54 replies to this topic

[Chemistry Schmemistry]

That was an interesting juxtaposition, showing Beckett with the fist pump, then Schilling with an almost identical fist pump in the dugout. Beckett seems like he has a lot of the same makeup, maybe a Schilling junior.

Nice debut tonight. I'm going to start calling him G19.

[g0wave]

Wow...

He certainly struggled a bit early in this game but for quite a long time I will remember Josh Beckett on the mound facing Michael Young with 2 outs and nobody on in the 7th, pitches 107-109.

Pitch 1 - NASTY 72 mph curve, outside corner
Pitch 2 - 95 mph fastball inside strike (swinging)
Pitch 3 - 95 mph strike outside corner....

Wow.

No predictions, but this is going to be alot of fun! I hope to see this kid in a Sox uniform for many years to come.

[OCD SS]

I watched the game without sound tonight, was what Beckett was yelling about at the end of the 7th ever fully explained?

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

I watched the game without sound tonight, was what Beckett was yelling about at the end of the 7th ever fully explained?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He was telling the ump he did a nice job. Seriously.

[OCD SS]

He was telling the ump he did a nice job.  Seriously.

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EI had the Texas feed, and after the break they showed the ump's reaction. It was a bit puzzling. Thanks.

[c3walsh]

Nice debut tonight. I'm going to start calling him G19.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He looked pretty sharp after he got out of that 1st inning. He is very much like a G38 junior. Perhaps that is why he chose #19 (1/2 of 38). Could be a coincidence or something else.

BTW, I prefer to call him Beckkkkkett for his 5Ks tonight.

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

Yeah the ump didn't know what to do. I think he was trying not to acknowledge it. Very strange of Beckett, but whatever as long as he keeps pitching like that.

[thisyearisthe]

He's OK, but he's no Chien-Ming Wang.

Speaking of which, he just walked in the tying run. 4-4...

[JohntheBaptist]

Yeah the ump didn't know what to do.  I think he was trying not to acknowledge it.  Very strange of Beckett, but whatever as long as he keeps pitching like that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Doesn't Curt do this more or less every start? I've seen Wake do it as well. I figured it was a common thing. Who knows.

It was kind of funny watching him try to get his attention, either way.

Anyway, seeing a guy that ramped up after a K on the 3rd game of the year is just really, really fun. I really have no more to say but don't know how to stop typing..

[LahoudOrBillyC]

With all of the movement with the Red Sox this past off-season, the acquisition of Beckett has kind of gotten lost. Maybe because it was like five trades ago, way back in early November.

Nonetheless, this guy could be the key to the whole season, the difference between not making the playoffs and being a World Series favorite. He could win the Cy Young Award, and it would not surprise me in the slightest.

[Eric Van]

Wow...

He certainly struggled a bit early in this game but for quite a long time I will remember Josh Beckett on the mound facing Michael Young with 2 outs and nobody on in the 7th, pitches 107-109.

Pitch 1 - NASTY 72 mph curve, outside corner
Pitch 2 - 95 mph fastball inside strike (swinging)
Pitch 3 - 95 mph strike outside corner....

Wow.

It would be burned in my mind, too, if my DVR hadn't crapped the bed with 2 outs and two on in the top of the 6th while I was still 24 minutes behind. (Ahh, technology giveth and technology taketh away.) Here's hoping the notoriously poorly edited "NESN in 2" includes the failed Sox rallies in the 7th and 8th and Beckett's final inning . . . although I'm sure that they'll show a bunch of Loe grounders from the early innings instead of the Sox' 8th.

Through the first 4 IP, I was thinking, this kid's got great stuff but he's still learning how to pitch. Whereupon he not only started dispatching guys easily rather than laboriously (e.g., 9 pitches to fan Wilkerson ending the 4th), but they stopped hitting the ball hard off him, too.

[SoxFanPJ]

Through the first 4 IP, I was thinking, this kid's got great stuff but he's still learning how to pitch.  Whereupon he not only started dispatching guys easily rather than laboriously (e.g., 9 pitches to fan Wilkerson ending the 4th), but they stopped hitting the ball hard off him, too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It may be a function of just getting to know each other, but Remy touched upon it on the broadcast and it was pretty visible just watching the game that Beckett and Tek where not on the same page, Beckett often shaking Tek off multiple times before finding a pitch he wanted.

