Will Josh Beckett return as one of Baseball's more dominating pitchers?
Beckett, 33, in entering his second full-season with the Dodgers. The right-hander was traded from the Red Sox to the Dodgers prior to the wavier trade deadline in August 2012. He pitched just eight games with the Dodgers last season before undergoing season-ending surgery in July. Doctors had to remove a rib that was causing Beckett to feel numbness in his pitching hand. He was just as numb on the mound last season, going 0-5, with a 5.19 ERA in those eight games.
“I just think the more times I get to face hitters trying to get hits off me and trying to put themselves in good situations,” said Beckett. It’s going to benefit me mentally getting over whatever mental things I have going on.”
Beckett pitched two shutout innings, striking out three batters on Sunday. It was his first “in-game” action since his surgery in July.
“Just a lot of different stuff going on.” said Beckett. “It’s like, ‘OK, I’ve been pitching bullpens and now it’s actual competition, trying to get these guys out.’ Am I going to do something different to get them out.”
In fact, Beckett hasn't been right since the end of the 2011 season. Since opening day 2012, Beckett is 7-19, with a 4.76 ERA. Those statistics are a far cry from the prime of his career. Beckett was the 2003 World Series MVP for the Florida Marlins, as well as the 2007 ALCS MVP for the “soon to be” World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
Beckett spoke to another pitcher, former NL Cy Young award winner Chris Carpenter, who had the same surgery back in 2012.
"I talked to him," Beckett said to the Los Angeles Times. “And he warned me about how invasive this surgery was. For a while afterward, there was no way I could get comfortable, no position I could get myself into. It felt like there was a knife in my back at all times."
There is hope that the three-time all-star can rebound and become the dominating pitcher of old. Even with the numbness in his throwing hand last season, Beckett's fastball still averaged out at 92 miles per hour. It even went up to 94 MPH on occasion. All reports from Spring Training say that Beckett still has a great arm and could be a diamond in the rough for Dodgers' fans.
Beckett is competing with Paul Maholm for the fifth starting rotation spot for the Dodgers. Maholm, 31, went 10-11, with a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Braves last season. Maholm also pitched on Sunday, throwing two scoreless innings in the Dodgers-Padres game. The game ended in a 3-3 tie. He doesn't throw as hard as Beckett does, his fastball being clocked at 87 MPH on average during the 2013 season, but can pitch effectively. I believe if Beckett continues to progress and pitch the way he did on Sunday, he'll secure the fifth starting spot. In the end, it's Beckett's job to lose.
Dodger fans have been disappointed that Beckett hasn't turned out to be the “ace” they thought he'd be. I believe the disappointment won't last long. Beckett isn't old enough to be classified as a pitcher “on the way out the door.” He still has the velocity and the competitive spirit to pitch. And most importantly, Beckett has a chip on his shoulder.
Beckett is the type of pitcher, as we've seen throughout his career, that responds well to adversity. He performs at his best when pressure is involved. His lifetime record in the playoffs (7-3, 3.09 ERA in 14 games/13 starts) is testament to his resolve. Expect Beckett to come back stronger than ever and make a real difference for the Dodgers in the National League West.
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