VIERA -- Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett knows he has the stuff to be a 20-game winner.

 

So do a lot of the so-called experts.

 

"They've been predicting that for three years," Beckett said Monday after facing the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. "I hope they're right this time. God, I hope they're right. I want to prove them right."

 

The second player selected in the 1999 draft, Beckett hasn't reached that 20-win mark that sets apart the great pitchers from the good. The hard-throwing right-hander who is two months shy of his 25th birthday and less than two weeks from embarking on his fourth full season in the big leagues hasn't even gotten to double-digit wins yet.

 

Not exactly the kind of results predicted for this Texan whose ability to throw a baseball earned advance notice that he was bound for Cooperstown.

 

Beckett's stuff is off the charts. But take away his astounding 2003 postseason -- in particular the World Series in which he whiffed 19 batters and limited the Yankees to two runs in 16 1/3 innings on the way to the MVP honor -- and you have mediocre results.

 

Beckett's career record: 26-26.

 

His average number of innings pitched each of the last three seasons: 135.

 

So why haven't there been more moments for Beckett like his awe-inspiring Game 6 dismantling of the Yankees on three days rest to wrestle the '03 World Series trophy from the Evil Empire?

 

Injuries and maturity; too much of one and not enough of the other. That's why.

 

Beckett has been on the disabled list five times through his first three full seasons. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound hurler has given literal meaning to the term blistering fastball. Most of his troubles have come because of finger blisters on his pitching hand, although an occasional back strain or elbow sprain has also hampered him.

 

Marlins manager Jack McKeon has said Beckett has been "handicapped by some nutty injuries."

 

Beckett's injuries have been inexplicable from time to time, and so have some of his actions. He's been in the middle of clubhouse controversies, openly criticized a Marlins pitching coach and trainer and has called the press box during a game in which he was pitching to complain about an official scorer's ruling.

 

"I definitely spoke out of turn," Beckett has acknowledged.

 

His actions haven't gone unnoticed in the clubhouse, as one teammate once dumped a bucket of baseballs in his locker to protest Beckett's habit of not picking up balls during batting practice.

 

The Marlins have a new pitching coach this year, the third in Beckett's tenure, but his biggest influence is expected to come from veteran lefty Al Leiter.

 

A free agent who signed a one-year contract with Florida, Leiter already has given Beckett some pointers on how to avoid blisters. The Marlins have to be hoping the left-hander who helped Florida win its first World Series title in 1997, and had a calming influence on Kevin Brown, will have a positive influence on Beckett.

 

Leiter, without naming names, had this to say about his views on pitchers helping each other.

 

"If you get a guy who's stubborn, and they think they've got it and say, 'Don't change me,' that scares me," Leiter said. "Because one, you don't have it all figured out. And two, even if you are a three-time Cy Young Award champion, you get around guys like Curt Schilling and they are always learning."

 

McKeon, the Marlins' 74-year-old manager who has been around the game for more than 55 years, said he has observed a slightly different approach this spring by both Beckett and another hard thrower, A.J. Burnett.

 

"I've been impressed with their focus," McKeon said. "They're sticking around to see the other pitchers pitch. I see a little more (maturity) from them each year really. They get a little bit better each year."

 

Maybe the maturity is coming bit by bit, which wouldn't be a surprise based on the baseball environment Beckett has come from as a first-round draft pick (and instant millionaire) out of high school.

 

A good measuring stick for a player's maturity is what type of condition they get into for the season, and if that's any indication of how far Beckett has come, this year may really be the season for him to put up some numbers.

 

Beckett appears to be in the best shape of his career and his work ethic has increased. Monday was a good example. Beckett went six innings for the second straight start, limiting the Nationals to one run on two hits while striking out four and walking one.

 

His day wasn't over, however, as a cardio workout was followed by a weightlifting session. By the time Beckett was headed to the showers, the locker room was nearly deserted.

 

It's that kind of dedication that could keep Beckett healthy, off the disabled list, and put him on a 20-win list for the first time.

 

Opponents may not find Beckett any more accommodating, but he's definitely saying the right things in the clubhouse this spring. He responded rather humbly to being named the Marlins' opening-day starter for the third straight season.

 

"It's definitely an honor, especially with the caliber of pitching we have in our rotation," said the right-hander, who can touch 98 mph with his fastball and follow that with a knee-buckling curveball. "I think I've pitched pretty well this spring. I don't know if I'm the most deserving. I think we're all deserving of it, but I'm fortunate and very blessed."

 

Sounds like Beckett is trying to say -- and do -- all the right things to make himself a 20-game winner.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJour...ASE01032305.htm

He's gonna bust out big time this year

Hasn't he BEEN ready to break out??

This IS the year.

