Josh Beckett, Please Visit Dr. James Andrews Before ALCS Game Six

Josh Beckett has struggled with injuries all season.  From a strained back that kept him from going to Japan for the season opener, elbow issues in the second half of the season, and now a strained oblique.  Terry Francona has denied Beckett's scanty performance this October is due to a torn oblique muscle, and repudiated that claim by saying no one would be capable of pitching if that were the case.

Back in August Beckett went 2.1 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up eight runs on eight hits, and marked the worst performance of his season.  It later surfaced that the Boston Ace had a tingling feeling in his throwing arm. 

As the next couple of weeks passed Beckett decided to visit Dr. James Andrews, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, for a consult.  The result, a dominating performance over five frames with seven strike outs.  Beckett was limited to 80 pitches during that outing since he had not pitched in the 19 days.  However, that was Josh's last win of the season as he finished out the regular season going 0-4.

Beckett's performance this postseason has left a feeling in my stomach of which I haven't felt since I told Tommy Parker he wore girls' clothes, in the third grade.  The result of my mean, and childish, comment was a swift kick to the crotch.  And to this day I think only Lance Armstrong could rival the amount of leg strength Tommy put into that kick.  But hey, I deserved it.

Though Beckett has been able to escape both postseason games he's pitched this season with a no decision, he's posting a horrific 11.57 ERA.  And as we head in to Game Six of the ALCS, with Boston on the brink of elimination, I'm starting to get that funny feeling in my stomach.  But don't get me wrong, I still have faith in Josh.  And the reason is quite simple, he deserves it.

Josh is a competitor and, like teammate Dustin Pedroia, seems to play with a chip on his shoulder that makes him feel he has something to prove every night he plays.  He still carries that swagger about him on the mound, and he doesn't appear to be anything shy of confident when he's in the game. 

He doesn't try to crawl under home plate and hide when he's slumping and facing criticism from every direction.  He takes the ball and goes out there to do his job as best he can.

I remember after the Red Sox won the World Series last year I was indulging myself in a bowl of Wheaties, that had a picture of Josh on the front of the box, and my roommate asked, "What do you think 'The Ace' eats for breakfast?"

Without a moment of hesitation I gave the corniest line I could think of, "Pressure."

My diet hasn't changed in the past year, and I hope Josh Beckett's hasn't either, despite his numbers.  Perhaps he needs to make a quick trip to Birmingham, Alabama to get a quick lube and oil change on his arm from Dr. Andrews.  Or at least a consultation over a nice warm platter of "pressure." 

Regardless to whether either of those happen or not I know one thing is for certain, I'll be cheering louder than a cow bell for Mr. Beckett come Saturday night.