Josh Beckett's Game For The Ages

[UNHWildCats]

In his 4-0 complete game shutout win against the Angels Josh Beckett was downright nasty. So nasty he pitched a post season game like no other.

He became just the second pitcher in post season history to record atleast three career shutouts, Christy Matthewson had four during his career in the early parts of the last century.

He also joined a very elite list. A list for pitchers who threw a complete game while allowing no extra base hits, walking none and striking out atleast eight.

How exclusive is the club?

Josh Beckett can serve as its President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer..... not because he's the latest member or most well known, its because he's the only member.

This game may well go down as the second best pitching performance in post season history, Don Larsen's perfect game is the benchmark for post season greatness.

[UMass922]

In his 4-0 complete game shutout win against the Angels Josh Beckett was downright nasty. So nasty he pitched a post season game like no other.

He became just the second pitcher in post season history to record atleast three career shutouts, Christy Matthewson had four during his career in the early parts of the last century.

He also joined a very elite list. A list for pitchers who threw a complete game while allowing no extra base hits, walking none and striking out atleast eight.

How exclusive is the club?

Josh Beckett can serve as its President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer..... not because he's the latest member or most well known, its because he's the only member.

This game may well go down as the second best pitching performance in post season history, Don Larsen's perfect game is the benchmark for post season greatness.

Great game, definitely. I was actually a little bit surprised when he was brought out again for the ninth, but obviously it was a good move.

As for where this game ranks historically, let's not go nuts. Second-best seems a bit much--fact is, it was only Game 1 of the Division Series. I don't think you can rank it ahead of great World Series performances such as Jack Morris's Game 7 in '91--or, for that matter, Beckett's own clincher against the Yankees in '03.

[GannonFan]

Agreed, if he pitched it to clinch a title or a series, that would be something - but Game 1 against a team the Sox are favored to beat anyway falls a little bit less on the pressure cooker than other scenarios. Great game, though, and something to make the Yanks and Indians nervous about depending on who advances - a Beckett in the mode of the 2003 Beckett would make the Red Sox much more forminable than they already are.

[Mr. C]

Great game, definitely. I was actually a little bit surprised when he was brought out again for the ninth, but obviously it was a good move.

As for where this game ranks historically, let's not go nuts. Second-best seems a bit much--fact is, it was only Game 1 of the Division Series. I don't think you can rank it ahead of great World Series performances such as Jack Morris's Game 7 in '91--or, for that matter, Beckett's own clincher against the Yankees in '03.

Why be surprised that he was brought out in the ninth? Why can't pitchers pitch complete games anymore? When a pitcher is THAT dominate it is absolutely STUPID to bring in a closer in the ninth. The last guy the Angels wanted to face in the ninth was Beckett.

Agree with what you are talking about with all of the hyperbole.

For me, Sandy Koufax's back-to-back shutouts in the 1965 World Series against a great-hitting Minnesota Twins team (Killebrew, Oliva and company) is as good as it gets. He threw a four-hitter with 10 Ks and one walk in Game Five and came back on TWO DAYS REST (imagine Beckett or any one else from THIS era doing that) and tossed a three-hit shutout in Game Seven with 10 more Ks and three walks. The best hitting team in baseball at that time had 11 base runners in 18 innings.

Bob Gibson's 17-strikeout, shutout in Game One of the 1968 World Series is pretty high on my list, too.

[AZGrizFan]

Why be surprised that he was brought out in the ninth? Why can't pitchers pitch complete games anymore? When a pitcher is THAT dominate it is absolutely STUPID to bring in a closer in the ninth. The last guy the Angels wanted to face in the ninth was Beckett.

Agree with what you are talking about with all of the hyperbole.

For me, Sandy Koufax's back-to-back shutouts in the 1965 World Series against a great-hitting Minnesota Twins team (Killebrew, Oliva and company) is as good as it gets. He threw a four-hitter with 10 Ks and one walk in Game Five and came back on TWO DAYS REST (imagine Beckett or any one else from THIS era doing that) and tossed a three-hit shutout in Game Seven with 10 more Ks and three walks. The best hitting team in baseball at that time had 11 base runners in 18 innings.

Bob Gibson's 17-strikeout, shutout in Game One of the 1968 World Series is pretty high on my list, too.

xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx

[UMass922]

Why be surprised that he was brought out in the ninth? Why can't pitchers pitch complete games anymore? When a pitcher is THAT dominate it is absolutely STUPID to bring in a closer in the ninth. The last guy the Angels wanted to face in the ninth was Beckett.

I agree with you. I'm not saying he shouldn't have pitched the ninth--just that I'm surprised he did, and precisely for the reason you suggest: most managers these days seem to be afraid of the complete game, and in big games like to bring in their closers even with four-run leads.

[Cleets]

For me, Sandy Koufax's back-to-back shutouts in the 1965 World Series against a great-hitting Minnesota Twins team (Killebrew, Oliva and company) is as good as it gets. He threw a four-hitter with 10 Ks and one walk in Game Five and came back on TWO DAYS REST (imagine Beckett or any one else from THIS era doing that) and tossed a three-hit shutout in Game Seven with 10 more Ks and three walks. The best hitting team in baseball at that time had 11 base runners in 18 innings.

Thank you for providing some perspective... xnodx

(I need two days rest after lunch, I can't imagine a modern day pitcher doing that)

[89Hen]

In his 4-0 complete game shutout win against the Angels Josh Beckett was downright nasty. So nasty he pitched a post season game like no other.
xrolleyesx xcoolx xrolleyesx xrolleyesx xcoolx xcoffeex xrolleyesx xrolleyesx

[mcveyrl]

Why be surprised that he was brought out in the ninth? Why can't pitchers pitch complete games anymore? When a pitcher is THAT dominate it is absolutely STUPID to bring in a closer in the ninth. The last guy the Angels wanted to face in the ninth was Beckett.



If only Lou Pinella thought like that!

This was a great game, but for me, even if it's a no-no, it's not going to be that high because it was Game 1 of the Division Series and he was spotted a four run lead by the 3rd. Really not a super high pressure situation.