We Have Our Beckett, His name is A.J.

by LouieTheLip on Aug 8, 2009 3:59 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

As you can see I posted the thread below at the end of 08. I posted it on Over The Monster. The Red Sox version of Pinstripe Alley, which you all probably know.

At the time of this thread Beckett had 3 seasons with the Sox under his belt and 2 of them were sub par. Beckett is pitching lights out right now and I wasn't really expecting another 2007 type performance from him but that is what we're getting ferom him. Burnett hasn't pitched as well as Beckett has this year. I do realize that. HOWEVER!

The point of this thread was to make the case that our number 3 was nearly as good as their number one. Again, at the time Wang was still in the mix an A.J. was projected as the number 3. My point was simple. I'll take our chances with a Burnett and Beckett showdown ANYDAY!!! Well last night it happened. I thought we could touch up Beckett a little . We have had some success against him in the past. However he's pitching as good as he ever has,......and Burnett hung like a champ. A few walks away from a masterpiece was Burnett. Hell of a game.

We Have Our Beckett, His Name Is A.J.

2160787714_e6e5c1dfd7_tiny by LouieTheLip on Dec 13, 2008 12:27 AM PST Comment 45 comments

I like to compare A.J. to Beckett more than I like to compare Sabathia to Beckett. Beckett has been a post season MONSTER and there is no denying that. So we can have that debate again come playoff time. However during the regular season over the last 7 years C.C. has been the better pitcher. He did win a cy young people. He is a throw back with innings pitched and complete games. Beckett doesn't hold a candle in those two areas. C.C. has a lifetime 3.66 ERA spending all his time in the AL. I can't wait to see him go into the post season with 195 innings instead of 250. I can't wait to see how successful he will be in the post season with a fresh arm instead of killing himself just to get there like he has in the past.

Anyway I want to compare our number 3 starter against your number one. A.J. to Beckett. Both injury prone. Although Beckett has not missed entire seasons with major injuries like Burnett so I'll say Burnett is more fragile and there is no doubt about that. What I want to do is use a 4 season window. Why 4 seasons? Well I keep hearing how good the Red Sox have been over the last 4 years. Apparently that's how we judge everything now in 4 year encrements. So says the Red Sox fan. So be it. In the last 4 years Burnett has averaged 182 innings pitched and Beckett 189. Burnett strikes out a few more, but also walks a few more. The ERA is comparable as well. Burnett has dominated the AL East but has no post season history. If there was a game tonight and it was Beckett vs Burnett how are you feeling. Like you better watch the game. That's how you're feeling. Burnett is a health risk I agree, but he's electric.

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PLease

I would love for someone to copy and paste this and post it on Over The Monster. I would do it myself, but threads like this got me banned.

I see things you don't see.

by LouieTheLip on Aug 8, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes they matched each other yesterday

but its really apples and oranges.

Beckett and AJ have similar pitches, but really the thing that sets them apart is control.

Beckett is a true #1 starter cuz you just never see him lose control while AJ walks entirely too many people, yet that is actually how he is effective (effective wildness).

They are both excellent, but Beckett is still better just cuz he doesn’t really put himself in any trouble like AJ seems to love to do.

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 8, 2009 4:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Control

I agree 100 percent. It’s the walks that seperate these two. On the other hand this season isn’t over and if Josh pitches in September how he pitched in April??? Say he finished the year with 16 wins and a 4 plus ERA. That would be 3 of 4 seasons in the AL east with a 4 plus ERA. A.J. has not one season in the AL east with a 4 plus. Josh needs to finish strong.

I see things you don't see.

by LouieTheLip on Aug 8, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

true

but being real about it, I just don’t see any let up in Beckett. I hate that a-hole with a passion, but you gotta respect what he does on the mound. His April, like AJ’s May and CC’s and even Lester’s April, were just him settling in.

I would not be surprised to see Beckett win 16, but also I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go on a roll and win 20.

I really have not seen a better playoff pitcher than Beckett in my life tho. I know El Duque was very good in his prime (his 50’s?), but Beckett is simply the most dominant playoff pitcher in the game.

AJ has that ability and last night showed he can most def pitch at the big stage, but Beckett has proven it.

Kinda like the 0-8, and the 2-8 now for the Yanks, really the reg. season numbers don’t mean squat when it comes to the playoffs. Beckett has always been an an above average reg. season starter, tho the year he won 20 and this season too he has been dominant (no injuries is a big reason….)

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 8, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unlike Everyone Else

I don’t throw certain seasons out the window like everyone else seems to be doing. He was absolutely UNTOUCHABLE in 2007. However in 2003 he went 2-2 and last year he had an 8 plus ERA. Now I know you are going to tell me he was hurt. If that is your argument then answer me this. When CC Sabathia pitches every third day for a month leading in to the playoffs with a total of 250 innings pitched. Carried his team down the stretch with a performance I never seen before. Do you think his arm is FRESH come play off time. Why do the same people not give CC a pass. Andy Pettitte has pitched a full seasons worth of post season innings. I never heard him make any excuses. Do you think he was 100 percent for all of his 180 innings pitched in the post season. Curt Schilling becomes a legend for pitching a masterpiece with a bloody ankle. Josh Beckett makes excuses. He shouldn’t of pitched last year. He hurt his team in my opinion. Josh Beckett has PROVEN to me over the years that unless everything is right he does not pitch well. He has to be 100 percent physically and mentally to dominate. How do I know that? History. He had a 5 plus ERA in 06, and a 4 plus ERA in 08. He battled blisters and back and shoulder problems and has been healthier in Boston then he ever has been. I don’t want a guy who can’t be effective when he’s hurt, but pitches anyway. This guy is a far cry from Pedro and Rocket who dominated year in and year out with their 2 plus ERA’s. AL, NL it didn’t matter. Consistently dominant Josh Beckett is NOT.

I see things you don't see.

by LouieTheLip on Aug 9, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's why I wasn't comparing him to CC

CC is an ace, I know that.

So is Beckett, at least this season. He has had blister problems, but when he doesn’t he’s dominant.

CC and Beckett are aces, AJ is more of a #2 or 1A

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 9, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From a sox fan...

I would say that when AJ is “on” he matches up pretty well with Beck.

However I will take Beckett any day since he is more consistent, probably the best postseason pitcher of this decade, and his contract is $6 mil less this season and $4.5 mil less next season when his option gets picked up.

Also Louie it helps people read your posts when you break up your points like Bradshaw instead of just writing big blobs of rambling paragraphs.

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

probably the best postseason pitcher of this decade?

Not quite.

Beckett
87 ip
2.90 era
.943 whip
-—-
Mystery Pitcher
117 ip
.77 era
.75 whip

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Aug 9, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

alright...how about starting pitcher?

Also you are counting his post season stats from 95-99, we are talking about this decade.

by upCHUCK on Aug 9, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

#'s wise

maybe not, but I don’t know about you Wong but when I see Beckett start a postseason game, I know damn well he aint gonna give up much if anything.

I’ve always rooted against Beckett too and he just never seems to falter in the playoffs. That, like A-Rod, may just mean he’s due. But while I hate Boston down to the toilet water, Beckett is legit and probably rightfully deserves that ‘best of the decade’ accolade.

Don’t forget how good he was with Florida (even while being a mediocre reg. season pitcher).

by FreeBradshaw on Aug 9, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Postseason

The latest Boston series had a very October-ish feel to it, and A.J. did nothing but deliver. As long as A.J. can perform like this on the big stage then I think that the Yankees have an even better chance of winning the AL.

by BostonSawksCawk on Aug 10, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs