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Beckett's Back
September 5, 2008
Get excited Red Sox fans, this is where it all comes together if it hasn't already. Today, Josh Beckett is expected to come off of the disabled list and rejoin the rotation getting his first start in game one of a three game set in Texas against the Rangers. The Red Sox have chosen to keep a short leash on Beckett in his first start back from his elblow injury. Beckett has not taken the mound to face a Major League team since August 17 when he gave up eight earned runs on eight hits through two and a third innings.
The short leash that the Red Sox have strapped around the Boston ace has limited him to throwing anywhere from 55 to 60 pitches against the Rangers depending on what the situation is. The Texas Rangers are a team built on offense so 55-60 pitches will likely get Beckett into the fifth inning, maybe even the sixth but no deeper than that.
A three game series with the first place Tampa Bay Rays looms in the near distance and by being down 3.5 games, the Red Sox are going to need Beckett to return to form in order to catch up with and eventually pass the Rays. Beckett's last start before the Toronto shelling was masterful. The Texan hurled eight innings of one-run ball while striking out eight White Sox for the win. That's the Josh Beckett we're going to need down the stretch. Will we see that Josh Beckett right away? Probably not.
But with the Red Sox recent hot streak winning eight of their last ten games, Boston has built a nice 5.5 game lead in the Wild Card standings over the Minnesota Twins. Don't get too comfy, you never know when another 2007 New York Mets implosion could happen. If this Red Sox team keeps hitting, pitching and fielding they way they are right now, they'll be planning their rotation for October in about two weeks or so.
The Red Sox will need to focus on the series at hand with the Texas Rangers even though they are not a team contending for the playoffs, every win counts. As we have seen in the last series between these two teams, the Rangers can flat out hit and are not to be underestimated in any sense of the word. Of course the Red Sox know they have a very crucial series with the Rays at home starting this Monday, but they need to focus on winning this series. If they could even pick up just one game before they welcome Tampa Bay to Fenway Park that one game could ultimately decide who wins the AL East this season.
So as Terrell Owens would say, "Get your popcorn ready." We're in for a big fireworks show these next three games with the Texas Rangers and there's a good chance we'll see some fireworks of a different brand in the series with the Tampa Bay Rays. After all, Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon was quoted as saying that the feud between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays was not over. For the Red Sox, it's a war. For Red Sox fans, it's the best time of the year.
-Jared Carrabis
-Jared Carrabis
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