Gresh & Zo: Jon Heyman: Is Beckett Reinventing Himself?
BOSTON (CBS) - Red Sox fans are hoping for a bounce back year from Starting Pitcher Josh Beckett.
Judging by his new off-season routine, Beckett feels the same way.
SI.com's Jon Heyman joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Gresh and Zolak Tuesday afternoon, and talked of Beckett "reinventing" himself. After an injury-plagued 2010, Beckett will have to prove to the doubters he can still get it done on the mound.
"He's got a big fastball and a lot of talent, but he hasn't pitched a lot of innings, hasn't won as many games as you might think, and been hurt a lot," Heyman said of the 30-year-old Beckett. "I think there's some thought around the league he may be on the downside. He certainly didn't perform very well last year in the limited time that he had so I would think that Red Sox, not only people around the league, would be concerned where his career is headed at this point."
Beckett started just 21 games last season, the lowest of his career since becoming a full-time big leaguer in 2002. He went 6-6 with a career high 5.78 ERA, allowing 151 hits in just 127.2 innings pitched.
Beckett hired a trainer for the off-season to make sure he is in shape for the start of spring training, but Heyman does not think 2010's struggles were because Beckett was out of shape.
"He's not one of the guys you look at and say he's heavy," he said. "I think some guys are more injury prone, a matter of luck of the draw in many cases. I mean there's some obvious things you can point at, if someone's obese, or really out of shape. But I don't see that in Beckett at all. But if he sees a weakness there, I'll take his word for it and maybe it will help him."
Another Red Sox weakness up for discussion was Designated Hitter David Ortiz hitting against lefties. Ortiz has struggled against left-handed pitching his entire career, and has not hit over .222 against them over the past three seasons. In 2010, Ortiz struck out 57 times in 185 at bats against southpaws. Manager Terry Francona said he may try to give Ortiz more at bats against lefties, in hopes his numbers would improve. A move Heyman said could work.
"I kind of buy it to some degree, that if he plays every day it might be helpful for him," he said. "(Mike) Lowell is not around anymore, so the opportunity might be there to do that. It might be beneficial to him."
Despite a slow start to the season Ortiz finished 2010 with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs, but hit only two home runs and drove in 24 runs off lefties.
Listen To Jon Heyman On Gresh and Zo talk Beckett, Ortiz, and Manny and Johnny in Tampa
