 |
| Josh Beckett tosses a no hitter. Photo Credit:Chris Humphreys,US Presswire |
Josh Beckett nearly a year ago was in a battle to even keep his career going. In July of last year, he was suffering a nerve condition that was effecting his right arm, which in turn was wreaking havoc with his pitching performances. Beckett went 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight games he started last season, a low point in his career. The pain got to the point that he had no feeling in his fingertips and had to have a rib be removed through thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Questions about his career and ability to come back from such a surgery were mounting by the day. Through all the pain and questions, Beckett began his road to recovery.
By: Michael Hanley
All the work and time he put into his rehabilitation came to bear fruit yesterday afternoon as he tossed his first no hitter of his career and the first one for the Dodgers franchise since Hideo Nomo threw one for Los Angeles on September 17, 1996 against the Rockies. It was a performance that no one, not even Beckett himself, could have seen coming.
He has been having a very nice season so far for LA, as coming into his start vs the Phillies. Beckett had posted a 2-1 record with a sparkling 2.89 ERA to his name, one of the more solid pitchers of the Dodgers rotation through the first couple of months of this season. His fastball was sharp and his off-speed pitches kept the Phillies hitters completely off balance all game long. It took him 128 pitches to complete but he looked like he still had more left in the tank even after all those pitches.
It is an achievement that adds to what has already been a tremendous career for Beckett. With yesterday’s win he now tallies 135 wins to go along with being a three time all star, two time World Series champion and being World Series MVP in 2003 for the Marlins and 2007 ALCS MVP for the Red Sox. These achievements in his career have been remembered by baseball die hard fans and media in general but with yesterday’s no hitter, a new appreciation for them and the player he is has been given a fresh new look by perhaps people who are just hearing of Beckett’s name and wanting to learn more about the man behind this no hitter.
This is a moment in which the culmination of blood, sweat and tears for Josh Beckett come together and produces a performance in which himself, his teammate sand the Dodgers in general will always remember.
