Josh Beckett’s judgment is being questioned once again. The Red Sox pitcher reportedly went golfing a day after the team announced he would miss a start because of a troublesome lat and shoulder.
According to 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, Beckett had stiffness in his lat and shoulder after throwing 126 pitches last Sunday against the White Sox. The team determined on Wednesday that he would miss his next scheduled start, apparently against his will. Manager Bobby Valentine reportedly wanted him to take the week off while Beckett believed he was fine to make the start. That likely explains why he reportedly felt well enough to go golfing with teammate Clay Buchholz on Thursday.
Even if Beckett believed he was well enough to make his next start, this still comes down to him not using the best judgment. If he had shoulder and lat issues, and the team told him to miss a start to recover, then going golfing is not the best way to heal.
Beckett was one of the ringleaders when it came to slacking in the clubhouse last year during Boston’s meltdown. It looked like he was changing his ways in February, but now we’re left questioning him again. Beckett is 2-3 with a team-leading 4.45 ERA. He’s made four good starts since being bombed in his season debut, but he has plenty of room for improvement. So does his buddy Buchholz, who’s been terrible to start the season.
