Beckett is coming off of a disastrous 2010 campaign, a season in which he was riddled by injury and inconsistency. He and the Sox limped to the end of the season with Beckett posting a 6-6 record with a 5.78 ERA in just 21 starts.
Sox fans were hoping the right-hander would bounce back this season, and if spring training was any indication, he wasn't going to do that. Beckett's struggles continued into the spring, save for one start in the spring training finale in Houston.
Concerns mounted even more when, charged with finding the Red Sox their first win of the season in his first start of '11, Beckett struggled some, going only five innings and giving up three runs.
That all seems like a long time ago now.
Since then, Beckett has turned in three of the best starts he's had in recent memory. It started with a dominating performance on April 10, shutting down the Yankees at Fenway Park and giving the Sox their first series win of the season.
He threw eight scoreless innings that night against CC Sabathia and the Bombers, and he hasn't missed a beat since. In his two starts after that, Beckett worked a total of just 15 innings while surrendering only three runs.
He enters Tuesday's start in Baltimore with a 2-1 record with an eye-catching 1.93 ERA and 0.79 WHIP that is perhaps even more impressive.
Beckett's string of starts has Red Sox fans wondering aloud if Beckett is back to his 2007 form. In that World Series year, Beckett was an absolute workhorse. He won 21 games and finished second in Cy Young voting to Sabathia, not to mention a dominating playoff run.
Beckett's numbers in a dominating 2009 season were maybe even more impressive across the board, but there was something about the 2007 season that make it the benchmark for which Red Sox fans judge Beckett's performances from year to year.
The righty surely feels he has plenty to prove after a forgettable 2010 season. If he can revert to his 2007 ways, he'll definitely redeem himself.
Is the Josh Beckett of 2007 back for the Red Sox? Share your thoughts below.
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Is the Josh Beckett of 2007 back for the Red Sox?Market Research
