Ok, it's been over a month since my last post and I've been holding back on my beloved Red Sox because quite frankly, the start to 2012 is more painful than the end of 2011 in my book. But, Mr. Josh Beckett has forced my hand. It came out the other day that one day after it was announced he was scratched for his next start due to injury, Beckett went out for a golf outing with fellow starter Clay Buchholz.
When I first heard this, I was totally ok with it. Sometimes you just have to go do something to get your mind off the stresses of life (and apparently the season, already) whether you're "injured" or not. I knew the Boston media would go crazy with this because thats what they do, especially when you start the year 12-19.
What got me going was when Josh sounded almost defiant and pissed off when asked in his postgame press conference if his golf outing had any effect on yet another poor start. I'm not sure if Josh realizes how idiotic he sounded when he goes "We get 18 off days a year. I think we deserve a little time to ourselves." First off, you're a pro ball player. I understand it can be a stressful job, especially in Beantown, but you're playing a game for a living and getting paid millions to do it; cry me a damn river. Secondly, you get a helluva lot more "off" days as a starting pitcher than an everyday position player like Dustin Pedroia.
Finally, you're right, it shouldn't matter to the public or anyone else how you spend your off days. But, you have to remember the enviornment you've been playing in since 2006. This isn't Florida where despite winning two World Series in eight years, they still can't get a sellout. This is Boston, where baseball means more than almost anything. This is a team that had the most historic collapse in history last year, and you were a key factor in that. This is a team that has started off the year 7.5 games BEHIND the Orioles. This is a pitching staff that would get shelled by the Bad News Bears and you apparently have decided to be this year's John Lackey and mouth off to the media in Boston and sound like a spoiled brat to the fans just cause the reporters are doing their jobs in trying to explain your well-below average beginning to this season.
Now, I'm not asking you to not go golfing on your off days, hell go become a great golfer if you want. What I'm saying is that you need to try this thing called self-perception. Realize and understand how look to one of the most volatile fanbases in sports. Last year you started off as a Cy Young candidate, and by this time the Sox were looking like a title contender. Now, you look like a has been who should be fixing everything in Pawtucket while your team looks like a laughing stock.
I'm not gonna say that Beckett should be shipped away or anything like that. The guy is a pretty damn good pitcher when he's on. I personally love the guy and, next to Lester, he's my favorite one on that staff. So just please, please, Josh, be smart when you get in front of a microphone. Ask the guys up in the booth what to say, or how to look. Make friends with the media. After all, in Boston, they may be the only ones you ever have again.
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