MIAMI -- Barring some extreme turn of events, Josh Beckett's season is over.

Beckett has enjoyed a solid 15-8 season, with a 3.38 ERA. He's posted a career high for wins, starts (29) and innings pitched (178 2/3).

 

Considering that the Marlins are on the verge of being eliminated from National League Wild Card contention, he sees no reason to push his tender shoulder just to reach the 16-win mark.

 

Beckett is tentatively scheduled to start on Wednesday but has no plans to do so.

 

"I haven't felt good for a while," said Beckett. "I was pitching for a purpose. I think I did my job when I was hurt trying to get us in. We came up a little short."

 

Assuming Beckett doesn't start, manager Jack McKeon said that Brian Moehler is likely to get the call.

 

Should the Astros and Phillies keep losing and the Marlins start winning, Beckett would take the ball either Friday or Saturday. As of Tuesday the club was planning on giving Josh Johnson his first big-league start on Friday against the Braves. Rookie Jason Vargas is set to go on Saturday.

 

Had the Marlins been playing for playoff contention, Beckett said, he would pitch.

 

"No doubt about it," he said. "We can make a decision this weekend, if Houston loses out. We can make a decision Friday or Saturday, it could be a possibility. I'm going to stay prepared to do whatever. As of right now, [it's] probably not tomorrow."

 

The discomfort Beckett feels is in the back of the shoulder.

 

"I've had several doctors look at me, and they say, 'You've got tendinitis. Wear and tear on your shoulder. Your shoulder is not meant to [throw] 100 times every five days,' " he said. "My body feels fine. It doesn't go away. Usually, if you look back, my sixth and seventh innings have been my best innings. That's when I've been loose.

 

"It takes me 20 pitches between innings to get loose. That's where you can do the most damage. I just don't feel the need to push it."

 

Beckett is confident that about a month of rest in the offseason is all he will need to be ready, and healthy, for Spring Training 2006.

 

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla

What are you doing josh? Im taking a piss, what does it look like im doing.

Good move. No sense to risk additional damage.

Good season.

 

Go get 'em next year.

Good season Josh

trooper was playing hurt

 

he's matured and has got balls

 

nice season bro

Good season Josh, carry it over into next year :thumbup

Solid season by a pitcher with a lot of potential. Hopefully he'll help the Marlins contend next year.

Good work, Josh.

 

Look forward to next year. :cool

Great year by you Josh....many personal highs....keep it up, get healthy, and see ya in Feb. in spring

 

GO FISH!!! :thumbup

Great season Josh... way to have balls and stay tough.

Great season Josh...played hurt and still stepped it up...looking forward to next year

Solid season Josh!

 

Hope you built on it for next year

Not too shabby of a year Josh. Keep it going next year.

this year was a big step forward for josh, let's hope he can build on it in 2006.

 

i wasn't living in florida except for a couple weeks this year and the one game i had a chance to see was JB's pitching duel against jake peavy.

Josh isnt a .500 pitcher anymore, I hope he builds on this next year...again...if it wasent for those damn blisters he could definitly be a 20 game winner and put up a year comparable to D-trains

Great step in his career this season. :thumbup

Great step in his career this season. :thumbup

Couldn't have said it any better.

I could live with 15-16 wins a year from him