Beckett Returning to Form

Beckett's competitive fire is what has made
him an ace over his career.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett is starting to look like his old self, coming off the worst year of his 11-year career in 2010.

The hard-throwing right-hander was one of many Red Sox hampered by injuries a year ago and only made 21 starts, compiling 127.1 innings during that time. To go along with those numbers, Beckett was 6-6 with a 5.78 earned run average and a horrific 1.54 WHIP.

Beckett has been one of the more consist parts of the 2011 Red Sox team after they have gotten out of gate rather slow, starting the year 12-15, last in the American League East.

Beckett started the season with a rocky start in Cleveland only going five innings, allowing four earned runs, while striking out and walking four a piece and was saddled with the loss.

Since that time, Beckett has started four other games, going 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA. He has held opponents to a .169 average and struck out 32 batters compared to just nine walks. The turn around came in his second start of the year on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball against the hated rival New York Yankees. Beckett's career numbers against New York were anything, but good heading into the start. He was 10-7 with a 6.26 ERA in 22 career starts.

The fact that the Red Sox have averaged 6.0 runs per game in those starts has help translate to a winning record.

Last season, Beckett was even worse against the Yankees, posting a 1-2 record with a 10.04 ERA. He also allowed nine of the 20 home runs he gave up in '10 to the Bronx Bombers and surrendered a .339 average.

His first start against them this season was much different.

Beckett tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, while striking out 10 New York hitters. In his next two starts since then, Beckett went at least seven-plus innings and allowed two or fewer runs in both, striking out 14. In his most recent outing against the division rival Baltimore Orioles, he went six strong innings, but gave up four runs.

Only one conclusion can be drawn to Beckett's turn around and it belongs to team captain and longtime catcher Jason Varitek. Varitek is no longer the starting catcher in Boston and hasn't been the last two seasons, but is still one of the best game callers in Major League Baseball.

He might be the main reason why the Red Sox have seen this turn around with Beckett.

Varitek has caught Beckett four of his first five starts this season, posting a 2.17 ERA in those starts. The only start Varitek did not catch just so happens to be his only loss and worst start of the year against the Indians.

The veteran backstop is only batting .111 on the year, but his value to the Sox is so much more than offensive numbers and that is apparent with those statistics. Varitek is also the only catcher in Major League Baseball history to be behind the plate for four no-hitters and for that is highly regarded by his piers.

Beckett has put together a quite an impressive resume over his career and his ability to bounce back does not come as a surprise. The 6-foot-5 Texan was drafted first-round of the 1999 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins. Moving quickly through the system, Beckett was named America's Minor League Player of the Year back in 2001.

Shortly there after, he would go on and help the Marlins win their second World Series title in franchise history and would named the Most Valuable Player of the series, tossing a complete game shutout in the series-clinching Game 6 at Yankee Stadium back in 2003.

2007 was Beckett's best season statistically, winning a Major League-best 20 games and posting a 3.27 ERA. He would finish second in the AL Cy Young voting, losing out to Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia.

Although, Beckett would get the best of Sabathia that year in the postseason. With the Indians leading three games to one in the ALCS, the Sox would rally to win three straight to win the series, shocking Sabathia and Co.. It was that much sweeter for Beckett as the Red Sox beat Sabathia in the series' decisive seventh game.

Beckett would go on to help Boston sweep the Colorado Rockies in the World Series for their second championship in four years.

'Tek' as his teammates call him,
may be the secret behind
Beckett's resurgence.

The two-time All-Star would have a string of two consecutive Opening Day starts snapped earlier this season after manager Terry Francona decided to give left-hander Jon Lester the nod in Arlington to start the year.

Beckett has responded to the criticism with results and vengeance.

Since 2009, Beckett has struggled in the month of April, accumulating a 7.22 ERA. It was important for the Red Sox to see him to get off to a fast start and if he hadn't nobody knows where this team would be. Still only 30, Beckett is signed through the 2014 season after signing a contract extension prior to the of last season.

The Red Sox will need Beckett along with veteran John Lackey if they want to reach expectations they have set for themselves.

Once known as just a thrower, the Red Sox right-hander looks to have developed into a complete pitcher.

Beckett's next start is scheduled for Tuesday in Fenway Park against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a team he dominated April 21.

Watch out baseball, the hard throwing Texan looks to have returned, if he was ever gone.