[reggiecleveland]

It may be a function of just getting to know each other, but Remy touched upon it on the broadcast and it was pretty visible just watching the game that Beckett and Tek where not on the same page, Beckett often shaking Tek off multiple times before finding a pitch he wanted.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He was working faster (and better at the end) which makes me think they started to agree more.

[southshoresoxfan]

What a debut for the kid. Between him and Papelbon it was nice to see a pair of 25 yr old southern-born and bred flamethrowers starting and finishing this game for the Sox. As others have said, as the game went on Beckett seemed to get stronger and not lose much if any velocity. Here's to Beckett and Varitek clicking to a level to get the kid 20 wins and a Cy, and an AL East title for the Sox.

[jtn46]

Yankee fans are going to go ballistic when Beckett goes nuts like that after getting their hitters out. I can't wait.

[86spike]

Should Clemens decide to play again... there's no way on earth that he'd rather sit in the dugout with Johnson, Mussina, Wang and Chacon than with Schilling, Beckett, Wake and Wells.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Roger was watching that game last night.

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

Yankee fans are going to go ballistic when Beckett goes nuts like that after getting their hitters out.  I can't wait. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They should be used to it from 2003.

[Clears Cleaver]

I, too, was ready to start the "Welcome to the American League Josh Beckett" thread in the fourth inning, but he really started hitting spots more and getting more comfortable with the zone and pitch calling. Last K was sweet and just nasty. He turned it up a notch. to 11.

Last night makes me hope that there are good times ahead

[Plantiers Wart]

Was Becket screamin "F*** You!" (twice) at Wilkerson after he finally k'ed him to end the fourth, or just yelling it in general? Either way, great outing. And the new closer wasn't too shabby either.

[smastroyin]

I hope there is something to the Beckett-Tek thing and people have a good reason to go dig up my posts about Tek not affecting pitchers. Beckett has always had electric stuff but just never seemed to have quite enough of a plan to go with it. Hopefully Tek, Nip, and his fellow pitchers will get him to trust his stuff more and bring out even more of his potential.

Like Lahoud, I have my error bars set quite high on Beckett. I think he could be masterful or mediocre or anywhere in between.

[Bosoxen]

I'll be honest, he had me a bit worried there for a while. After struggling rather mightily in the first inning, and then losing two consecutive guys after 0-2 counts in the 3rd, I had visions of Matt Clement's nibbling dancing in my head. I started to think to myself that between those two, the bullpen would be run ragged. But then he seemed to settle down and just cruised through the middle innings.

I may be wrong, but he had a 5-pitch inning in there, did he not? I believe it was the 5th, IIRC. I was slightly surprised to see him come out in the 7th, but not surprised at all by the end result. Good stuff, and I'm glad I got to witness his Sox debut first-hand.

Not really sure why he struggled the way he did. Perhaps there may be something to the comfort level with Tek, but he seemed to get that settled rather quickly. Very solid performance overall.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and seeing what he ends up doing. I'm not going to get my hopes up for a Cy just yet. The season is only 3 games old. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, now.

[Planet Manny]

I'll be honest, he had me a bit worried there for a while.  After struggling rather mightily in the first inning, and then losing two consecutive guys after 0-2 counts in the 3rd, I had visions of Matt Clement's nibbling dancing in my head.  I started to think to myself that between those two, the bullpen would be run ragged.  But then he seemed to settle down and just cruised through the middle innings.

I may be wrong, but he had a 5-pitch inning in there, did he not?  I believe it was the 5th, IIRC.  I was slightly surprised to see him come out in the 7th, but not surprised at all by the end result.  Good stuff, and I'm glad I got to witness his Sox debut first-hand.

Not really sure why he struggled the way he did.  Perhaps there may be something to the comfort level with Tek, but he seemed to get that settled rather quickly.  Very solid performance overall.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and seeing what he ends up doing.  I'm not going to get my hopes up for a Cy just yet.  The season is only 3 games old.  Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, now.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think the reason he was struggling early was very evident, and I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet? Quite simply he couldn't throw his curve ball for strikes. THis is what lead to the wild pitches and lack of control high pitch count etc. All he was using was fastballs and the hitters knew it, but still couldn't catch up to it and fouled off tons of pitches. When he finally did get some control of the curve ball he was lights out. When he has those two pitches working I like this kid alot

[Doug Beerabelli]

He had a ridiculous amount of break on his curve early on, got better control of it later. He was getting hit early, but as I was watching him pitch, I was thinking "Damn, this guy's got ludicrous stuff."

