Josh Beckett

[Cowtipper]

So far in his career, Josh Beckett is 126-82 with a 3.85 ERA, 115 ERA+ and 8.4 K/9 IP ratio. The three time All Star has won over 15 games four times and over 20 games once (leading the AL in wins in 2007). He has received Cy Young votes twice, finishing second and ninth in the balloting, and MVP votes once, finishing 22nd.

The big right hander has generally been an excellent playoff performer, going 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 14 postseason appearances (13 starts). Notable series include the 2007 ALDS, when he pitched a complete game shutout, the 2003 World Series, when he posted a 1.10 ERA in two starts while striking out 19 and allowing only eight hits in 16.1 innings and the 2007 ALCS, when he went 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA. Because of his postseason success, he won the 2003 World Series MVP and Babe Ruth Award and the 2007 ALCS MVP.

Beckett has one of the best BB/K ratios of any pitcher ever, placing 37th on the all-time list. Among active pitchers, he ranks highly in K/9 IP (ninth), WHIP (12th) and K/BB ratio (13th). In the field, he led pitchers in fielding percentage in 2006.

Statistically, Beckett is similar to Jack McDowell, Carlos Zambrano, Matt Morris, John Lackey, Jake Peavy, Carl Erskine, Tom Browning, Ramon Martinez, John Smiley and Denny McClain.

Here are his career projections, using Bill James' Favorite Toy:

195 W
114 L
433 G
430 GS
26 CG
13 SHO
2716 IP
2532 H
1298 R
1199 ER
806 BB
2541 K
3.97 ERA

What do you think about Josh Beckett? When he retires, should he be a Hall of Famer? Does he have Hall of Fame potential?

[PVNICK]

He's 32 coming off a better season than I realized considering the impression left in the off-season that he was sitting around the clubhouse drinking beer and eating wings and pizza all season (13-7 2.89 147 ERA+). The ERA and ERA+ were career bests. It has certainly happened where pitchers get (or keep) rolling from his age on but not always. At any rate his body of work seems much less impressive than his reputation, thanks to a few big post-season games. 3 seasons over 200 IP topping out @ 212. 4 seasons 15+ wins 15, 16, 17 and 22. the WAR numbers are maybe better maybe not I have no feel for them for pitchers 28.9 career and 6 3+, 3 4+ but only last season over 5 @ 6.2. Everyone that was real good had potential but he needs a Spahn, Carlton, Randy Johnson type run in his 30s.

[Cougar]

I concur -- if Beckett hits those BJFT marks he will have an argument, but given the durabililty problems he's had during his career, I'm not very disposed to believing he can.

[cavalier1968]

Hello,

Good pitcher.

Will finish up with 180 wins or so and be out of the majors by 38...........No HOF
Cav

[Blackout]

is this thread a bad joke?

[Cowtipper]

Is Beckett done as a serviceable starter? He had a brief resurgence with Los Angeles at the end of 2012, but struggled mightily in an injury-shortened 2013 (0-5, 5.19 ERA, 69 ERA+). The Dodgers have him through 2014 - will he be productive, or will he stink?

[Cougar]

Is Beckett done as a serviceable starter? He had a brief resurgence with Los Angeles at the end of 2012, but struggled mightily in an injury-shortened 2013 (0-5, 5.19 ERA, 69 ERA+). The Dodgers have him through 2014 - will he be productive, or will he stink?

He could bounce back and have a few more seasons as a serviceable starter, or even better than that; it's too soon to rule that out.

However, his HOF chances are null. Too many prime seasons marred by ineffectiveness and/or injury to realistically compile a HOF career at this point (turning 34 early next season).

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Beckett is he same age as Mark Prior. I remember when both were coming up through the minors. Both had tremendous hype though Prior was considered the slightly better prospect. Beckett, while very good at times, never really lived up to the hype but he did stay mostly healthy. He's had a good career but the last two seasons have been lost seasons for him. Not a Hall of Famer.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Beckett is he same age as Mark Prior. I remember when both were coming up through the minors. Both had tremendous hype though Prior was considered the slightly better prospect. Beckett, while very good at times, never really lived up to the hype but he did stay mostly healthy. He's had a good career but the last two seasons have been lost seasons for him. Not a Hall of Famer.

Beckett had HOF potential at one time. I don't see what he could realistically do to get him to the HOF. He didn't have enough great seasons to make it to the HOF with only 200 wins, and he's not likely to have such seasons at this point in his career.

[lyrical]

Beckett had HOF potential at one time. I don't see what he could realistically do to get him to the HOF. He didn't have enough great seasons to make it to the HOF with only 200 wins, and he's not likely to have such seasons at this point in his career.

Beckett could still have some great seasons ahead of him, he had a very fine first half and has said he's learned to pitch with a lesser fastball (he can still hit 94 occasionally), relying on his curve more. But he is so far behind HOF pace already it would be near impossible to catch up. He and Sabathia started in the league the same year but Beckett is mountains behind in IP and wins. He's missed so much time on the DL and is currently on there for another stint, so his health has been a major factor of why he isn't a HOF caliber pitcher (only 3 seasons with 200+ IP), because he certainly has the talent.

[Cowtipper]

Beckett wrapped up his career with a 6-6 record, a 2.88 ERA and a 121 ERA+ in 2014. His totals over 14 seasons are: 138-106 W-L, 3.88 ERA, 1,901 K and 111 ERA+. He earned three All-Star selections, was 2nd in Cy Young voting in 2007 and led the league in wins once.

Some common questions: Did he do enough to earn a few votes when his time on the ballot comes? Did he end up being better or worse than his most similar (retired) comparison: Jason Schmidt? When did the tide irreversibly turn against Beckett's Hall of Fame chances?

[Cougar]

Beckett wrapped up his career with a 6-6 record, a 2.88 ERA and a 121 ERA+ in 2014. His totals over 14 seasons are: 138-106 W-L, 3.88 ERA, 1,901 K and 111 ERA+. He earned three All-Star selections, was 2nd in Cy Young voting in 2007 and led the league in wins once.

Some common questions: Did he do enough to earn a few votes when his time on the ballot comes? Did he end up being better or worse than his most similar (retired) comparison: Jason Schmidt? When did the tide irreparably turn against Beckett's Hall of Fame chances?

a. A few votes, maybe, although I don't think he was well-liked enough to get more than a few, if that.
b. Better than Schmidt -- more big years, postseason performances, lasted longer.
c. When his body started breaking down; Beckett battled persistent injuries almost right out of the gate. One just can't build a HOF resume that way.

[PVNICK]

I guess when you look at it now the Florida years did not help. They were not bad but they were just sort of filler until 2005. Maybe some day single digit win seasons at or around the ERA qualifier IP marks will not be glossed over. But for now, at least to me, they are. He gets rolling at 25 but after the back of the baseball card HOF season in 2007 he has an OK season then a good one then a stinker. There is a five year run from 2005-2009 where he alternates good with less good seasons from ages 25-29. 2010 was the turning point. By 2012 the lights were being turned off. In retrospect he is an anorexic version of Jack Morris.

[jjpm74]

If someone like David Cone can't get enough support to last more than 1 ballot, Beckett has no chance of getting many votes. He could get a few handshake votes from some Boston writers, but that's about it.

I am surprised he has retired. He didn't have a bad season and could still add some value to a team as a veteran presence/5th starter/long reliever type role. I haven't been following his story. What happened to him?