Beckett with Blisters again?

[YASS]

Why do I have to "know" it's not true in order to question it? Or do you believe Gary Sheffield when he says he didn't know the cream he was using was a steroid?

Question it all you like. I even agreed with you that the story seemed unlikely.

Does that mean I'm in line for a personal services contract?

[ballfour]

Question it all you like. I even agreed with you that the story seemed unlikely.

Does that mean I'm in line for a personal services contract?

It depends on two factors:

Do you have a prominent position in the media?

Are you willing to be the unofficial mouthpiece of the Boston Red Sox?

If the answer to both is "yes", I'd say you have a great shot.

[YASS]

It depends on two factors:

Do you have a prominent position in the media?

Are you willing to be the unofficial mouthpiece of the Boston Red Sox?

If the answer to both is "yes", I'd say you have a great shot.

OK, if you're dead set on advocating that baseball writers make a habit of calling out ballplayers as liars without a single piece of evidence to back it up.

Shaughnessey follows that journalistic standard, so maybe you have a point. But I prefer Gammons' approach.

[ballfour]

OK, if you're dead set on advocating that baseball writers make a habit of calling out ballplayers as liars without a single piece of evidence to back it up.

Shaughnessey follows that journalistic standard, so maybe you have a point. But I prefer Gammons' approach.

Who suggested that Gammons call out anyone as a liar? You'd just think that a supposed journalist who is paid to give his opinion might offer even the smallest smirk regarding the story.

Or does Peter Gammons believe that Gary Sheffield didn't know he was using steroids as well?

I don't doubt that you prefer Gammons approach. He sells the company line every chance he gets.

[yankeebot]

OK, if you're dead set on advocating that baseball writers make a habit of calling out ballplayers as liars without a single piece of evidence to back it up.

Shaughnessey follows that journalistic standard, so maybe you have a point. But I prefer Gammons' approach.

I wouldn't go so far as to call them liars but I do think this should have been questioned. To say that he cut his finger on a defective baseball may be one of the more absurd things I've ever heard. To simply accept it as fact is shoddy reporting.

[ballfour]

I wouldn't go so far as to call them liars but I do think this should have been questioned. To say that he cut his finger on a defective baseball may be one of the more absurd things I've ever heard. To simply accept it as fact is shoddy reporting.

This is my point. In the grand scheme of things, no "scandal" has taken place on any level. It's just remarkable that a guy who is quite vocal about virtually everything doesn't have a single thing to say when a player with a history of blister issues insists he cut his finger on a baseball.

[YASS]

I wouldn't go so far as to call them liars but I do think this should have been questioned. To say that he cut his finger on a defective baseball may be one of the more absurd things I've ever heard. To simply accept it as fact is shoddy reporting.

I can't see why he'd bother. It's not a major issue (at least not yet) and has no bearing on the rest of the season.

If it later turns out to be the first of several friction- or irritation-induced avulsions or blisters, then I'd expect him to make an issue of it. Now? What's the point?

[Jasbro]

I wouldn't go so far as to call them liars but I do think this should have been questioned. To say that he cut his finger on a defective baseball may be one of the more absurd things I've ever heard. To simply accept it as fact is shoddy reporting.

If a multi-million dollar asset injured himself on a defective $12 ball, wouldn't one think he would point out the ball to the ump, and the Sox would send it to MLB for investigation? Shouldn't the manufacturer be asked to look into the "problem" to make sure it was only an isolated incident?

What if there are other such balls out there, lurking in umps bags, just waiting to peel the skin off of other unwitting pitchers?

[ballfour]

I can't see why he'd bother. It's not a major issue (at least not yet) and has no bearing on the rest of the season.

If it later turns out to be the first of several friction- or irritation-induced avulsions or blisters, then I'd expect him to make an issue of it. Now? What's the point?

Yes, of course. The media never looks to get out in front of a potential story. They just sorta wait for something to happen, and then react to it.