[redsox13]

EI had the Texas feed, and after the break they showed the ump's reaction.  It was a bit puzzling.  Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well he did call a pretty good game for Beckett.

That first pitch to Youn was just nasty. On of those curceballs that freeze your legs and lock your knees.

Beckett has absolutely filthy stuff and, judging by the number of shake offs without a trip to the mound, it looks as though Tek has a lot of faith in him.


Opening day is going to be a real joy to watch

[Bosoxen]

I think the reason he was struggling early was very evident, and I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet? Quite simply he couldn't throw his curve ball for strikes. THis is what lead to the wild pitches and lack of control high pitch count etc. All he was using was fastballs and the hitters knew it, but still couldn't catch up to it and fouled off tons of pitches. When he finally did get some control of the curve ball he was lights out.  When he has those two pitches working I like this kid alot

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was kind of hard to tell from so far away. From where I was, it looked like they were passed balls because Tek had gotten crossed up. Guess that makes a little more sense.

[SoxFanSince57]

Some fun quotes from the Globe

Nearing the dugout steps, where Curt Schilling had the excitement of an 11-year-old boy who'd found a playmate exactly like himself, Beckett paused and did something rather Schilling-like. He turned, cupped his glove next to his mouth to help the sound travel, and yelled to Hickox. It took a couple attempts, before Hickox, cracking a smile, turned to Beckett. Thanks, he said. Or something like that.

''He was phenomenal," Schilling said. ''That kid throwing the way he was throwing he had to be perfect, and after the first inning he was."

''I love that [stuff]," David Ortiz said of Beckett's raw emotion. ''People in Boston are going to have fun with this guy. I think we've got two Curt Schillings."

The Globe

From the Herald

“Schilling and Beckett both pitched their butts off here,” center fielder Coco Crisp said. “They both dominated and that’s a good sign. Ideally, every team wants to have two aces, so it’s a big bonus for us. Our confidence level is really high having both Schilling and Beckett.”

Herald

I imagine that playing in his first game for the Sox and playing in front of family and friends was quite an emotional experience. As he said in mlb.com

"That was about all I had, was that last pitch," said Beckett. "I was physically and mentally fatigued."

mlb.com

I am sure his "wildness" and fatigue can be chalked up to opening day jitters by a 25 year old.

It is indeed fun to see both Curt and Beckett start off with wins.

Edited by SoxFanSince57, 06 April 2006 - 11:10 AM.

[FarvinMoosey]

I love the fact that Beckett was able to put up such a good performance when he was clearly laboring with his secondary pitches to start. Its not like he went 7 innings 1 run without his best stuff against a banjo hitting team. He just did it, or at least 4 innings without full command, against one of the better lineups in the league. That fight that he can put in is going to be a wonderful boon for the Sox, hopefully for years to come.

Kudos to #19.

[Madison33]

Watching this guy pitch the '03 series I remember sitting in my fog of Grady-Little-Hating-Not-Able-To-Dull-The-Pain-With-Gallons-of-Beer state thinking, if this guy ever puts on Sox laundry, I will run naked through the streets. It was chilly in November and raining last night, but I haven't exactly eliminated this possibility from my future.

This guy just has it...Tek is going to help him gain the finesse he needs to truly 100% be G-19. Watching this game last night was a thing of beauty...I think I got even more excited for this year than I already was, which I honestly didn't think was possible...

[SoxVindaloo]

Was Becket screamin "F*** You!" (twice) at Wilkerson after he finally k'ed him to end the fourth, or just yelling it in general?  Either way, great outing.  And the new closer wasn't too shabby either.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was lucky enough to be sitting right behind home plate last night, and it did not seem like any of Beckett's cussing was directed at Wilkerson.

[irinmike]

I am sure Beckett was a bit nervous last night. First regular season game of the year with a new team. I don't care how professional he is, that makes anyone edgy and nervous. That being said, he reacted well and pitched better and better as the game went along. That means to me that as he settles into his role on the Red Sox staff he will be outstanding as long as he stays healthy.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

I am sure Beckett was a bit nervous last night.  First regular season game of the year with a new team. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder how he'll be in the home opener on Tuesday? I am thinking the crowd might be up for it. I will be 3000 miles away, but he might hear me anyway.

