I want HIM back

The Boston Red Sox are, currently, 0-3 on the season (but you knew that already).  The Cleveland Indians are currently 1-2 on the season (with their one win coming behind a Justin Masterson start and a triple-play against the Chicago White Sox).  This upcoming series that begins tonight at 7:05 will have  many fans on both sides sitting on their hands in anticipation of a win.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was one of those fans.  I want the team to get that damn first win down so the rest will come flowing behind.  But to me, tonight is more about watching Josh Beckett and seeing how well he performs.  My relationship with Beckett is odd.  I don’t have that love that so many do and I don’t consider him the commander of any kind of ass, let alone ass kicking.  But there is something about him that I like (aside from the fact that he foiled the Yankees in 2003 when the Red Sox couldn’t and then came back to help bring the Red Sox the championship in 2007) and when he struggles it hurts my brain.

So tonight I want him to do well.  Hell, I want him to throw a perfect game but I’ll settle for him keeping men off base and getting the win.  What I really want is the 2007 of Josh Beckett back not only so the Red Sox can flourish behind him but so that the doom and gloom of  the “Oh he’s not really a good pitcher, Theo was a fool to extend his contract” talk can end once and for all.

I hate that it feels like the fourth game of the season is a must-win game….how about a please-win game instead?

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Random stat that means nothing, really, but sounds good:  In 2010, Josh Beckett’s ERA against the Cleveland Indians was 1.13 with eight strikeouts and three hits.   Of course, he only pitched eight innings against them last season…

Blog suggestion for the day:  Yesterday, Dan over at Red Sox Monster came up with five good things we can take from the weekend series in Texas.  Just in case you need to read some positive reinforcement.