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Gotta love the confidence.

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Sweeping statement

Beckett speaks as if playoffs a lock after carrying a shutout into eighth

By MIKE PHILLIPS

 

There were no ifs, ands or buts about it. Josh Beckett was talking about ''when'' the Marlins make the playoffs.

 

''It all comes down to pitching,'' said Beckett, moments after the Marlins completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with an 11-7 victory Sunday afternoon in front of 12,052 at Pro Player Stadium.

 

''Pitching wins in the playoffs, and nobody is as deep as we are,'' Beckett said. ``I believe when we get to the playoffs, we will be as good as anybody.

 

``That's right -- I said when we get to the playoffs.''

 

But Philadelphia isn't cooperating. The Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Sunday to maintain their half-game lead over Florida in the National League wild-card race.

 

Beckett (6-6), who gave up two runs and five hits, was as good as he has been all season, pitching a career-high eight innings. He struck out eight and walked two. He took a three-hit shutout into the eighth before giving up a two-out, two-run double to Mark Loretta.

 

''That's the best I've seen him all year,'' manager Jack McKeon said. "He was in command the entire way. You want him to step up and give us six or seven good starts the rest of the year. We've had other guys step up. We need him to step up, too. "I've said this before: I think we have four guys who can potentially be 20-game winners. He's one of them. I would have liked to have seen him go nine [innings], but we wanted to see him go out on a high note.''

 

Beckett, who has a 2.72 ERA over his past five starts, said the Marlins -- who took an 8-0 lead into the eighth -- made it easy for him.

 

''When you have the luxury of that kind of lead, you don't have to pick at the corners,'' he said. "And everything they hit, they hit at somebody.''

Actually to tell you the truth i think chicago has a way better rotation but w/e ours is probably equal to chicago especially if we keep o playig this hot!,also i think that chicago will take the central and the astros and cards won't make it,but i know we got one of the best if not the best rotation in the majors!

I loved the positivity "WHEN WE MAKE THE PLAYOFF'S"!

but i know we got one of the best if not the best rotation in the majors!

A good rotation, but certainly not the best in the majors. I'd take Oakland, the Yankees, the Cubs, Arizona, and the probably the Dodgers before the Marlins. I'd even be tempted to take the Phillies but the problem with the fifth starter and closer would make me lean toward the Fish.

but i know we got one of the best if not the best rotation in the majors!

A good rotation, but certainly not the best in the majors. I'd take Oakland, the Yankees, the Cubs, Arizona, and the probably the Dodgers before the Marlins. I'd even be tempted to take the Phillies but the problem with the fifth starter and closer would make me lean toward the Fish. I hate the yank's everytime they get a good player they fuk them up,look at mondesi and weaver they were good and then they suked after being with the yankees.

mondesi were good and then they suked after being with the yankees.

:unsure :

 

Mondesi was a blunder for THe Jay's. He was always underachieving with them so I don't know where you get this from. He was a .250 hitter who could get you 30HR's. THat's not exactly superstar in this era. Plus if you remember he was sent to Toronto for Green.

 

Not THe smartest move...

i was gonna say...

 

when was mondesi good?

The Marlins rotation has something no other rotation out there has.

 

Five starting pitchers that can go deep into games and cooperate with the defense in getting the ground balls to make double plays.

 

It isn't always about the pitching but how the pitcher utilizes the defense to get out.

 

BTW, we have allowed the fewest homeruns in the NL I believe.

A good rotation, but certainly not the best in the majors. I'd take Oakland, the Yankees, the Cubs, Arizona, and the probably the Dodgers before the Marlins. I'd even be tempted to take the Phillies but the problem with the fifth starter and closer would make me lean toward the Fish.

I honestly wouldn't take the Yankees, Diamondbacks, or CUBS over the Marlins rotation (with Burnett included).

 

The Yankees have a lot of solid vets (other than Weaver), but no real superstar "Pedro" type. The D-Backs have Schilling and Johnson, complimented by Webb and Bautista. But that 5th starter spot is kinda a question mark, and you never know if Webb and Bautista's wheels will fall off. The Cubs have a HUGE hole at 5th starter, and you could also consider 4th starter a weakness if Clement pitches as bad as he has. Zambrano is very good, and very young, but at the moment is a good/great 3rd starter. Wood in inconsistant. He is amazing alot/most of the time, but he's either gonna give you a great outing or a piece of s***. Prior is just crazy.

 

The Marlins really have no holes in their rotation. Burnett is at the top, and is really the Marlins version of Wood or Jason Schmit. Behind him is a guy that has looked like Tom Glavine (of old) this year. Redman is another workhorse that will give up few runs on few pitches. Third is kind of our Carlos Zambrano (except JB's better). Josh Beckett has the mid/low 3.00 ERA, with the K's and low hit/walk totals as well. He just gives you more quality outings than Zambrano, and probably has better stuff. Next, you have Dontrelle Willis. A fourth starter with first starter stuff. Need I say more? Brad Penny follows at fifth, and also has 1st/2nd starter stuff. What a luxary.

The Marlins really have no holes in their rotation. Burnett is at the top, and is really the Marlins version of Wood or Jason Schmit. Behind him is a guy that has looked like Tom Glavine (of old) this year. Redman is another workhorse that will give up few runs on few pitches. Third is kind of our Carlos Zambrano (except JB's better). Josh Beckett has the mid/low 3.00 ERA, with the K's and low hit/walk totals as well. He just gives you more quality outings than Zambrano, and probably has better stuff. Next, you have Dontrelle Willis. A fourth starter with first starter stuff. Need I say more? Brad Penny follows at fifth, and also has 1st/2nd starter stuff. What a luxary.

Uh...you forgot Pavano.

The Marlins have the most depth in their pitching staff. They have the best bullpen in baseball and the only rotation with 4 guys who are Good enough to shut down anybody. Arizona is better than us? Chicago's better than us? Oakland is better than us? LA is better than us? NY is better than us? The Phillies are better than us? Do any of them have amazing 'pen AND rotation depth? I don't think so.

I hate the yank's everytime they get a good player they fuk them up,look at mondesi and weaver they were good and then they suked after being with the yankees.

I totally agree. The Yanks are my least favorite team. Whenever anybody plays them I root for whoever plays them. Weaver wasn't messed up by the Yankees, it's just hard for him to pitch in the pressure of NY, and Mondesi never was a superstar. I still hate the Yankees, as Alfonso Soriano continues to be my least favorite player!

The Marlins have the most depth in their pitching staff. They have the best bullpen in baseball and the only rotation with 4 guys who are Good enough to shut down anybody. Arizona is better than us? Chicago's better than us? Oakland is better than us? LA is better than us? NY is better than us? The Phillies are better than us? Do any of them have amazing 'pen AND rotation depth? I don't think so.

man that's some solid homer-ism right there.

Oakland has the best rotation in baseball.

 

 

Anyone to argue that FACT is a fool.

 

 

Our rotation is good...but we are not in that class yet.

 

 

They have a Cy Young winner. Where is ours? You cannot base things on potential but numbers. Potential will not win you ball games.

 

 

The Cubs big 3 are dominating, I take Prior over any right handed pitcher in the game right now.