Simmons: Ten things I like about Josh (Beckett)

1. Beckett's stats during the 2003 playoffs: Six games, five starts, 42.7 innings, 47 K's, 21 hits, 12 walks and just 10 earned runs allowed, capped off by a complete game, five-hit shutout on three days' rest at Yankee Stadium (earning him the World Series MVP award). And he was only 23 at the time. Considering that it's all about beating the Yankees these days, what's wrong with acquiring the most famous Yankee-killer of this century? How many guys have gone into the Stadium and brought the place to its knees?

(Granted, nobody really cared about the 2003 World Series -- in fact, I'm not even positive it happened -- but I still like the thought of Yankee fans muttering to themselves, "Crap, that Beckett guy killed us two years ago, this sucks.")

2. It's almost sacrilegous to compare this trade to the destiny-altering Pedro Martinez deal back in 1997, and only because Beckett hasn't even thrown 200 innings in a season yet, whereas Pedro was coming off a sublime Cy Young Award season in Montreal (241 innings, 305 K's, 158 hits, 67 walks, 1.90 ERA). But how often can you acquire a potential franchise pitcher who's only 25, has a World Series pedigree, and once appeared on David Letterman's show? Here's Jack McKeon's postgame quote about Beckett after the legendary Series-clinching start at Yankee Stadium that would have been 10-20 times more legendary if anyone other than the Marlins were involved:

"I told you Josh Beckett was special. He's got the guts of a burglar. This guy is going to be something special. I was not about to take him out in the ninth."

That's right, folks … he's got the guts of a burglar. I don't even know what that means and I'm excited.

:rofl:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/051122&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

is that he's been mediocre away from his spacious home and is injury prone.

like Glavine and Trachsel. The Yanks have some good young arms in Chacon and Wang.

talking about the Sox. So you bailed on your team? Not cool.

They HATE the Yanks!!!!!!!!

but its demeaning for you to insult the Yanks by comparison to the Red Sox when you are a Mets fan. You should be concerned about your own sorry excuse for a baseball team. I'll just think back on 2000 with a smile.

It's a bit early (or a bit late, considering he's 25 and has yet to have that breakout season) to be calling him the next insert big name here.