I’m listening to our local sports radio station, WEEI 850 (God help me), and one of the panel members on the 2-6 pm show offered the following analysis of Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett (I’m paraphrasing):

“…Beckett is their secret weapon down the stretch.  Because, regardless of what he’s done in the regular season, you know exactly what you are going to get from him in the playoffs…”

Just to clarify, Josh Beckett, a pitcher who is returning from a debilitating elbow affliction this Friday, a guy who has a 7.25 ERA in his last 4 starts, will be just fine in October.  Because, it’s October, and in October Josh Beckett rises to the October occasion and comes through in October.   October October October Beckett October Big Game October October October October October.

Look, I acknowledge that we’ve seen some amazing athletic performances in the various post-seasons this city has witnessed in the past 8 years.  I also acknowledge Beckett’s impressive playoff track record, and I sincerely hope he is healthy when (if) the Red Sox begin post-season play this year.   It just boggles my mind that people expect players like Beckett to turn on a switch and go into “October Mode”.

Expecting 1.73 ERA playoff ball from Beckett is simply unfair.  Let’s keep our sense of entitlement in check, shall we?

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