Rob Neyer and Craig Calcaterra take on the Josh Beckett controversy.
Shorter Neyer, the Red Sox are not going to give up on the season by removing Beckett from the roster.
Shorter Calcaterra, none of the controversy matters if Beckett pitches well.
I’m guessing the sore latissimus dorsimus maximus muscle wasn’t that sore, and the Red Sox just wanted to give Beckett a start off. I also think that if Beckett’s every move continues to be fodder for the press, Josh will ask out of Boston at some point. The Red Sox may not want to get rid of Beckett, but at some point they may have no choice.
Has any MLB pitcher ever had such a pronounced difference between their even and odd numbered seasons?
Every season that ends in an even number is worse than either of the two odd numbered seasons surrounding it. Every one. For his entire career.
Coincidences are fun.
ERA+ by season:
2001 – 286
2002 – 98
2003 – 138
2004 – 108
2005 – 118
2006 – 95
2007 – 145
2008 – 115
2009 – 121
2010 – 75
2011 – 147
2012 – 71
Bret Saberhagen comes to mind, at least for the first two thirds of his career.