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2007 The centerpiece of last winter`s master plan, Beckett was expected to front the Sox`s rotation. While he avoided the blister problems that have disabled him six times so far--enabling his first 200-inning campaign--the solution was a costly one. Beckett covered his middle finger with a Band-Aid between starts, but the remedy prevented him from throwing his curve during bullpen sessions. He then struggled to locate it during games and was forced to over-rely on a very straight fastball. The results were predictable; his 36 homers allowed tied for second in the majors, and his 10 first-pitch homers tied for first. Despite his troubles, the Sox signed him to a three-year, $30-million extension in July, a smart move in light of the winter`s drastic salary inflation. Beckett has the talent to justify that faith, but he`ll need to adjust to succeed in the AL. 2006 In selecting Beckett`s comparables, PECOTA had injuries on its mind; Bradley and Busby were young pitchers who were pushed extremely hard by their managers and burned out in just a few years. Their misfortune was that they had the strength to endure the heavy workload, at least in the short term, whereas Beckett has hit the DL nine times in the last four seasons, buying his arm a respite. That`s looking at the glass as half full. The contrary POV would be that Beckett, who has never pitched 200 innings in a season, lacks the durability to lead the Red Sox`s staff or endure the more grueling games in the DH league. If Beckett survives and prospers, it will be because of his improving control--he`s cut his walk rate in every season of his career--and Terry Francona realizing that he has another Pedro Martinez-style hothouse flower, a pitcher who might do great work for you if you treat him gently. 2005 As aggravating as Beckett's blister problems have been for the right-hander and his team, they may end up as a long-term benefit, as they've kept his workload down during a critical period for a young pitcher. His performance hasn't varied much in three seasons, and he's at an age where he can be expected to add innings and show improvement. He could have the kind of big-step-forward performance that another right-hander, Ben Sheets, had in his fourth season. 2003 Beckett’s got scorching heat, but he needs to be able to throw it without the blister problems he experienced in 2002. Two separate trips to the DL and missed turns in the rotation due to blistering on his middle finger put a damper on his season. Beckett doesn’t have a history of blisters, and the injuries kept Torborg from pitching Beckett as hard as he did Burnett, so this could be a blessing in disguise. Look for a full-strength season in 2003, and some enjoyable Beckett-Prior duels down the road. 2002 Stud. He shook off concerns about the shoulder tendinitis that cut short his 2000 season to have one of the great pitching-prospect years of recent times. He'll open 2002 in the Marlins' rotation; hopes are high, but Beckett is still basically a two-pitch pitcher, and he has fewer than 100 innings above A ball. Be realistic in your expectations for 2002. 2001 Josh Beckett began what, contractually, has to be a rapid rise to the big leagues. He showed the ability and poise that caused some scouts to call him the best pitching prospect of his generation, throwing a 95-mph fastball, a big breaking curveball, and a change-up so improved that it became his number-two pitch. He made just 12 starts, twice being shut down with shoulder tendinitis that he says resulted from pumping too much iron. Injury is the only thing that can derail him from assuming a permanent role in The Show by 2004. 2000 The #2 overall pick in the 1999 draft, Beckett demanded and received a major-league contract from the Marlins. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on him and the organization, and almost guarantees that he’ll be asked to do too much before he’s physically ready. Drafting high-school pitchers is risky enough without mandating that they take up valuable space on your 40-man roster. Beckett is a fastball/curveball pitcher, just like Kerry Wood.
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