Josh Beckett vs. Colonel Saunders: The Red Sox Ace in ALDS Game Three

Two years ago I dressed up as "God's Gift To Women" for Halloween.  All it took was an old box, some wrapping paper, and a tag that said "To: Women, From: God."  I was a broke, starving, college student and it was a good, cheap, costume that got laughs and free beers. 

Last year I wasn't sure how I could top my costume from the previous year, so I asked my girlfriend for some advice.  "You should be something scary," she told me. "It is Halloween."

I decided I was going to dress up as Red Sox ace Josh Beckett.  Once I had all of the proper articles to my costume masterpiece I put it on and asked her what she thought. 

Her response: "That's not very scary."

My rebuttal: "I bet that's not what you'd be saying if you were standing in the batters box against this guy two weeks ago.  He had a 1.20 ERA this postseason!"

Our relationship dissolved shortly thereafter. (I think she was a Yankee fan.)

What does all of that have to do with anything?  There are many questions surrounding  Josh Beckett this postseason, but one thing is for certain—the guy is still scary good. 

Beckett was scheduled to start game one of the series before he strained an oblique muscle, during a bullpen session on the Friday prior to the start of the series.  Beckett has since been thrown through a ringer of tests, nailing them all to earn the "all systems go" for Sunday evening's game in Boston.

Will we see the Josh Beckett that we saw in his first postseason start against Anaheim last year, pitching a complete game shut out with eight strike outs and only four hits?  I doubt it.  What we will see is a very determined ace pitcher proving that his back is fine, he is an ace, and he is healthy enough to pitch in the postseason.

Assuming he is as healthy as he and Boston Skipper Terry Francona say he is, I think we will see Beckett go into the seventh.  Beckett threw 174.1 innings this season in 27 appearances, giving him an average of about 6.5 innings per game.

Last season Beckett averaged about the same innings pitched per game in the regular season, but averaged 7.5 innings in the postseason.  There's something about the will and determination of players once they hit the postseason, pitchers especially.  Think, Curt Schilling in the 2004 ALCS game six.  That kind of brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "walking on pins and needles," didn't it?

Josh Beckett has a 1.73 ERA in 10 postseason appearances, with a 1.20 ERA last season. His .159 opponent batting average is the lowest of any pitcher who has pitched 40 innings or more. 

Scared yet?  If someone told me those numbers around the campfire I know I would definitely be scared.

Being two games up and having home field advantage, I would be surprised if we see Mike Lowell in the lineup tomorrow.  If we do, I think it will only be for a short time so he can have a couple at bats to help him figure out his timing before we go deeper into Soxtober.  We might see Youkilis back at first, with Jed Lowrie at third and Alex Cora at short stop.

Another interesting thing to look for is if J.D. Drew is back in the lineup.  He was huge for us in game two, but admitted that his back was stiffening up in the later innings.  Tito may choose to let J.D. rest and play Kotsay in right, or possibly shift Ellsbury to right and play Coco Crisp in center field.

Coco has been battling a sore foot that kept him out of the last few games of the regular season.  However, we did see him come in as a pinch runner for Big Papi after he blasted a double off the right field wall.

I think we see Boston get an early lead and maintain it through the rest of the game.  Anaheim is going to struggle on offense leaving guys on base and failing to score until the middle to late innings.  We'll see Beckett for seven innings and some change, followed by Monsterson or possibly Delcarmen if Boston has a big lead, then it's time for a Papelbon-fire.

Tune in Sunday evening, 7:17 EST, to watch Boston take on Anaheim in game three of the ALDS.  And if Beckett's numbers don't scare you, just wait for the Papelbon stare in the ninth.