194 replies to this topic

[DeltaForce]

per Buckley, and as reported just now on tonight's radio broadcast. The extent of the injury is unknown. The Sox will make an announcement after the game.

edit: Here's the link. He could be out for the postseason.

Wow.

Edited by Sille Skrub, 28 September 2008 - 09:58 PM.

[Rocco Graziosa]

Wow, that not good. Not good at all. Those are the type of injuries that nag and take weeks to heal. Hopfully its just the slightest of pulls and he can pitch at 100% in the playoffs, otherwise the Sox title hopes just took a massive hit.

[DeltaForce]

I guess the good news is that Lester will be able to pitch game 1 on 5 days' rest. I guess, after that, it would be Matsuzaka, Wake, Lester, Matsuzaka.

(Thank God Anaheim picked the "long" series.)

Edited by DeltaForce, 28 September 2008 - 09:07 PM.

[PortlandSoxFan]

jeez...I only slightly pulled my oblique swinging a golf club a month ago and it STILL hurts when I sneeze.

[SoxScout]

Welp, if that is not the most cruel joke in the history of baseball then we are screwed.

[OCD SS]

When the fuck did he do this?!?

[Fratboy]

April Fools?

You're better than this. Come on.

Beckett out of the first series seriously compromises their ability to make it to the ALCS. Byrd and Wake are gonna have to step up HUGE.

[cheekydave]

When the fuck did he do this?!?

Buckley says during his last bullpen

[gcapalbo]

I just pulled an oblique reading this.

Still 'Could be' -- but this is not good, not good.

[SoxScout]

The Red Sox [team stats]could be facing a Tom Brady [stats]-like blow to their postseason plans.

Just as the Patriots [team stats] are trying to make it work this season without the injured Brady as their quarterback, the Red Sox could be going into the playoffs without Josh Beckett [stats] as the ace of their pitching staff.

According to a source, Beckett sustained an oblique injury during a bullpen session following his last start.

Asked last night if Beckett is suffering from an oblique injury, a separate Red Sox source said a medical update on Beckett will be announced today, before the team boards its charter flight to California for Wednesday’s Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels.

http://www.bostonher...l...&position=0

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

Beckett out of the first series seriously compromises their ability to make it to the ALCS. Byrd and Wake are gonna have to step up HUGE.

I think it means that Dice has to step up HUGE. If there's no Beckett, they'll probably go Lester, Dice, Wake or Byrd, Lester, Dice.

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Wow. This is potentially devastating.

Fuck me.

[Bowlerman9]

It's times like this when we need to stay calm and remember ..... we're not the Mets.

Serenity Now!

[knucklecup]

With Beckett, the Red Sox have as good of a chance to win it all as any other playoff team.

Without Beckett, not so much.

If true, this is devastating news. Ugh.

[FenwayWhalers]

Come on!

[roundegotrip]

It seems like every player I see with an oblique is out for at least 3 or 4 weeks. If he hurt his oblique badly enough to miss the ALDS, chances are he'll probably be out for the ALCS, too, eh?

[RedOctober3829]

I'm waiting to hear official word from Theo/Tito or the team doctors, but if it is a slight pull he could still make the start although not very likely. As we all know with Colon, obliques are very troublesome to deal with especially with the torque a pitcher's body takes on every pitch. If there is any possibility that he can start you can count on him doing whatever it takes to be on that mound on Wednesday night.

I'd imagine the matchups would go as such if he's out.

Lester vs. Lackey
Matsuzaka vs. Santana
Wakefield vs. Saunders
Lester vs. Lackey
Matsuzaka vs. Santana

Edited by RedOctober3829, 28 September 2008 - 09:26 PM.

[drtooth]

Is it possible that Buckley found out about Beckett's oblique and the rest is his conjecture? I would wait to hear from the Sox first.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

With Beckett, the Red Sox have as good of a chance to win it all as any other playoff team.

Without Beckett, not so much.

If true, this is devastating news. Ugh.

I think this depends on the assumption that we were going to get 2007 (and 2003) playoff Beckett, and not 2008 regular season Beckett, though. If we were only going to get 2008 regular season Beckett, this doesn't hurt quite as much. Still hurts their chances significantly, but it's a matter of degree.

With Beckett performing at his 2008 regular season level, I think the Sox have a strong chance to repeat. With 2007 playoff Beckett, they were probably the WS favorites. Without Beckett at all, I'd say they still have a pretty good shot at repeating, but it's going to leave them relying more heavily on the offense.

If St. Louis was able to win in 2006, I'm confident this Sox team, even without Beckett, can win in 2008.

[JimMonaghan]

I would think that news like this would be buzzing all over the press box by now. Nothing on the YES broadcast, nothing on the Globe site.

[Foulkey Reese]

I'm waiting to hear official word from Theo/Tito or the team doctors, but if it is a slight pull he could still make the start although not very likely. As we all know with Colon, obliques are very troublesome to deal with especially with the torque a pitcher's body takes on every pitch. If there is any possibility that he can start you can count on him doing whatever it takes to be on that mound on Wednesday night.

I'd imagine the matchups would go as such if he's out.

Lester vs. Lackey
Matsuzaka vs. Santana
Wakefield vs. Saunders
Lester vs. Lackey
Matsuzaka vs. Santana

Wakefield vs. the Angels is absolutely terrifying. They'll score 5 runs on passed balls and stolen bases.

[pk1627]

WTF is going on with this team? Beckett hurts himself during a side session? Papelbon kicks a goddamn heater? Jesus Christ.

