Comments on: Josh Beckett: “I spend my off days the way I want to spend them”

By: dawglb

dawglb — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:26:07 +0000

Bryce Harper apparently spends his time in the tunnel however he wants to, too. Doesn’t mean it’s what is best for him or the team.

By: bosoxfan1950

bosoxfan1950 — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:35:36 +0000

“Skiing?” “Off season?” Ah, shades of Jim Lonberg chasing Jill St. John on the slopes during the off season. Broke his leg, the mutt, and was never the same again. And he then becomes a dentist! Lucky for Beckett that he didn’t hurt himself playing golf or the heating of tar and the plucking of chickens would most assuredly have commenced.

By: bosoxfan1950

bosoxfan1950 — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:25:16 +0000

I agree 100%, Randy. And, IMHO, the Buchholz problem of being Beckett’s shadow is exacerbated by the simple fact that Buchholz isn’t smart enough to see what’s going on. Tweedle dumb and Tweedle dumber.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:42:33 +0000

I think that part of this is that . . . in light of Pollo-y-Cerveza-gate; the fact that the mole in still in hiding (but he pretty clearly believes it to be Youkilis), that Sox fans and ownership alike believe he’s a fat pussy toad (thank you forever for that one George Steinbrenner) who’s idea of conditioning is hunting, eating copious amounts of red meat, fried foods & drinking beer then showing up for Spring Training more bloated than the year before . . . Beckett is attempting to force his way out of Boston the best way he knows how . . . as a boorish self centered pig.

And those are among the kinder words I have for him.

He could throw a no-hitter his next time out and it would not change my mind in the least. In fact, that would be the best thing for all involved as it would likely hasten the trading process.

By: indaburg

indaburg — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:45:10 +0000

Where you learned how to write?

By: judahbenhur

judahbenhur — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:52:05 +0000

There is a difference between asking who a guy is dating in his down time and asking about a physical activity that potentially affects the unique and physical job MR. Beckett is highly paid for. There are contract restrictions for everything from skiing and snowboarding in the off season to playing pickup basketball… what is he talking about? Taking a yoga class to improve his back would be a lot different than playing golf that strains your back and lats. Not exactly a big commitment to the team and contract is the point.

By: Kevin Gillman

Kevin Gillman — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:44:26 +0000

Paperlions, I think the PROBLEM is he says he has a bad back, so they skip his start. Fine, but then he golfs two days later? That’s the problem right there. If you say you have a bad break, then take care of the problem so when it’s your time to pitch, you show up and do your best. I am not a Red Sox fan by any means, I am an Indians fan, but I understand why the media is making this a big deal. If he does indeed have a back problem, then the golfing certainly affected it, even just a little bit. Imagine how much you move your neck, by putting your head down, and swing the club, move your head up to follow the ball. I just think he let the teammates down, first and foremost.

By: allbucdup

allbucdup — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:28:47 +0000

You guys are all ridiculous with hating on him for saying he gets 18 off days a year. He is talking about in the season. Look in the mirror and see how many days you take off work in a 6 month window.

Second he didnt have a strained back. He had a sore lat…which IMO was just an excuse to bring up Cook before his contract expired.

Guy comes out and has a bad game, and admits he had a bad game, and says the fans are smart to boo him for that bad game and you call him a cancer? Why because he was honest and didn’t offer you a cliche’? Thats also called manning up an owning responsibility something a few others in boston’s front office need to do.

Typical Boston.. What do we have to complain about today?

By: bucsnsincity

bucsnsincity — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:57:43 +0000

Wake me up when September ends

By: Craptastics9

Craptastics9 — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:30:52 +0000

You are correct. If I tell my manager that my back hurts too much to pitch, I should play a sport where (if I am the best player of that sport in the world) I am violently swinging my body 60-70 times in a rotation of my back. That is totally acceptable. Next week I will tell my manager that I can’t run the bases 2 days before I run the Boston Marathon.
When Louis Polonia was accused of stauatory rape while he was a Yankee I disavowed my support of him. Why Red Sox fans can justify rooting for a prick like Beckett is beyond me.

By: rico7207

rico7207 — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:29:01 +0000

He could never pitch in New York for the Yankees, as they play every October.

By: yournuts

yournuts — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:19:26 +0000

So your a psychiatrist? Your making a diagnosis of Josh Beckett? Where did you get your training at?

By: bigharold

bigharold — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:15:00 +0000

“….as old school players didn’t work out at all in the offseason and showed up to spring training fat and out-of-shape.”

That has a lot to do with the fact that most “old school” players back in the day needed to earn extra money in the off season because they didn’t get compensated like they do today. Pay scales for MLB players today, relative to the rest of society, FAR out distance their predecessor from the past up to and including the 70s. Prior to that era, there was no such thing as multiple year and or guaranteed contracts either. Spring training was specifically to get in shape and work the rust out. Today ST isn’t nor should it be for getting in shape. Considering the lavish salaries that today’s players enjoy, in general and specifically Beckett, showing up in condition and prepared should be the least that is expected today.

While Beckett has every right to do what he pleases with his 18 days off during the season, it is also accurate to point out that he has 4 ½ months to play golf during the off season. This is a luxury known only to professional athletes. And, players with histories of back trouble shouldn’t be swinging a golf club during the season. Beckett worked REALLY hard to attain the position that he has today. He must have known that there were going to be tens of thousands of people showing up daily to watch him work, .. never mind the millions watching and listening. The implication is obvious, fans have a vested interest and lets not forget they are the customer. If Beckett insist furthering the perception that he doesn’t give a rat about public perception then he’s either stupid and completely out of touch or masochistic self centered clown.