[Remagellan]

Should Clemens decide to play again... there's no way on earth that he'd rather sit in the dugout with Johnson, Mussina, Wang and Chacon than with Schilling, Beckett, Wake and Wells.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Roger was watching that game last night.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought the same thing last night. Watching Schilling celebrate Beckett getting the last check swing call, then watching Beckett high-fiving Papelbon after his dominant debut as a closer (although I still hold out hope for a full Foulke recovery), I thought to myself, "Roger, how could you not want to be a part of this? These are your guys!"

[FredCDobbs]

I thought the same thing last night.  Watching Schilling celebrate Beckett getting the last check swing call, then watching Beckett high-fiving Papelbon after his dominant debut as a closer (although I still hold out hope for a full Foulke recovery), I thought to myself, "Roger, how could you not want to be a part of this?  These are your guys!"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Kon Man probably does want to be a part of this. Doesn't mean JWH, Theo, or most importantly me want that.

I doubt JWH wants to pay that freight for three or four months, I'm not sure Theo wants the headache, and I just plain don't like the sumbitch.

ps. To keep on topic, he was dominant and didn't even have his best control. His raw stuff is top five in the game. The difference between this guy and AJ Burnett is rather large, to put it mildly. To quote Clubber Lang: "My prediction for the American League? Pain."

Edited by FredCDobbs, 06 April 2006 - 01:29 PM.

[5belongstoGeorge]

I wonder how he'll be in the home opener on Tuesday? I am thinking the crowd might be up for it. I will be 3000 miles away, but he might hear me anyway.

Is it Tuesday yet?

Beckett has distinguished himself as an excellent big game pitcher... I know some people believe there is no such thing, but I am not one of those people... If the home opener doesn't get his attention then nothing will. I expect he'll do just fine.

(and not to hijack, but I believe Clement will be just fine this year too!)

[OCD SS]

(and not to hijack, but I believe Clement will be just fine this year too!)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think Clement will be just fine in the first half and then traded to get Paplebon into the rotation and move Hansen into the vacated bulpen slot.

That's maybe more of a hijack than I intended...

[LahoudOrBillyC]

I  think Clement will be just fine in the first half and then traded to get Paplebon into the rotation and move Hansen into the vacated bulpen slot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll take that bet. If the Red Sox are in contention, and Clement is pitching well (which I suspect he will be), he will not be dealt. I suspect there will a spot in the rotation, or a spot in the bullpen, but it won't be Clement's.

[Pumpsie]

I'll take that bet.  If the Red Sox are in contention, and Clement is pitching well (which I suspect he will be), he will not be dealt.  I suspect there will a spot in the rotation, or a spot in the bullpen, but it won't be Clement's.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly. I also find it highly unlikely that Paps will be switched to the rotation midseason if he is successful in relief, as he will be. If Paps is going to be in the rotation at some time in the future it will be after a spring training of preparing for it. Anything else is malpractice.

I see our rotation staying put with the possible exception of Lester replacing Wells at the trading deadline and Wells going elsewhere IF Lester is demonstrating that he is ready.

[Gehrig38]

He wasn't screaming f#@$ you to anyone other than himself, he was pissed at how the inning progressed. At the end he was fired up, pumped, not yelling at anyone in particular. He was telling Dreck that he called a good game, except he waited 'til he was near the dugout and couldn't be heard the first 5 times, once Bruce looked to our dugout to let Tito know of a lineup change he saw everyone there yelling to get his attention, went down kinda odd is all.
Pitchers are always telling umps nice job at the end of their outings, not all pitchers but alot do, Josh was just caught up in it all last night and I think his brain was in rapid fire still. It's one of the things I do when I know my night is over, before I even get back to the dugout and talk to Tito, he's started to watch for it to know when I am done before we talk:) FWIW I went out there for the 7th because I HAD thrown 110 pitches in a game already, the weather was perfect. All of the "he's tired cause their crushing the ball" people need to shut it:) The HR and the long outs were due to the exact opposite reason than you think, I got stronger, more velocity, after the 3rd, and started to overthrow which brought the ball up in the zone. It happened this spring and it's puzzling, but I am getting more velocity as the game goes, the opposite of my entire career. The CHB conspiracy theorist love to go with the "Schill manages himself" theory, but nothing could be farther from the truth. In philly we had a very different relationship, since we've been here he's called the shots, every single time. Sometimes when you ponder how I managed to force him to keep me in there was never even a conversation between innings between us.
BTW he basically did what he did with minimal BB command and few changeups, which was f'ing impressive. This kid stays healthy and he's gonna be real special. He'll have a great chance to stay healthy here given the new stuff he's learning about arm and body maintenance and his desire to be _great_, not good.