[bd11]

Wakefield vs. the Angels is absolutely terrifying. They'll score 5 runs on passed balls and stolen bases.

Totally agree. Plus he is a historically bad postseason pitcher as we all know, with a 6.36 career ERA. If necessary, you have to go with Byrd.

[RedOctober3829]

Wakefield vs. the Angels is absolutely terrifying. They'll score 5 runs on passed balls and stolen bases.

Well, with Paul Byrd they will just hit 5 HRs so pick your poison.

Postseason Numbers

Paul Byrd                      Tim Wakefield7 APP(5 GS)                  17 APP(10 GS2-3                               5-6(5-2 in Division Series)30 IP                             69.1 IP39 H                              62 H16 ER                            49 ER  9 BB                              36 BB13 K                              52 K

Paul Byrd 2008 vs. LAA
7/21(w/CLE) Indians 5 Angels 2 at LAA
5.1 IP
9 H
1 R
2 BB

Tim Wakefield 2008 vs. LAA
7/20--Angels 5 Red Sox 3 at LAA
7.0 IP
6 H
4 R
0 BB
1 K
[url="http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/pgl_finder.cgi?n1=byrdpa01#n1=byrdpa01&as=result_pitcher&offset=0&st=&WL=any&team_lg=&opp_lg=&throws=any&HV=any&Role=anyGS&DEC=any&c1val=0&c2val=0&c3val=0&c4val=0&firstgames=&firstteamgames=&min_year_game=2008&max_year_game=2008&series=any&series_game=any&team_id=&opp_id=ANA&game_site=&orderby=SO&c1pgl=&c1gtlt=eq&c2pgl=&c2gtlt=eq&c3pgl=&c3gtlt=eq&c4pgl=&c4gtlt=eq""]B-Ref[/url]
B-Ref

Edited by RedOctober3829, 28 September 2008 - 09:56 PM.

[bsj]

All kidding aside, can we order a plastic bubble for KG now?

The Angels series, already one I had pegged as the toughest challenge this team would potentially face during this postseason, now becomes that much harder.

Lester vs. Lackey
Matsuzaka vs. Santana
Wakefield vs. Saunders
Lester vs. Lackey
Matsuzaka vs. Santana

I'm still gonna wait and see about Beckett...maybe we're assuming the worst...Can Jon Lester be a #1? If not a shut down #1, at least keep us within a run or so? That is key...I like the Dice-Santana matchup....and the Wakes/Saunders matchup, while advantage Angels, is one I think can go the other way...

Let's see how this unfolds.

[bankshot1]

This f'ing year is starting to smell a lot like 2005.

[PedroSpecialK]

This f'ing year is starting to smell a lot like 2005.

In 2005, we didn't have 2 other top 10 AL starters to take our injured ace's place. This is bad news, sure, but the sky certainly isn't falling because one of our playoff starters is hurt.

[Andrew]

NESN reporting on the Buckley report. No other sources so far, though.

[Foulkey Reese]

Buckley is on NESN...and they're talking about Pesky.

Jesus Christ.

[Foulkey Reese]

Buckley? That's Mike Adams.

Yep my bad I swore I heard him announce him as Buckley.

[Foulkey Reese]

Lester will start game 1
Dicek game 2
Beckett game 3

So I guess it's not so bad.

Per Tito on NESN.

Edited by Foulkey Reese, 28 September 2008 - 09:56 PM.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Per Tito in the press conference.

Lester in game 1.
Matsuzaka in game 2.
Beckett is scheduled for game 3.

He's hurt, but they think he can start.

[Andrew]

Francona confirming on NESN that Beckett strained the oblique during a side session.

Game 1: Lester
Game 2: Matsuzaka
Game 3: Beckett (tentatively)

Edit: Okay, you guys posted that before he finished talk! ha

Edited by Andrew, 28 September 2008 - 09:57 PM.

[BigMike]

Tito confirms Beckett has an injured Oblique. he is now scheduled to start game 3

[Foulkey Reese]

"We'll start those two guys and slot him in Sunday."

Sounds like he's hedging that he'll be able to pitch game 3.

"I think he's gonna be ok" - Tito

[mabrowndog]

He strained it during Friday's side session.

"We discussed (having him pitch ALDS game 2 on) Friday, but we thought that was pushing it."

Edited by mabrowndog, 28 September 2008 - 10:01 PM.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

"We'll start those two guys and slot him in Sunday."

Sounds like he's hedging that he'll be able to pitch game 3.

Could be a stalling tactic. I'm hoping it's what Tito says and that he just won't be ready until game 3, but I think it's safe to assume we won't be getting vintage playoff Beckett in the ALDS. Even if he can fight through it, that oblique strain has to affect him.

[PortlandSoxFan]

sounds to me like "We'll push him back as far as we can, and hope he can pitch then."

[Foulkey Reese]

sounds to me like "We'll push him back as far as we can, and hope he can pitch then."

Yea I wouldn't be at all shocked if Byrd or Wakefield ended up starting game #3.

But the news could have been a lot worse.

[SoxScout]

The Sox are praying right now, they have no idea who is starting game 3, probably depends on what the series record is.

[RedOctober3829]

This is positive in the fact that they didn't come out and say he can't pitch at all. But, I am not confident in the way Francona phrased that he will "slot him in" for Game 3. With this injury, everything could be going well then one bad stretch or even bending over the wrong way and it can go back to the extent of the original injury.

I am not counting on Beckett being at full strength for the rest of the season.