Random Thoughts (August 20, 2008)

Red Sox Nation, it may be time to reach for the panic button. Josh Beckett will miss his next start on Friday due to numbness in his pitching hand. He will start next Tuesday night against the Yankees in New York. According to Dr. Robert Shalvoy of University Orthopedics in Providence (who has not treated ot examined Beckett), the numbness in the pitching hand could lead to something much more serious than a missed start. In Dr. Shalvoy's opinion, Beckett's symptoms should earn him at least a six week break and they could possibly be signs that would put Beckett in need of the dreaded Tommy John ligament surgery. Now obviously the Red Sox are not going to treat the health of their ace lightly. Beckett will see as many doctors as necessary in the next few days to determine both his short-term and long-term health. If Beckett needs to go under the knife, he will. If he only needs a few days off, then that is what he will receive. Still, as the Red Sox fight for a playoff spot, any word that Josh Beckett may be seriously injured is definitely worth mentioning. Keep your eyes and ears open in this situation... Daisuke Matsuzaka improved to 15-2 with a 2.77 ERA on the season after going five innings in the Red Sox 7-2 win over the Orioles last night. Matsuzaka was his usual frustrating/brilliant self. He struck out six while walking five and once again survived a bases loaded jam. In the bottom of the fourth, Matsuzaka faced a one-out bases loaded situation and got Melvin Mora (.283/20/91) to strike out and then induced Aubrey Huff (.302/27/87) to popout to third base. The man might not be economical with the pitches (105 in 5 IP) and he walks too many guys and he makes sure the bullpen will earn its money on the night he takes the bump but the guy finds a way to get the job done... I don't care what the umpires say about the call, B.J. Upton should not have been called out last night. No way did he attempt to advance to second base... I get the feeling that with or (probably) without Tom Brady, the Patriots offense will look impressive in their Friday night preseason game against the Eagles... The new Madden '09 is good but there isn't too much difference in this edition from last year's on PS2... Get well soon Yaz... Enjoy Clay Buchholz tonight...