Why We Lost - Jenn

There are two reasons we lost on Saturday. Their names are Beckett and Timlin. Since Dad gave great accounts of both Game 1 & 2, I'm just going to talk about these two Game 2 killers.

In Game 3 of the ALDS Beckett pitched five innings. He threw 106 pitches, only 59 of which were strikes. He gave up nine hits, four runs (two of which were home run shots), and four walks. He struck out six. The Sox went into extra innings and in the 12th Lopez gave up three hits which turned into the win for the Angels.

In Game 2 of the ALCS Beckett was again the starting pitcher. This time he only lasted 4.1 innings. He threw 93 pitches, only 56 of which were strikes. He gave up another nine hits, eight runs (three of which were home run shots), and one walk. This time he struck out five. Again the Sox went into extra innings and again the opposing team, the Rays, got the win.

Anyone else starting to see a pattern?

Remember Beckett pulled his oblique during a practice session before the ALDS which is why he was pushed to Game 3. Beckett says he's better and that the cortisone shot they administered has him feeling no pain. But remember the last horrible outing Beckett had during the regular season when he pitched against the Jays and only lasted 2.1 innings? He gave up eight runs there as well. It wasn't until a day or two later that the public discovered he had tingling in his fingers and then was out for the next three weeks.

According to Michael Vaccaro, another avid Sox fan and a friend of mine, of Beckett's 93 pitches on Saturday, only four of them achieved a swing and a miss. Only four out of 93 pitches. This is not the Beckett of last season. Hell, it's not even the Beckett of the regular '08 season.

Beckett may say he feels good, but his stats tell another story. Now I understand wanting to pitch in the postseason. Especially after last year's performance. But when you're injured, you're not going to have your best performance and you're going to hurt the team. It's time for Tito and/or Farrell to have a sit down with Beckett and tell him he's done until he's actually feeling better and can prove it in a practice session. He should not, under any circumstance pitch again in the ALCS. Give him the time off he needs to recover, then take another look when the Sox head to the World Series.

As for Timlin... if you've read this blog, you know how I feel about the relief pitcher, so I won't go off on him for the umpteenth time. I'll just pass on the stats that Michael passed onto me: Delcarmen, Okajima, Masterson and Papelbon all pitched for a total of 5.2 innings. They gave up only two hits - not one run and not one walk. They also each got one strike out - for a total of four K's.

Then Timlin came in. He pitched only 2/3 of an inning and gave up three walks, which eventually turned into the winning run the Rays needed for the walk-off. He didn't strike a single batter out.

Beckett's post season ERA is currently 16.62. Timlin's is 13.50. Need I say more?

Game 3 is this afternoon back at Fenway. Lester's starting, and he's been light's out at home. Here's hoping today will be the start of the Fenway sweep.