Josh Beckett was a train wreck last year. He’s been alternating between great and decent years since 2004.
2004: 9-9, 3.79 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
2005: 15-8, 3.38 ERA, 1.18 WHIP
2006: 16-11, 5.01 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
2007: 20-7, 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
2008: 12-10, 4.03 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
2009: 17-6, 3.86 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Following that trend, he was due for a down year, and did he ever.
Beckett went 6-6 in 21 starts with a ridiculous 5.78 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He entered the year with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. After last year’s debacle, those numbers are up to 3.96 and 1.24, which is crazy considering he’s pitched 1,528 2/3 innings.
Beckett turned 30 last year (he’ll be 31 in May), and wouldn’t be the first star pitcher to flame out early. Dwight Gooden went downhill when he turned 29. Fernando Valenzuela at 27. Barry Zito at 29. Carlos Zambrano hasn’t been the same since he was 27.
I’m not quite ready to write him off, but there definitely is cause for concern. He finished off 2009 going 5-2, but he posted a 4.60 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. That gives him an ERA of 5.34 in his past 204 innings.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Beckett though. He has a track record of bouncing back after down years. Plus, just because he’ll turn 31 in May doesn’t mean he’s used goods. After all, he’s not a running back.
He also isn’t as big of a risk in 2011 for the simple fact that he’ll be going much later in fantasy drafts than usual. Having your number one or two fantasy starter struggle is hard to overcome. If it’s your third or fourth though, it’s not nearly as devastating.
Health will obviously be an issue with Beckett, but with the improvements the Red Sox made on offense, he could easily win 15 games, even if his peripherals aren’t what you came to expect from Beckett prior to last year.
Do you think Beckett is done or do you think last year was just a fluke?
Also check out:
- 2011 Fantasy Baseball Profiles
- 2011 Fantasy First Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Second Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Third Basemen Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Shortstop Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Catcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Outfielder Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Starting Pitcher Rankings
- 2011 Fantasy Closer Rankings
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