Beckett had built a terrific connection with the recently-retired captain. His transition to comfort with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the new Red Sox catching corps began Sunday.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett winds up for a throw during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Sunday, March 4, 2012, in Fort Myers, Fla. Boston won 8-3. (AP Photo/David Goldman)Josh Beckett, fresh off a rather tumultuous offseason, took to the mound Sunday for the first time this spring. The last time Red Sox Nation saw the former ace on the mound was in late September, falling hard to the Baltimore Orioles in Boston's 160th game of the season.
We all know how the rest played out.
Fortunately, Beckett's start to 2012 went much better than the end to his 2011.
Beckett threw two scoreless innings Sunday in the team's 8-3 win over the Minnesota Twins. He gave up just one hit and struck out two.
All told, it was the beginning all parties were looking for from the right hander.
But, there is still work to do. Beckett told ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes that while he was pleased with the results, he would have to learn how to adjust to life without Jason Varitek, his personal catcher for nearly his entire tenure with the Red Sox.
Likely No. 1 catcher, Jarrod Saltalamacchia was behind the plate Sunday for Beckett's two innings and all signs indicate the connection was a good one.
At first glance, the touchiness of the subject appears odd. How could a professional baseball player be able to deliver a successful pitch to one catcher while not being able to do so to another?
Comfort and consistency should not be discounted. When Varitek was the full-time catcher, this wasn't an issue as it was a rare occurrence the starting catcher was not in the lineup on the day the team's ace was on the mound.
Once the connection began, Beckett simply preferred the Captain. For a guy playing a position that relies on routine during and in between starts, the desire for consistency makes sense. Knowing Varitek's long-reported top-notch ability to call a baseball game, can you blame Beckett?
Alas, he'll need to adjust to life with his personal backstop. And that life change has already begun.
“There are key reminders you try to give them," Beckett told ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes. There are a couple of things I tend to lean toward when things aren’t going good for me. A lot of it stems from where my head’s going and where my front side is, and so we’ve talked a lot about that."Jason and I didn’t have to talk. We just knew. That’s something I have full confidence that Salty and I, and Shoppy and I will be able to do.’’