I can feel this year is going to be Becketts year.

They need a big year from Josh and from AJ

This is the year Josh begins to dominate baseball. We know what he's capable of (2003 playoffs still fresh in my mind).

Anyone know whats Becketts best pitch? Fastball, 2 Seam fast ball (?), Changeup....

I think it's either his 4 seam fastball or his curveball. If he's throwing his 4 seamer for strikes, then his curveball becomes all the more nasty if he's around the strike zone with his curve. Beckett's changeup is good as well... it's extremely good when he keeps the ball down. Occasionally he'll hang the changeup and it gets hammered because it goes 86-89 mph, as fast as some pitcher's fastballs. I hear he's developing a splitter, too. But, to answer your question, his best pitch is a tie between his curve and 4 seam fastball.

I think it's either his 4 seam fastball or his curveball. If he's throwing his 4 seamer for strikes, then his curveball becomes all the more nasty if he's around the strike zone with his curve. Beckett's changeup is good as well... it's extremely good when he keeps the ball down. Occasionally he'll hang the changeup and it gets hammered because it goes 86-89 mph, as fast as some pitcher's fastballs. I hear he's developing a splitter, too. But, to answer your question, his best pitch is a tie between his curve and 4 seam fastball.

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Thanks for the information. Really helpful. :thumbup Currently, I know he has about 4 he uses alot.

I think it's either his 4 seam fastball or his curveball.? If he's throwing his 4 seamer for strikes, then his curveball becomes all the more nasty if he's around the strike zone with his curve.? Beckett's changeup is good as well... it's extremely good when he keeps the ball down.? Occasionally he'll hang the changeup and it gets hammered because it goes 86-89 mph, as fast as some pitcher's fastballs.? I hear he's developing a splitter, too.? But, to answer your question, his best pitch is a tie between his curve and 4 seam fastball.

718721[/snapback]

Thanks for the information. Really helpful. :thumbup Currently, I know he has about 4 he uses alot.

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No problem. :thumbup He primarily uses four pitches, like you say. If he develops that splitter into an above average pitch, I think you'll see Beckett develop into one of the top two or three pitchers in all of baseball. A great splitter is what makes the Rocket so great... he throws his fastball in the mid 90s and then throws his splitter in the low 90's... hitters first think the splitter is a fastball in the mid 90s and then all of a sudden it drops at the end and is much slower than his fastball... needless to say, it keeps the hitters off balance even though most of his pitches are 90 and above. If Josh can add that splitter, you're looking at a phenominal fastball in the mid to high nineties, a good splitter that looks like a fastball, a 2 seam fastball that he can make to look like the splitter in terms of speed, and then a devastating curve. Add in the occasional changeup to keep the hitters guessing. The hitters would have no chance. :thumbup

FWIW, in my OOTP league, he broke out in 2015 after a dozen years as a 3.50-4.50 pitcher.

Not worth much, dude. Josh has phenominal talent. He's turned a corner. We'll be seeing a 20 game winner soon. Heater. Splitter. Curve. Changeup. NASTY.

I think it's either his 4 seam fastball or his curveball.? If he's throwing his 4 seamer for strikes, then his curveball becomes all the more nasty if he's around the strike zone with his curve.? Beckett's changeup is good as well... it's extremely good when he keeps the ball down.? Occasionally he'll hang the changeup and it gets hammered because it goes 86-89 mph, as fast as some pitcher's fastballs.? I hear he's developing a splitter, too.? But, to answer your question, his best pitch is a tie between his curve and 4 seam fastball.

718721[/snapback]

Thanks for the information. Really helpful. :thumbup Currently, I know he has about 4 he uses alot.

718723[/snapback]

 

 

No problem. :thumbup He primarily uses four pitches, like you say. If he develops that splitter into an above average pitch, I think you'll see Beckett develop into one of the top two or three pitchers in all of baseball. A great splitter is what makes the Rocket so great... he throws his fastball in the mid 90s and then throws his splitter in the low 90's... hitters first think the splitter is a fastball in the mid 90s and then all of a sudden it drops at the end and is much slower than his fastball... needless to say, it keeps the hitters off balance even though most of his pitches are 90 and above. If Josh can add that splitter, you're looking at a phenominal fastball in the mid to high nineties, a good splitter that looks like a fastball, a 2 seam fastball that he can make to look like the splitter in terms of speed, and then a devastating curve. Add in the occasional changeup to keep the hitters guessing. The hitters would have no chance. :thumbup

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Wow, that will be nasty. Hopefully he can develop that splitter, that would be great for us, not so great for the opposing batter. Beckett just rocks. :thumbup

Thanks for the article!

I think we should change all Beckett's calanders to October maybe that will help.