Comments on: There’s too many of you crying: Josh Beckett edition http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/ Media, Baseball, Boston, the Red Sox, Music, Literature, and Mnookins Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:10:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Carson http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-451 Carson Sun, 20 Aug 2006 18:05:13 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-451 I don't buy the argument that Beckett is flailing because AL hitters are so much better. After all, the main reason the Red Sox signed him was the memory of him mowing down the Yankees. (Why they gave him that extension, however, is another matter). Beckett is flailing because the Red Sox don't have a major league-level pitching coach. Beckett's got a great arm, but he's a bonehead with one pitch. He needs coach to show him how to manage hitters and vary his pitches. I give him three more of these scared-stiff starts before the fans turn ugly. Not that it takes much in Boston. I don’t buy the argument that Beckett is flailing because AL hitters are so much better. After all, the main reason the Red Sox signed him was the memory of him mowing down the Yankees. (Why they gave him that extension, however, is another matter).
Beckett is flailing because the Red Sox don’t have a major league-level pitching coach. Beckett’s got a great arm, but he’s a bonehead with one pitch. He needs coach to show him how to manage hitters and vary his pitches. I give him three more of these scared-stiff starts before the fans turn ugly. Not that it takes much in Boston.

]]> By: Ogie Oglethorpe http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-447 Ogie Oglethorpe Sun, 20 Aug 2006 17:36:35 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-447 Schilling already taught Papelbon to throw the splitter and he has used it well. Schilling already taught Papelbon to throw the splitter and he has used it well.

]]> By: s1c http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-446 s1c Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:34:09 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-446 What he needs is not a splitter, but a circle change that is 10 or so mph slower than that fast ball and for him to get the curve over on a consistent basis. What he needs is not a splitter, but a circle change that is 10 or so mph slower than that fast ball and for him to get the curve over on a consistent basis.

]]> By: giantglass http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-445 giantglass Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:29:06 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/08/20/theres-too-many-of-you-crying-josh-beckett-edition/#comment-445 Here's hoping you're right. Say, throwing the split doesn't cause blisters, does it? Josh's clearly throwing with as much velocity as he had in Florida, but is he more over-reliant now on his fastball than in years past? I couldn't cycle back to 2003-5 on the ESPN link you provided. It would be heartening, in a way, to see that he had become more fastball-happy as an AL pitcher -- it's something that he could readily change (either now or in '07). Here’s hoping you’re right. Say, throwing the split doesn’t cause blisters, does it?

Josh’s clearly throwing with as much velocity as he had in Florida, but is he more over-reliant now on his fastball than in years past? I couldn’t cycle back to 2003-5 on the ESPN link you provided. It would be heartening, in a way, to see that he had become more fastball-happy as an AL pitcher — it’s something that he could readily change (either now or in ‘07).

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