morale would have been the rest of the series. A week or so later the Yankees invaded Fenway for a three game set with Jon Lester unable to pitch because he was used in a wasted game the day before instead of being saved for the New Yorkers. Francona in a complete brain freeze started Brad Penny who got ripped apart.

 

You know the irony of those miserable choices of opening key series? Both Smoltz and Penny were both released AFTER doing damage to our chances. In fact neither pitched for the Sox after their torching in those two starts.