I don't feel good about a spot start for an elimination game myself. I'm only doing this because I'm crazy and maverick enough to take the heat if this goes bad.
Beckett has to feel the call today. He has to prove that he's the man who can go 120% when it's all on the line.
The beautiful storyline is after the Sox showing so much heart in Game 5 he's inspired and pitches the game of his life and the Rays, numb with shock that they can't put Boston away at their place, blow their series lead and slide to game 7. That's what I want to see here.
So? If you think his arm will hold up you still have to go for it. If his arm doesn't fall off he's probably worth every big of a huge contract.
I'm not against this, but Burnett isn't going to be that much cheaper. He turned down a contract worth 8 digits a year. Given that CC is more likely to be a quality pitcher in the AL East over the first 2/3 of any contract I don't think AJ is the value investment many people seem to be assuming he is.
Nevermind, Jackson. Suppan is obviously the superior pitchher. His ~5 ERA in the NL Central, his contract twice the size of Wakefield's, and his 87 ERA+ make this so blindingly obvious it's just not close.