[4bronxbombers]

What if there are other such balls out there, lurking in umps bags, just waiting to peel the skin off of other unwitting pitchers?

omg...that made me laugh out loud.

[YASS]

Yes, of course. The media never looks to get out in front of a potential story. They just sorta wait for something to happen, and then react to it.

Isn't that what's supposed to happen with news? Wait for it to happen?

[Grape Ape]

omg...that made me laugh out loud.

Good thing the AL uses a DH. Beckett might accidentally stab himself in the throat with one of those defective bats.

[ballfour]

Isn't that what's supposed to happen with news? Wait for it to happen?

One more time: a player with a history of blister problems that previously led him to DL stints insists he cut his finger on a defective baseball, and ESPN's leading opinion maker doesn't have a single thing to offer?

I know you're a Sox fan, but I don't believe for a second you don't see the absurdity of the situation.

[ballfour]

Good thing the AL uses a DH. Beckett might accidentally stab himself in the throat with one of those defective bats.

[YASS]

One more time: a player with a history of blister problems that previously led him to DL stints insists he cut his finger on a defective baseball, and ESPN's leading opinion maker doesn't have a single thing to offer?

I know you're a Sox fan, but I don't believe for a second you don't see the absurdity of the situation.

It's actually been lots longer than a second. I still don't see the situation as absurd.

Clearly, you do. Let's leave it there.

[ballfour]

It's actually been lots longer than a second. I still don't see the situation as absurd.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

Sox fans are an interesting breed, no doubt.

[YASS]

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

Sox fans are an interesting breed, no doubt.

You see me as an archetype of the breed? Apparently, there's some genetic difference between Sox fans and Yankee fans that I'm not aware of. How does one "breed" a Sox fan? Where do we fit in your taxonomy?

[ballfour]

You see me as an archetype of the breed? Apparently, there's some genetic difference between Sox fans and Yankee fans that I'm not aware of. How does one "breed" a Sox fan? Where do we fit in your taxonomy?

You put it up on a tee for me, but community standards probably prevent me from answering. I'll err on the side of caution.

[YASS]

You put it up on a tee for me, but community standards probably prevent me from answering. I'll err on the side of caution.

It wasn't a joke tee. It was just my recognition of your gratuitous insult.

Have a nice day.

[ballfour]

It wasn't a joke tee. It was just my recognition of your gratuitous insult.

Have a nice day.

You too!

[hardrain]

New Evidence Uncovers some defective bats at well...

[b-ball-lunachick]

C'Mon. How many times do we have to read "It's a Yankees thread, why are you even here?"

I venture out enough, and have the scars to prove it. A vast majority are pleasant, but there are those that are offended by the mere fact that we exist at all.....

I've seen plenty of posts by YASS, Rice14, and others posting around the board without incident...then I saw that NixonforPresident guy in the "we're doomed" thread..probably not a place to be on a Yankee board. If I were a Red Sox fan here, I'd pick my spots and pick my timing and my wording carefully..but I'd venture out for sure. JMHO...

[YASS]

I've seen plenty of posts by YASS, Rice14, and others posting around the board without incident...then I saw that NixonforPresident guy in the "we're doomed" thread..probably not a place to be on a Yankee board. If I were a Red Sox fan here, I'd pick my spots and pick my timing and my wording carefully..but I'd venture out for sure. JMHO...

Re NixonforPresident: He was nothing! You should have seen the guy who made his first and last post in OOP yesterday. He came in flaming and couldn't have lasted more than 30 seconds. I compliment the mods on their vigilance and alacrity.

But, yeah, I echo your comments. The water's fine. Come on in.

[Rice14]

FWIW, I'm pretty skeptical about the whole Beckett blister issue. Maybe that comes from living in S. Florida and going through all the problems he had down here. It seems to me though that it's too big a coincidence. Either the raised seam thing is an out and out lie, or maybe a slight imperfection created a cut on a finger that was easily susceptible to injury. Either way, I find it hard to believe that this is in no way related to his previous problems. I also remember thinking during the game that his curve had more of a bite on it then normal, it's possible he just overthrew one.

