Breaking down Beckett
Apr 1st, 2007 by Rob Bradford
Really quick before head off into WEEI-land for the next five hours.
Here is the story that ran in today’s Eagle-Tribune. It touches on the personal side of Josh Beckett and the challenges he went through last season. Click here.
Here are some of the quotes:
FORT MYERS, Fla. - It is the 17th hole, the two foursomes are tied in their fight to the finish, and Jon Lester is on the tee box.
“Hey, Jonny,” shouts a nearby competitor. “You got a Spootenator?”
Lester steps away from his ball and looks at the member of his group with a quizzical stare. What was Josh Beckett talking about?
“You know, a Spootenator,” Beckett said, “the muscle that connects your heart to your guts.”
The term has been introduced to the Red Sox pitcher by a former teammate, Mike Mordecai, and seemed to fit Beckett’s vernacular perfectly.
If nothing else, it had become clear throughout the Texan’s career that his anatomy most certainly included a Spootenator. No X-rays were needed, just any film of his Game 6 complete game for the champion Florida Marlins in the 2003 World Series would do.
For Beckett, that muscle was never difficult to find. But the 26-year-old did discover something else recently which might mean even more in the long run - himself.
“I’m in a great place right now,” he said while sitting in the dugout at City of Palms Park prior to Boston’s final home spring training game last week. “People have noticed that I’m in a much better place this year. I don’t know if it is a matter of being more comfortable with the team as much as it is maybe being comfortable (with) me as a man.”
8 reader comments to “Breaking down Beckett”
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1mouse said:
“Well, if frogs had wings they wouldn’t bump their butts when they hop.”
That’s a money quote right there.
Thanks large for that article, Rob. I am a Beckett fan and it’s good to know he’s more settled in entering this season and that he’s happy in Boston. Hopefully that translates into greater success for him this year. Sometimes a clean slate does wonders.
Bring on 2007!
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2Anonymous said:
If I wasn’t already married and old enough to be his mom, *I’d* marry the guy. How can you not love Josh Beckett?
Thanks, Rob. Nice story.
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3Anonymous said:
Great article Rob. I’m a big fan of your WEEI appearances but regrettably haven’t gotten the chance to read much of your stuff. But i love the blog as well as your linked articles in the tribune. Look forward to hearing you on the Big Show and on Saturdays. Thats a great weekend show with you and Greg, i still have that Celtics rant of his ringing in my ears.
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4Anonymous said:
I want to see Beckett’s maturity translate to the field. If he’s still stubborn on throwing his 4-seamer, he’s in trouble. If he trusts his 2-seamer, change, and curve, he should be much improved.
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5Anonymous said:
Thanks so much for that story, Rob — I think we all could learn a lot by seeing what makes Beckett tick. His spring training pitching had me convinced that this is his year; these signs of pulling it together off the field have me even more convinced.
Oh, and the frog quote is journalistic gold.
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6Anonymous said:
But Whart About the Kittens?
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7RedSoxGal said:
Rob, I am new to your writing this spring and I have really enjoyed it. Thanks for the great Beckett article.
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8QuantumV1 said:
Rob, Great post and your blog is one of the best in Boston on the BoSox. Thanks for keeping the Nation informed. I agree with other commenters (commentators?) that the Beckett quote about a frog with wings is a great one. Didn’t Jimy Williams use a similar expression when he was introduced as RS manager? As I recall, he said something like, “If a frog had wings, it wouldn’t bump its booty.” He was a piece of work.
