Ruh Roh

Josh Beckett is hurt. He might pitch game 3 of the ALDS. But who knows if that will even happen, so writes Steve Buckley.

Comments

[SF]

Tito saying something like "we'll see what happens" doesn't sound good. I am assuming we don't see Beckett this series, if at all. The Sox' reasonably long odds just got a bit longer.

Crappy timing, but those are the breaks. The Sox need to win a couple of games not pitched by Beckett anyhow.

[Atheose]

F*ck.

Who the hell decided that the playoffs should start on a Wednesday night, at 10? F*cking lame.

[pale blue eyes]

It does give Daisuke a start on the road where he's been better than at Fenway this season and Lester could pitch game 4 at home where he's been better.

Let's win this thing anyway.

[Paul SF]

Feancona said he was initially much more concerned, but that Thomas Gill told him not to worry about it -- for whatever that's worth. Tito also said they wouldn't have slotted him in if they thought he couldn't pitch. I tend to trust Francona: He's a straight-shooter as far as injuries go, and he seems to indicate Beckett's strain is pretty minor. Still an oblique is an oblique...

[Atheose]

I was pumped for a Game 1 start by Beckett on Wednesday--I'm stocked up on burgers, hotdogs, and Sam Adams Octoberfest--which became a tradition last year, and worked out pretty well. And now Beckett's not starting Game 1, and the game is slotted for 10:00 eastern time, which in reality means more like 10:30.

Lame lame lame.

[SF]

“Umm . . . yeah . . . I’m . . . Yeah . . . I don’t think we would slot him in, I mean, now certainly if he goes the wrong way, we’re going to use pretty good, hopefully very good, judgment. But I think that we’re slotting him in there because we think he can pitch there.”

Dunno, Paul, this doesn't sound like the most confident answer about Beckett's ability to be effective (or even start the game) against the Angels. We "think" he can pitch. Not a ringing endorsement and a display of certitude. Obviously we all know very little, but it doesn't sound too promising. I will be somewhat suprised if Beckett pitches, and even more surprised if he pitches effectively.

[Paul SF]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised either way -- if Beckett missed the series, or if he went out and dominated.

It's kind of a low blow for Buckley to print the quote like that, considering that's basically how Francona answers ALL the questions he's asked: With about 34 different sentence fragments and pauses that, when put together, give you more of a general impression than any firm declaration.

[dc]

for those of you aren't sure if this is sincere, it is:
sorry to hear about this guys...there's never a good time for injuries, but in the playoffs it's especially bad...you've heard about pitching and defense ...hopefully he'll be alright and tito is just being cautious with his comments until they know for sure...i won't be rooting for your team, but i don't root for injuries, and it'll be better baseball if your injured guys are able to play at least close to normal level...

[Ron Newman]

That's what happens when you play the AL West. We can complain about a 10 pm start, but a 7 pm start is just dandy for Angels fans.

[Atheose]

Yeah Ron, I think what annoys me most is the fact that it's a Wednesday night. If it were a Friday night, or an afternoon game on Saturday, it wouldn't inhibit me as much. Hell, even an afternoon game on Wednesday would be fine--I'd take off work.

Thanks for the well wishes dc, hopefully he'll be fine to pitch on Sunday. I'm sure YF's would rather see Beckett healthy and get lit up by the Angels than not see him play at all.

[Ron Newman]

I'd rather not wait until Friday for the first playoff game, possibly pushing the World Series into November. And if we wanted the first game at home at 7 pm ... well, the Red Sox should have won three more games.

[John - YF]

Since SF has opened up the floodgates and since I am not wishing injury on him, he is already in fact injured...I am not going DC's route. Here's to the Sox losing in the 1st round and Beckett not getting a start. Wait, let me put it another way that makes it acceptable and not Schadenfreude.

Because I am (momentarily - at least until the Sox lose) quite petty with regards to the Sox (despite some maturity in life this will never disappear entirely) part of me is rooting for the aches and losses to continue today and not the Yankees, for the aches to continue, thus costing a certain bad goatee wearing SP I very much dislike (almost entirely because of his team affiliation and nothing else) a shot at playoff win and a reason to be ever-grumpier.

There, that should make it acceptable.

:) (Smiley face makes it even MORE acceptable)

[SF]

Shocking! A Yankee fan rooting against the Sox! Where do you get the gall to voice that dislike, particularly at a site like this!!?!? You BASTAHD!

[Atheose]

Wtf? Tickets for Game 3 are cheap as hell, starting at $148 on stubhub for outfield bleachers. I went to Opening Day and paid $210 per ticket, and I bought those 2 months in advance!