[86spike]

So g38 - did he pick #19 because i's half of 38?

I hope you're right about the arm/body health tips Josh is being exposed to. These tips don't involve peeing on yourself, do they?

[The Napkin]

So g38 - did he pick #19 because i's half of 38?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He relishes the pressure of living up to wearing the number of the greatest pitcher in Red Sox history.

[Main Ingredient]

He relishes the pressure of living up to wearing the number of the greatest pitcher in Red Sox history.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mr. John Burkett??

[RedOctober3829]

the man lives up to my sig line.....

[Monster Dick Radatz]

FWIW I went out there for the 7th because I HAD thrown 110 pitches in a game already, the weather was perfect. All of the "he's tired cause their crushing the ball" people need to shut it:) The HR and the long outs were due to the exact opposite reason than you think, I got stronger, more velocity, after the 3rd, and started to overthrow which brought the ball up in the zone. It happened this spring and it's puzzling, but I am getting more velocity as the game goes, the opposite of my entire career.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting. This was difficult to see from the right field pole, but you did not appear to be tired. The 7th was a quiet 1-2-3. Figured you heard our loud and proud, "Let's Go Red Sox!!" and got all motivated.

BTW he basically did what he did with minimal BB command and few changeups, which was f'ing impressive. This kid stays healthy and he's gonna be real special. He'll have a great chance to stay healthy here given the new stuff he's learning about arm and body maintenance and his desire to be _great_, not good.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also got to see this game and he definitely looked like he was struggling with the curve. Was this why he appeard to be shaking off the signs? How has Beckett been working with Tek?

[Pumpsie]

Always nice to get the inside scoop directly from the horse...so to speak. Thanks for coming by and straightening us out, Curt.

Personally, I'm freakin' ecstatic about this team and especially about our 1-2 punch in the rotation of Schill and Beckett. I think this has the potential to be the best Red Sox team in my lifetime (55 years and counting). The last time we had a 1-2 like that, we won it all.

I'm also glad to hear that Tito is managing differently from his days in Philly. It's better for the organization if he's a bit less collegial and a bit more directive with the guys. That's the role. He can't play Hamlet as if he's playing Falstaff, in other words. Makes for a confusing play.

This team has a nice blend of veteran savvy and youth. Josh can learn from Schill. Wily Mo from Manny and Papi. Youks from Snow (and Lowell), etc. Shaping up as a heck of a team.

[Plantiers Wart]

He wasn't screaming f#@$ you to anyone other than himself, he was pissed at how the inning progressed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Curt - I wasn't getting on him even if he was screaming at Wilkerson. I was just curious if he was pissed that he kept fouling stuff off or just pissed in general. It's great to see the intensity from him, from Papelbon, and from an old horse like yourself.

[jacklamabe65]

He keeps pitching like that I won't be distracted that he's wearing Freddy Lynn's number.

With the kind of passion that I saw out of him two nights ago, I can't wait to see how he'll respond when 38,000 maniacs go crazy at Fenway when he walks from the bullpen to the dugout next Monday afternoon.

[Incubus3636]

He keeps pitching like that I won't be distracted that he's wearing Freddy Lynn's number. 

With the kind of passion that I saw out of him two nights ago, I can't wait to see how he'll respond when 38,000 maniacs go crazy at Fenway when he walks from the bullpen to the dugout next Monday afternoon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Game's Tues Jack

[lonborgski]

He relishes the pressure of living up to wearing the number of the greatest pitcher in Red Sox history.

Red Sox Numbers Through the Years

Number 19 has some great names associated with it:
Jose Melendez
Dana Keiker
Steve Lyons
Dante Bichette
Moe Berg
Wilbur Wood
The Napkin
Dan Osinski
Don Pavletich
Gary Waslewski
Fred Lynn
Bobby Ojeda
Gabe Kapler (in '04)
Olderdude

but, the best has to be . . . "Merlin Nippert"

Is he related to "Nip"?

[5belongstoGeorge]

Wait a minute... is this some tricky Stat-guy thing that says Josh Beckett is "really worth" BH Kim?

If so I may be forced to type something that gets put into a SoSH time-out.

[epraz]

Maybe you guys forget how filthy Kim was.