A few weeks ago on these pages, I criticized Josh Beckett, both personally and professionally. Since then, he has turned things around. After Saturday night’s performance, his ERA is down to a manageable 4.15. In his last three starts, he has pitched 21 2/3 innings,surrendering 15 hits and three runs with a 1.28 ERA. His walk-strikeout ratio (15-45) is the best on the team.
Beckett’s well-documented surliness is part of what has made him one of the league’s top pitchers in the past ten years. As long as the surliness is part of his competitive style and not used to cover up mistakes (like the golfing issue), he should be okay. As I have written before, Beckett is as close as the Sox have to a “certified stopper”. With Jon Lester contiuing to implode after getting leads, Clay Buchholz a huge question, Felix Doubront still a rookie despite his success, and Daniel Bard often unable to find the plate, the task falls to Beckett. He can keep the team from losing streaks and perhaps also within striking distance in the AL East.
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