An underappreciated ace? Josh Beckett has gotten it from all angles of late.
Not only has he possibly been supplanted as the Red Sox "ace," but he remains unsigned for 2011 just as the club brings in a comparable yet older right-hander for big money.
What is a former World Series MVP, ALCS MVP and 20-game winner to do?
So long as he stays the course, Beckett will get his.
While there were rumblings that the 29-year-old had an off-year in 2009, and that the signing of John Lackey to five years and $82.5 million signaled the club is ready to move on, it's all hogwash.
The two sides are reportedly close to an extension, and there are myriad reasons for it to happen.
For one, the guy who may have surpassed him as the best starter on the staff would hate to see Beckett go.
"I mean, I think it would definitely help out this organization, not only on the field, but off, for however many years they sign him," Jon Lester told reporters early in spring training. "He;s helped, and I can only speak for me, but he's helped me out a lot as far as preparing and just being professional. And it's not necessarily because he sits down and says, 'This is what you need to do.' He just does it."
And does it well. In fact, while a handful of downright horrendous starts dotted the landscape in 2009, Beckett actually produced one of his best seasons on record.
Beckett's 17 wins in 2009 were second only to his 20 in 2007. His 3.86 ERA was his second-lowest in four years with the Red Sox and he held opponents to a .244 batting average, his best mark with Boston. Four complete games and two shutouts represented career highs, as did his 199 strikeouts and 212 1/3 innings.
What caused some to overlook such impressive figures were those aforementioned rough outings. Beckett gave up at least six unearned runs five times in ’09, one more than 2007 and 2008 combined. The fact that two occurred against the Yankees, one against Philadelphia and another against Tampa Bay made it hard for some fans to overlook.
But anyone familiar with Beckett's resume knows his propensity for big wins in big moments. Ace or not, only an extension will keep him around for a few more.
Other options: There aren't any replacements for a guy like Beckett, but with its depth in the starting rotation, Boston can patch a hole with the best of them. Blisters and shoulder woes have reared their ugly head in the past (a new contract may contain language protecting the club from certain injuries) so time off is not out of the question.
If all else fails: If a new deal is not hammered out before spring training ends, there is potential for the relationship to get a bit icy. Should Beckett leave town and the Sox have to turn to the market, the names with some appeal include Kevin Correia, Jorge De La Rosa, Javier Vazquez, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden.
Hard to imagine any of them with the same presence that Beckett has in a Red Sox uniform.