In any case, I'd rather he pitch like has this year and deal with an occasional blister then have him pitch like last year when he was trying to avoid them.

[Reggie Smith]

FWIW, I'm pretty skeptical about the whole Beckett blister issue. Maybe that comes from living in S. Florida and going through all the problems he had down here. It seems to me though that it's too big a coincidence. Either the raised seam thing is an out and out lie, or maybe a slight imperfection created a cut on a finger that was easily susceptible to injury. Either way, I find it hard to believe that this is in no way related to his previous problems. I also remember thinking during the game that his curve had more of a bite on it then normal, it's possible he just overthrew one.

In any case, I'd rather he pitch like has this year and deal with an occasional blister then have him pitch like last year when he was trying to avoid them.

Yes!! That thing was really snapping that day. I commented on it, too.

[Rice14]

Yes!! That thing was really snapping that day. I commented on it, too.

Yep. I thought it was the best I had seen from him.

[b-ball-lunachick]

One more time: a player with a history of blister problems that previously led him to DL stints insists he cut his finger on a defective baseball, and ESPN's leading opinion maker doesn't have a single thing to offer?

I know you're a Sox fan, but I don't believe for a second you don't see the absurdity of the situation.

I was pretty surprised when I heard that explanation -- partially because it sounds ridiculous and partially because Gammons reported it as fact. Then again, it's Gammons..that guy infuriates me to no end sometimes...as a Yankee fan, he's almost unwatchable at this point and the fact that we have to deal with him so much on a national broadcast, when he's such an overt homer, is ridiculous...

Did you catch how he said that the yankees hitting woes are because they're old instead of just not getting the job done, in a collective slump?

If you go down the line in my rough estimation, they aren't that far off from the Red Sox lineup except for CF and DH -- the Yankees have only one extra year in a good number of the positions: Phelps/Youkilis, Cano/Pedroia, Jeter/Lugo, Abreu/Drew and Posada/Varitek.

On the flip side: Lowell has a year on A-Rod and Manny has two on Matsui. Giambi has 4 years on Ortiz and Damon has 6 on Crisp but Crisp hasn't exactly been an offensive difference maker for the Red Sox..as a team the Red Sox are getting it done offensively but it's not because of their youth..

ugh, I've avoided most of his written words more recently -- especially after the " the Red Sox clubhouse is the nicest one around -- the most popular guy is even a Jew" article...I should probably start muting him when he comes on tv...sorry for the rant.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

[YASS]

It does seem as though the seams on that ball are a little higher than standard. Is that a picture of the ball he got the avulsion from?

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

It does seem as though the seams on that ball are a little higher than standard. Is that a picture of the ball he got the avulsion from?

Avulsion.

[Mel Marquis]

Beckett threw 5 simulated innings today with no ill effects. He's scheduled to come off the DL next week against the Indians.

[Mr. Pinstripes]

When Beckett threw yesterday, he kept a bandage on the finger. Later he played catch in the OF without it and snapped off a few breaking balls. The cut did not break open.

He'll throw a side session on Saturday and will come off the DL on Tuesday to face Cleveland at Fenway.

Get well soon.We don't want to hear excuses from you later.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

Also in a related report, Beckett was seen yelling and fist pumping in his signature spastic way at the blister, the blister vowed to never return...

[ieddyi]

Also in a related report, Beckett was seen yelling and fist pumping in his signature spastic way at the blister, the blister vowed to never return...

He's setting up a charitable foundation similar to Kurt's ALS work to RID THE WORLD OF THE SCOURGE OF AVULSIONS

[Hildy910]

He's setting up a charitable foundation similar to Kurt's ALS work to RID THE WORLD OF THE SCOURGE OF AVULSIONS

Hee. Beckett's Revulsion for Avulsions.