- Thread starter
- #1
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2007
- Messages
- 34,763
- Reaction score
- 561
WEEI.comBeckett does not have what we would classically define as a sprained ankle.
The diagnosis of the injury suffered by the pitcher in the fourth inning Monday was originally classified as a sprain, but has since been identified as something different. It isn't clear if it is more promising, or potentially more threatening. As the pitcher said after the loss, he has never experienced anything like this so answers will have to come when he visits with foot specialist Dr. George Theodore Tuesday.
"It felt like it was locked up and then it popped in and out of socket or something, I don't know," Beckett explained. "It was definitely a definitive feeling for my ankle."
The starter said he didn't feel the injury until his second-to-last pitch, with his final offering -- his 58th of the game -- resulting in him pulling up after pushing off.
"It was hurting me pretty bad," Beckett said. "For me to take that much time trying to gather myself, I mean it was bothering me. Usually I'll try and hurry up and throw another pitch and see if it goes away."
That wasn't happening. After a visit from Red Sox manager Terry Francona and head trainer Mike Reinold, Beckett's day was done. Now we wait for how long that hiatus will last.
Beckett was on pace to approach his career-high in innings, having now thrown 173 2/3. (In 2009, when he threw the most innings of his career (214), the starter had completed 181 1/3 frames by this time of year.) It has been a workload that supplied the impetus for the Red Sox intending to give Beckett an extra day in each of the next two times through the rotation.
Now it would appear building in those extra days might not be necessary. Even if it is for a brief hiatus, it would appear the Red Sox will have their opportunity to draw back on Beckett. They just better hope they don't have to draw too far back.
Beckett may only have 12 wins, but the Red Sox are 19-8 in his starts. It is a success rate that rivals just about any pitcher in baseball, with the Yankees having gone 21-9 in CC Sabathia's starts, the Tigers going 22-8 in Justin Verlander's outings, and the Angels totaling a 19-10 mark in Jered Weaver's outings.
"I don't know," said Beckett when asked how serious the injury might be. "I've never had anything like this. I could wake up tomorrow and feel like playing basketball. We'll just see."
Lookin' forward to seeing what they determine it actually is. I guess it could be good news, or it could be really bad news.