The rebound
Whenever Josh Beckett has had a chance to recap his 2010 season, he often directs a little anger toward the decision to play a game in Yankee Stadium on May 18 in a disgusting, persistent and chilly rain.
That game, Beckett's first in 11 days after missing a start due to a back strain, represented a chance for him to finally get going. He was just 1-1 with a 7.46 ERA and coming off a poor outing against the Yankees in Fenway Park, so showcasing his stuff in the home of the archrivals could have been a springboard to a turnaround.
Instead, Beckett labored in the difficult conditions before slipping on the mound while delivering a pitch in the fifth inning and reinjuring the back. He would be removed from the game moments later, and would not return for more than two months. It's not sour grapes when he questions the decision to play that night, but it is clear how frustrated he was by the turn of events.
By the time he did come back, Beckett had much to do in order for 2010 to not go down as his worst season in the major leagues. Although he established some degree of normalcy by going 5-5 with a 4.94 ERA in 13 starts, it wasn't enough for the right-hander to avoid that fate.
Not much you can do but look ahead, and to do so with determination.
"I can't change last year, just can do the best I can this year," Beckett said early on in camp. "It's like my dad said, 'Just throw the rearview mirror away because you can't change anything that's already happened.' As frustrating as 2010 was, you've got to move on. This is 2011."
In 2011, Beckett said he wants to get back to the basics with the arsenal that has made him so successful in the past. He mixed in a cutter a whole bunch last year, while backing off the fastball and curveball a bit. Because of the back issues, his velocity was below the norm. An offseason spent strengthening his back and midsection through core training has Beckett in excellent shape and focused on rediscovering the form that saw him win 20 games in 2007 and go 17-6 in 2009.
It only seems like Beckett has been around forever, having been on top of the baseball world in 2003 as a 23-year-old World Series hero, but Beckett still burns with the desire of a fire-balling kid out of Texas.
When he was recently asked a question that alluded to his age in a way that made it seem like an obstacle, the ever-competitive Beckett fired back, just to remind us all that he has plenty more to give.
"I'm only 30," he said. "Thirty is the new 20. Somebody told me that."
Certainly, Beckett's age is not an issue. In fact, the limited action in 2010 could serve to send him into
2011 with a fresher arm. We know he has a fresh outlook, and just needs to find that groove once again.
"I need to string some things together to gain that confidence of just going out there and redoing it," he said. "If I have one bad start I don’t think it’s going to be the end of the world in 2011."
It wasn't the end of the world in 2010. However, on nights such as that sloppy one in the Bronx, it was
darn frustrating.
Other options
Like everyone else in the rotation, Beckett is hard to replace. As it stands today, Tim
Wakefield gets the first call if someone goes down.
If all else fails
Fortunately, Beckett's role as the staff leader has been aided by the maturation of Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, the addition of John Lackey and the continued presence of Wakefield. There are
plenty of leaders to go around. However, if Beckett has another season like 2010 and there isn't anyone
around to pick up the slack on the mound, it could be disastrous for the rotation.
