July 1, 200323 yr McKeon will closely monitor Beckett By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, July 1, 2003 Blisters put Josh Beckett on the disabled list three times last year. But a sprained elbow ligament that kept him out of action for nearly three months this season might have been more frustrating. "I didn't think it'd take that much time to heal, for crying out loud," said Beckett, who tonight will make his first start since May 7. Beckett's injury, diagnosed as a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, gave the team a scare because it came less than two weeks after A.J. Burnett tore the same ligament. Burnett is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. That's why the Marlins will keep a close watch on Beckett, who wanted to return earlier than team doctors preferred. "He wants to stay as long as he can but we've still got to be a little cautious with him the first few times out," manager Jack McKeon said. "He's got to build it up even though he threw 75, 80 pitches his last time out (with Class AA Carolina). That's still against different competition." McKeon didn't want to limit Beckett to a certain pitch count but hopes the right-hander can pitch into the seventh inning. The key, McKeon said, is for Beckett to build arm strength. "If he can get two or three starts before the All-Star break, that would be real beneficial, and hopefully by that time he'll be ready to go full bore," McKeon said. "He's a very competitive young man, he wants to be out there. He's full of fire and sometimes you don't understand it takes time to build up arm strength. I keep trying to tell him, 'Stop being in a hurry.' " The Marlins likely will move left-hander Tommy Phelps, who pitched well as an emergency starter, to the bullpen when Beckett is activated from the disabled list. Hampton collects: The highest-paid player on Florida's payroll will pitch against the Marlins tonight when Mike Hampton takes the mound for Atlanta. The Marlins acquired Hampton and center fielder Juan Pierre from Colorado for catcher Charles Johnson and center fielder Preston Wilson. But Hampton exercised his contractual right to refuse coming to Florida, so the Marlins traded him to Atlanta for right-handed reliever Tim Spooneybarger. The catch: Florida will pay the Braves $30 million during the next three years for Hampton's salary, including $9 million of Hampton's $11 million salary this year. "The way I see it, I get one paycheck," Hampton said Monday. "Just another start. Haven't really thought about it. I'm a Brave and all I think about is helping my team win." Link
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