Beckett ready to rebound

PBMarlin · March 13, 2005

By Joe Capozzi

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, March 13, 2005

JUPITER ? There were no parties, parades or Tonight Show appearances this past off-season for Josh Beckett.

A year after being carried off the field at Yankee Stadium as the 2003 World Series Most Valuable Player, the Marlins right-hander retreated among the white-tail deer on his 1,750-acre ranch in south Texas.

"He drove me around acre after acre, pointing out the herd, feeding the herd," said Michael Moye, Beckett's agent, who visited his client last winter. "We probably saw 80 deer. We were with the game-management specialist who's helping him develop trophy buck."

But even deep in the woods near the Mexican border, Beckett couldn't escape the memories from a disappointing 2004 season: Blisters on his middle finger, three trips to the disabled list and a 9-9 record.

The constant frustration led Beckett to lash out at the team trainer and pitching coach, sparking criticism directed at him from his teammates.

"Yeah, I was pretty frustrated," he said. "I definitely spoke out of turn. I definitely learned something from that."

Whatever lessons Beckett learned, the 24-year old is showing signs this spring of a humbled, more mature pitcher.

On Saturday, he turned in the finest performance by a Marlins starter this spring, allowing one unearned run in six innings before Florida fell 6-3 to the Washington Nationals.

"He did a very good job of staying in shape this winter. He seems prepared and focused and ready to go," Marlins General Manager Admin Beinfest said. "We already know what Josh can do in tough situations. Now it's just a matter of him going out and doing it consistently. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to do that the last three years.

"As for maturity, he's still a young guy. He's been in the big leagues now for three years. There should be more of a comfort level for him in understanding the day-to-day grind of the major leagues, but I don't think that's a cause of concern."

Blisters become a problem

Blame it on blisters. They've been as much a part of Beckett's legacy as his fastball and Texas swagger that prompted the Marlins to draft him with the second overall pick in June 1999.

The first high school pitcher drafted by the Marlins in the first round, he made his major-league debut in September 2001. But he spent parts of the next three seasons on the disabled list, five times because of blisters on his pitching hand.

After missing nearly two months in 2003 with a right elbow sprain, he appeared to turn a corner, leading the Marlins into the playoffs and clinching the World Series by shutting out the Yankees in Game 6.

The off-season was a whirlwind of parties and celebrity shoulder-rubbing, from Jay Leno to Craig Kilborn. He began his pre-spring workouts late and spent the camp trying to catch up while dealing with the media spotlight.

"Josh experienced an incredible amount of success in the 2003 post-season for a player with only two years of major-league service," Moye said. "I personally believe that presented some challenges for him in preparation for the 2004 season."

He earned his first win last season on April 11, striking out 11 Phillies in seven innings. But at the end of May, the skin on his right middle finger tore off, putting him on the disabled list because of a blister for the first time since 2002.

On June 17, in his first start since coming off the disabled list, he struck out eight batters before leaving in the fourth inning because of a back strain that put him out of action again until July 5.

A day later, he left after four innings because of the blister. He returned on July 30 and managed to stay healthy the rest of the season, but he never got in a groove.

Along the way, Beckett lashed out in the media at the team trainer. He angered some of his teammates even more when he called up to the press box in the middle of a game to ask the official scorer to change a hit to an error so his earned-run average wouldn't suffer.

"He voiced his frustrations," veteran outfielder Jeff Conine said. "Did he handle it the right way? I think a lot of people think not. Hopefully he learned from that, which I think he did."

The Marlins missed the playoffs and Beckett left South Florida sooner than he would have preferred.

New teammate offers advice

In December, Beckett moved from his native Spring, Texas, and bought a four-bedroom ranch house in San Antonio. Starting in November, he tabbed high-school friend Randon Hayes to help him with a rigorous workout schedule that included running drills and weight lifting.

His biggest asset might be his new teammate, veteran left-hander Al Leiter, who overcame blister problems early in his career.

"The problem with the blister is that when you pitch a couple of games and there's not an issue, you forget about it. 'I'm out of the woods.' You're never out of the woods," said Leiter, whose locker is next to Beckett's at Roger Dean Stadium.

Leiter, who also pitched for the Marlins from 1996-97, has recommended that Beckett do the same things he has done for the past 10 years ? throw long toss in between starts with a bandage on his middle finger and to shave down the callous to reduce the chances of tearing.

"Al's done away with his," Beckett said. "Hopefully, I'll get rid of mine."

Beckett has been told that the South Florida humidity might be the culprit. If the blisters continue, he might give strong consideration to ending his Marlins career and playing in a dryer climate when he becomes eligible for free agency after the 2007 season.

This season, Beckett's teammates want him to continue to be the same confident guy, but one who keeps his emotions in check.

"I don't think I want him to be any more humble," Conine said. "I like the fact that he's cocky and when he gets out on the mound he feels like he's the best guy out there...

"You talk to the players who face him, you talk about your staff and he's always the guy they mention the most about having the best stuff. It's not a slam on anyone else on our staff. He's got potential to be the whole superstar 20-game winner. It's basically up to him."

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You can sense a much different attitude from Beckett this spring. Hopefully it will lead to a much different result this season.