Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Josh Beckett is clearly in postseason mode.

When the Red Sox pitcher entered the interview room at Fenway Park Saturday night, he was curt and appeared miserable.

He knocked the product placement Gatorade cups over and moved them out of the camera angle (obviously he doesn't endorse the product) and his answers were quick and to the point.

He didn't smile.

That's exactly the Josh Beckett the Red Sox players and manager Terry Francona are glad to see.

It's that type of attitude that makes the right-hander one of the best postseason pitchers in recent history. He takes the ball against the Angels in Game Three of the ALDS Sunday night at Fenway Park and will attempt to produce a sweep.

He's not focused on his recent oblique strain he suffered in the final weekend of the regular season while throwing a side session, which forced the club to push his postseason start back. He said the doctors have reassured him that he'll be fine and he's ready to go.

Despite a 12-10 record with a 4.03 ERA during the regular season that was marred by injury, this is the time of the season when Beckett's ace quality shines.

He has won his last four playoff starts, dating back to 2003 when he played for the Marlins, and has compiled a 0.92 ERA during that stretch. He won all four postseason starts for the Sox in 2007 with a 1.20 ERA. Overall he's 6-2 in his career with a 1.73 in 10 games (nine starts) in October and has held opponents to a .159 batting average, which is the lowest ever among pitchers with 40-plus innings pitched.

"It comes down to opportunity," he said. "I've been put in a lot of situations during this time of the year to be successful and I've taken advantage of them. I really don't put too much else into it."

The Red Sox certainly do.

From the start of spring training this season until today Beckett has dealt with a back, elbow and oblique injuries. He may not feel 100 percent, but he has no intentions of letting any distraction affect his pitching.

"His year has been interrupted a little bit," said Francona. "There's been some unevenness. He's missed some starts for various reasons. I still think when we give him the ball in this type of situation we feel very good about this Josh Beckett. . . There is no reason when he takes the mound [Sunday] he won't be competing and being a really good pitcher."

With the Angels on the brink of being swept, every player in the Red Sox clubhouse said they feel extremely confident with Beckett toeing the rubber Sunday.

"He says he feels great and that's something we feel good about," said veteran Mike Lowell, who was also a teammate of Beckett's when they helped the Marlins beat the Yankees in the World Series in 2003. "I don't think there's ever been a pitcher who I've been around who comes up bigger in times like this. We feel like we've got a lot of momentum going, especially with him on the mound. Hopefully things will work out. It's a little colder here than it was out there, and I hope that's not a factor for him."

Beckett is adamantly deeming himself healthy and that has put the mindset in the Sox' clubhouse at ease.

"I think he's healthy," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "Hopefully he's at a point where he's not thinking about it. Hopefully he can go out and be him, if he is we'll be that much better. It's definitely a scare when one of your best pitchers goes down and can't pitch the first game of the series. But guys have stepped up and we haven't missed a beat."

Even captain and batterymate Jason Varitek feel confident in Beckett's ability.

"Josh had a rough start [due to his back injury]," said Varitek. "But he's still the same guy. Hopefully we'll get a quality start out of Josh and hopefully he'll be himself."

If Beckett takes out as mush frustration on the Angels as he did those Gatorade cups, the Red Sox should be in good shape.

 Tags  Josh Beckett Red Sox

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