Posted on Sat, Mar. 13, 2004

 

JOE RIMKUS JR. / HERALD STAFF

IN CONTROL: Josh Beckett pitches in Game 6 of the World Series against the Yankees last season.

 

Back to business

 

Josh Beckett has put the euphoria of winning the World Series behind him and has taken on a new role as the Marlins' player representative.

 

JUPITER - Josh Beckett has become used to living in the fast lane since being named World Series MVP. Once he shut down the mighty Yankees in the Bronx, busy days and nights have become routine to the brash fastballer from Spring, Texas.

 

Friday was also very hectic -- if not all that memorable.

 

Beckett started the day by heading up the Marlins' union meeting with Donald Fehr. The meeting was held in the Cardinals clubhouse -- with St. Louis players taking part -- just hours before the Marlins were to play the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium.

 

'SOMEONE HAS TO' STAND UP

 

Beckett took over the role of team union representative this season, replacing departed reliever Braden Looper. Beckett has been involved in the national conference calls with other player reps and union leaders, and the 23-year-old says being involved in the union is something he takes seriously.

 

While veterans such as Tom Glavine and Al Leiter have been vocal and active in union causes, Beckett figures they're not going to be around forever. Most players don't enjoy the rigors that come with being a union rep, but Beckett questions why players wouldn't want to be more involved.

 

''Why would I not be? It's my future,'' he said. ``A lot of people ask me, and it baffles me. Who is going to step up and take care of things? Someone has to.''

 

When asked if he had enough time to take care of baseball and union issues, Beckett quipped: ``I have plenty of time. I'm a starting pitcher.''

 

The union meeting might have gone well, but Beckett's third start of the spring got off to a rocky start. Beckett gave up four runs in the first inning before settling down. Three runs came off a bases-loaded triple by rookie Cody McKay.

 

''It was fun being over there, then I got to pitch against those guys,'' Beckett said. ``They got to see a softer side of me.''

 

Beckett's start Friday was his worst of the spring, but he said his mechanics were flawed in the first inning. He corrected his problem in the second and cruised through the next three innings. Beckett (1-1 in the spring) ended up giving up five hits in his four innings, striking out five and walking two.

 

''I wasn't breaking my hands in quick enough,'' Beckett said. ``I did it in the bullpen the other day too and tried to correct it there and it just carried over. It's a minor thing, it's nothing major. I had trouble with this in years past. What I want is when my leg's coming up, that's when I need to start breaking my hands. I knew I was doing it, I just couldn't correct it. I was more [ticked] off than anything. I had great stuff. It was such a waste of time fighting myself. I had good stuff and [wasted] it.''

 

Manager Jack McKeon didn't seem too concerned with Beckett's early struggles.

 

This preseason, Beckett went 2 2/3 innings in the spring opener against the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale, giving up five hits and two runs.

 

In his last start against the Expos, Beckett pitched four shutout innings, giving up two hits.

 

ROUNDING INTO FINE FORM

 

In the final three innings, Beckett looked a lot more like the pitcher who shut down Montreal than the one who got lit up by McKay -- a rookie who hit .232 at Indianapolis last year.

 

''They all have one [outing] like that,'' McKeon said.

 

``It's no big deal. He still went four innings and only threw 60 pitches.''

 

Beckett hoped to pitch in the fifth inning, but McKeon pulled him in.

 

''[McKeon] came down and asked me how I felt,'' Beckett said.

 

``I felt fine and wanted to go another one. I asked for another one because my first one was so bad. I just wanted to get my ERA under 2.00. I just got out of my groove and made a mistake [to McKay].''

Beckett took over the role of team union representative this season, replacing departed reliever Braden Looper. Beckett has been involved in the national conference calls with other player reps and union leaders, and the 23-year-old says being involved in the union is something he takes seriously.

 

While veterans such as Tom Glavine and Al Leiter have been vocal and active in union causes, Beckett figures they're not going to be around forever. Most players don't enjoy the rigors that come with being a union rep, but Beckett questions why players wouldn't want to be more involved.

 

''Why would I not be? It's my future,'' he said. ``A lot of people ask me, and it baffles me. Who is going to step up and take care of things? Someone has to.''

 

When asked if he had enough time to take care of baseball and union issues, Beckett quipped: ``I have plenty of time. I'm a starting pitcher.''

 

:mischief2

Beckett is quickly becoming the clubhouse leader

Beckett is quickly becoming the clubhouse leader

Not so fast. That would be Jeff Conine...

The co-captain must be either mike lowell,p-nut,or lenny...