I’ve two grown children and the only advise I’ve ever given them about how to comport themselves in their careers is; show up, . show up on time, .. be prepared to work, and make a good faith attempt to do your job as well as possible. Maybe Valentine needs to have that conversation with Beckett too.

By: nancy10272004

nancy10272004 — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:01:31 +0000

I love that he said that about his child but come on, how many Dads (and Moms) do we all know who manage to balance a baby and a career? How about almost every other professional athlete out there (Gronk and “I’m saving myself for marriage” Tebow being obvious exceptions).

By: lew24

lew24 — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:59:08 +0000

18 days off a year? Dude, you pitch every 5th day! Now you are going to tell us that you never golf in between starts? Spit in my face and tell me its raining!

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:53:36 +0000

The operative word in your comment, paperlions “most”. Most old school players didn’t make millions upon million of dollars a season. In fact I can say unequivocally the “old school” players I grew up watching NONE of them made even1 million dollars per. Much less the type of money Beckett is making.

By: cleverbob

cleverbob — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:53:13 +0000

Working out and rehabbing by yourself isn’t the same as having to report for team activities. I’d love to have 4 1/2 months to myself every year where I had no obligation other than to work out for a few hours a day.

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:39:57 +0000

San Fran fans and Barry Bonds comes to mind…

By: granadafan

granadafan — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:37:44 +0000

Give me a break. Baseball players are wimpiest sportsmen in all of sports. This goes even more so for starting pitchers who play every five days or so. They’re not even everyday players, FFS. I have more respect for the relief pitchers who actually pitch almost every day. Must be tough shagging balls during BP, tracking pitch counts, getting more sunflower seeds, flirting with groupies over the bullpen, on the days they’re no pitching while their teammates stand around playing every day.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:26:39 +0000

Well, truth be told PL using your version of describing old school here. Beckett is known more for showing up to spring training in “old school” fashion, more than not.

By: sportsdrenched.com

sportsdrenched.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:16:01 +0000

Like it or not, right or wrong: If you’re going to cash that check, you get to deal with questions about your personal time.

“I spend my off days the way I want to spend them,

Golf is a pretty minor thing, and I get what the guy is saying. But let’s say he went rock climbing, or engaged in some other “dangerous” activiy on his off day. When a company makes that type of investment in you being physicly able to do something, you can bet that you’re going to have to be accountable to being physicly ready to go when it’s time to go. If you’e not, and you’re not performing well expect some scrutiny.

By: tuna411

tuna411 — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:11:45 +0000

Um, Josh, YOUR year must be different than I perceive seeing how you get 4-5 months off every winter.

You supposedly have a bad back, missed a start, than went golfing on your “1 of 18 days off a year”, and followed it up with a completely crappy start. Yeah, I think it is my business when I help pay your salary.

Total goof ball…

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:55:38 +0000

Damn, whole lot of myopic, fact-ignoring stupidity going on in this comment section.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:54:14 +0000

If that is so….they are super old school and the Red Sox players should be celebrated (because everything old school is cherished, right?)….as old school players didn’t work out at all in the offseason and showed up to spring training fat and out-of-shape. In contrast, most modern players take off about 2-3 weeks after the season and then spend 5 to 6 days/week working out and rehabbing injuries until spring training starts.

By: psousa1

psousa1 — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:30:54 +0000

As a lifelong sox fan I could give a horse’s crap if he played golf or not. Last night he looked like he wasn’t even f-ing trying. 91mph over the plate on nearly every f-ing pitch?! Bullsh!t. He was not trying. Also sh!it can his little piss ant personal catcher Shoppach. From some of thinly veiled hints dropped by the writers who are in the clubhouse this is not a good guy.

By: zakharovsa

zakharovsa — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:58:13 +0000

Go for the A’s championship teams then. It doesn’t hurt when guys are all buddies, but it’s not necessary in baseball.

By: dexterismyhero

dexterismyhero — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:52:27 +0000

Hell, I don’t care if he is golfing or if it even makes a difference. It was his day off.

He answered the question. What was he supposed to say. “Yeah, my back started hurting around the 4th hole and my lat had some pain around hole #7, but I finished the round anyway.

The media crap is ridiculous. Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic on the radio need to just STFU. Greenberg can go Tweet his butt off. He is extremely annoying.

By: 18thstreet

18thstreet — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:52:17 +0000

I wouldn’t make the 1977 Yankees a template for anyone. It’s a miracle it worked for them.

By: 18thstreet

18thstreet — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:48:12 +0000

Is his back hurt, or isn’t it? I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play golf. But it seems to me that if his back is hurt, that would make it really hard to play golf.

And for a guy who hasn’t been taking care of himself — this isn’t about chicken in the clubhouse but the obvious pounds he’s put on over the last three years or so — I’m starting to wonder how the MLB contract doesn’t cover this sort of scenario. In exchange for this money, the player is expect to stay in shape.

By: zakharovsa

zakharovsa — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:46:18 +0000

“Clubhouse cancers” are given too much credit for team downfalls. Check out the many successful teams (1977 Yankees come to mind) who loathed one another. Besides, if Papelbon gets Robert Andino out are we even talking about this?