Josh Beckett deserves kudos. He really does.
He has been a guy with “ace” stuff his entire career, which has included a World Series MVP trophy, yet he has never fit the bill. Until now.
The Red Sox were stumbling and bumbling. Some of it their fault (bad games) and some not their fault (injuries). But those are excuses. Aces are supposed to deliver and that’s just what Beckett has done the last week.
His performance against the Yankees, when he beat the best lineup in baseball in the middle game of that series (the only one the Sox won), was proof he’s as good as there is in baseball. He beat Chien-Ming Wang soundly in the match of Cy Young heavyweights — 18-6.
To follow it up against the Devil Rays, specifically with Scott Kazmir opposing him, was officially the cherry on top. He stopped two losing streaks and each time got better as the game got older.
What this means come October is the Red Sox “should” win every game he pitches. That lessens the blow for the rest of the staff, which is not even close to a sure thing. There is not a great team out there, with the hot Yankees the closest.
Forget about Cy Young Awards. Beckett’s biggest chore will be getting the World Series MVP trophy. If the Sox win, that might happen.
Do you agree?
