Good News & Bad News by Jared Carrabis
A bittersweet day for Josh Beckett fans


If you are a fan of the flame-throwing right-hander, Josh Beckett, Labor Day brought you both good news and bad news regarding the ace of the Red Sox's pitching staff.

First, the good news. When Beckett fired a 94 MPH fastball into the mitt of Jason Varitek on Monday, his option for the 2010 season kicked in. Back in July of 2006, Beckett inked a three-year deal worth $30 million along with an option for a fourth season. That fourth year would kick in if Beckett started 56 games in 2008-2009 combined, or simply if he started 28 games in '09.

After injuries restrained Beckett to just 27 starts in '08, the only possible way his 2010 option would vest would be to take the mound 28 times for Boston in '09, which on Monday, he did.

The contract in which Beckett originally signed would have paid the right-hander $12 million in 2010, but his 2007 second-place finish in the Cy Young Award voting will bump his 2010 salary up to $12.1 million.

Now on the books for the 2010 season, Beckett will be the third highest player on the team behind JD Drew ($14M) and David Ortiz ($13M). $12.1 may seem like a lot of dough, but according to FanGraphs.com, Beckett's value has been worth $19.2 million thus far in 2009 based on the current market. In comparison, when Beckett was pitching his way to a runner-up finish for the Cy Young Award in 2007, the right-hander was paid $6.7 million, while FanGraphs had his salary worth at $26.6 million.

If and when Beckett reaches the free agent market, he could command more than the $82.5 million that AJ Burnett received this past winter. Why? Because Beckett has a better history of health and is a proven force when it counts the most. Any team looking to pick up Beckett's services in the future are obviously looking to contend, and most teams that are looking to win a World Series value a player's performance in October. (Maybe a little too much, cough, John Smoltz, cough.)

So, to continue with the good news, Beckett turned in a quality start on Monday, holding the Chicago White Sox to three runs over seven innings of work. Number nineteen struck out four batters over his seven innings of work, keeping the ball in the yard for the first time since August 7. He tossed 96 pitches on Monday, marking his tenth straight outing of throwing 96 pitches or more.

In Beckett's previous five starts prior to Monday's outing, he had allowed 14 home runs in his last 31.1 innings pitched. Prior to that five-start homer streak for Beckett, he had gone five straight without allowing a long ball.

As for the bad news, the Red Sox offense went silent at the wrong time. The Boston bats managed just one run, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left 16 men aboard. Beckett suffered his second loss in his last four starts and hasn't picked up a victory since August 12.

Simply put, "I got outpitched," Beckett said of his day of work on Monday. Never being the type of guy to give himself or anyone else a free pass, Beckett continued to say, "We need to win ballgames right now. That's what everybody in this room gets paid to do. We didn't win today."

"We're never worried about Josh," said Kevin Youkilis, a four-year teammate of Beckett's. "He's going to go through a rough stretch. Everyone does that. It looks like the rough stretch is coming to an end now. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks he can have some great starts and try to push us into the postseason."

Fans who were pulling for Beckett to break out of his streak of struggles hoped and prayed to the Baseball Gods that an injury wasn't to blame for balls jumping off opposing hitters' bats. After Monday's loss, manager Terry Francona tried to shed some light on Beckett's situation, "He was fighting being sick," Francona said. "I just don't think he feels real strong either. I think that has something to do with it. He's trying to reach back for more. I thought, today, he stayed within himself better."

In true Josh Beckett fashion, he wanted nothing to do with the excuse that his manager made for him, "I feel fine," Beckett explained. "I wouldn't be out there pitching if I didn't."

We don't know what's in store for Beckett here in Boston, but one thing is certain: the Red Sox are a better team with him in the home dugout. Whether or not he will return after the 2010 season remains to be seen, but Red Sox fans should have comfort in knowing that the World Series is within reach for the remaining two October's in which Beckett is guaranteed to be in a Red Sox uniform barring an unforeseen trade.

So, to you, Mr. Beckett, help this two-year-old kid see a Red Sox World Series title in his lifetime. Hasn't he waited long enough?



-Jared Carrabis

To order my debut book, One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk, click HERE!





Published on September 08, 2009

---

Tweet