Comments on: So What’s the Big Deal With This Josh Beckett Situation Again?

By: LifelongSoxFan

LifelongSoxFan — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:12:54 +0000

(GREAT BIG GRIN)

By: Chloroform Monster

Chloroform Monster — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:27:26 +0000

P.S.- If that came across adversarial or accusatory it wasn’t meant to be. I just wanted to give you all sides of the story from my perspective, a lifelong Sox fan living and working in Boston, and that of the newcomers.

@LA- What’s wrong with a gut? It says “I make enough money that I’ve let myself go” or “I love beer”. Those are both awesome messages *frowns* Ok ok, you’re right, it’s gross, I suppose I’m just particularly proud of the fact mine does an awesome William Shatner impression

By: Chloroform Monster

Chloroform Monster — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:23:03 +0000

You’re missing the point SA. The central is going to be an absolute slugfest between the Tigers and Indians. The days of the wildcard coming out of the East are just over. The Red Sox and Yankees aren’t 5 or 10 games better than each other. They are 1-2, with the variance this year looking like it’s going to come down to a bounce of a ball, or the wind on a lazy flyball that just keeps carrying. When you play in a division as the Red Sox do, against the biggest payroll in baseball (yes, I’m a sox fan, yes, we spend a lot too, no, I’m not hiding the face), EVERY. GAME. COUNTS. When you absolutely have to win your division (at least, the way I see it this year) to get into the playoffs, one game against a crap team like the A’s in April that your Ace should absolutely dominate is important.

You’ve also undoubtedly never lived in or around Boston. We could make a mountain out of an atom, not even a mole hill, when it comes to sports news. Beckett is one of the faces of the team, who just came in 2nd in the Cy Young, looks like the reincarnation of Jack Morris circa 91 in the playoffs, and to top it all, is actually a likable guy. So people (see, uneducated fair weather bandwagon fans who just hopped on because we won in 04 and 07 and wear those hell forsaken pink hats and don’t remember Danny Darwin, Frankie V, and Brian Rose) panicked.

The Sox don’t need a 5th starter until April 13th, and will run with a 4 man of Lester Wakefield (in japan) Buchholz Matsuzaka and possibly Colon (who has looked about as good as one can expect Colon to look these days) or Tavarez as a spot 5th or long relief. I think Beckett doesn’t move from FL/MA until that April 13th series, by which point his “back” should be fine.

When you play for October, April matters. Beckett not “Finding his fastball” in March is a legitimate concern, and should be viewed as such. Welcome to being a Sox fan. It almost never makes sense, the triumphs and travails are plenty, and the emergencies are unending. May the ride continue to be sweet, because it’s about time the sweet/bumpy dichotomy swung back the Sox way.

By: ladyandrea

ladyandrea — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:11:55 +0000

Pam, I totally agree.

By: Mel

Mel — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:06:10 +0000

Pam, a few extra pounds this early in the season does not take away the fact that he is hot!! Maybe this minor setback is his wakeup call. Forget about Japan, he’ll get back into pitching & be ready to rock again this year. A bumpy start means nothing to a team like the Red Sox, it’ll just be a time for the young guys to step up. We know they have good teachers, now is the time to prove themselves!

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:43:59 +0000

How can someone with a gut like that possibily be hot?

By: Trish

Trish — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:18:36 +0000

Nah–back in the eighties I wore a Bucky Dent jersey into Fenway. If that didn’t get me killed I think the Yankees cap/Beckett shirt combo should be okay, but thanks for thinking of me. :)

And yes, KP–a happy Josh is a sarcastic, f-bomb-dropping 6′5″ bunch of screaming hotness. WHY MUST HE BE ON THE *^%$#@) RED SOX?!?!?!

By: SA

SA — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:51:32 +0000

Thanks for the explanation guys. Still, I say freak out when he can’t pitch in September, not March.

Trish-It’s like you’re looking for danger right there.

By: KP

KP — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:45:54 +0000

It is not just that he is our best pitcher, he is also our hottest, and that’s why the loss is so enormous. When he’s healthy and pitching well he’s happy and when he’s happy he’s all sarcastic and fiesty and HOT but now that he’s hurt he’ll be all snappy and sullen and less HOT so I hope he gets better soon.

By: Trish

Trish — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:18:08 +0000

Beckett was sorta moaning and complaining about the Japan trip in the off-season anyway, so to be honest I wasn’t really surprised about the … uh … timing of his injury. On a more selfish note I will be in Boston for the Sox/Yanks series in mid-April and if he gets out of his first two scheduled starts as has been rumored there is an excellent chance he will pitch a game that I am in attendance in. My Red Sox fan friends are daring me to rock the Yankees cap and Beckett t-shirt simultaneously at Fenway. Love the player, hate the team. :)