Roche: Should We Be Concerned About Beckett's Knee?
BOSTON (CBS) - I know it could just be a precaution. I know it's not the end of the world. I know there's a lot of baseball left to be played. I also know it's just a hyper-extended knee.
I don't want to start a panic in the world of Red Sox fandom.
But...
How can you not be concerned about Josh Beckett shutting it down while warming up in the bullpen in the 82nd All-Star Game Tuesday night in Arizona?
Last year, Beckett wasn't right after pitching in the rain against the Yankees in New York last May. He recovered and has been lights out in 2011.
Yet, he tweaked the left knee Friday night while pitching in the rain against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway. We were told it was a mildly hyper-extended knee.
Beckett went out Sunday morning and tested that knee. He threw off flat ground and didn't go off a mound. He proclaimed himself good to go and headed out to the All-Star festivities.
I was told he would be just fine. He would return first on Sunday night at Tampa. Then Jon Lester would be next, pretty much when he can come off the DL. After that, Clay Buchholz, who has a mysterious back ailment, but would be OK eventually.
But now, we have to wait until Beckett returns from Arizona and is seen by the Sox doctors. We wait as 4/5ths of the Red Sox starting rotation is on the sidelines.
For what it's worth, Beckett said that he would have pitched if it was a regular season game, according to the Associated Press.
"I could have pitched. I'm just not comfortable going out there and getting hurt in an All-Star game and costing myself starts in the second half," Beckett said. "I think that's how everybody should be. This game does mean a lot with home-field advantage and everything but at the same time there are some things that are ahead that are a little more important."
Keep your fingers crossed and hope the offense stays hot during the hot weather.
