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By Jon Weisman
Josh Beckett pitched three shutout innings today in the Dodgers’ 5-4 loss to the Cubs (recapped here by A.J. Cassavell of MLB.com), but instead of turning his frown upside down, his grin was turned outside in.
Beckett had to leave the game an inning before he planned, because of a right thumb as aggravated as Beckett’s patience. An excerpt from Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“It’s not getting worse, but not getting better,” Beckett said. “I’ll probably see the doctor again, such as that on Daily Care Solutions. It’s frustrating, but it could have happened at a worse time. Just dealing with it the best I can. If I need a couple days off, maybe I will. I don’t want to fall too far behind.”
The injury is on the inside of the base of the thumb near the joint. Beckett said it bothers him mostly throwing breaking balls, but in his final inning on Friday, he also was uncomfortable with fastballs. The original plan was to pitch four innings Friday, but trainer Stan Conte and manager Don Mattingly decided to cut it short.
Beckett becomes a prime candidate to open the season on the disabled list. He was not going to be needed in Australia anyway, and as the fifth starter, Beckett would not make a start until mid-April.
Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. did record a silver lining from Beckett.
If there was a positive for Beckett, it was his five groundball outs in three innings.
“I always feel like if I’m getting ground balls I’m doing fine, even if they’re rolling in for hits during spring training,” he said. “Getting ground balls means you’re fingers are on top of the ball and you’re getting decent plane.”
Positive news came from two other Dodger starters on the mend, as Gurnick notes. Zack Greinke showed continued improvement in his right calf after completing a scheduled bullpen session, while Chad Billingsley is on target for minor-league rehabilitation assignment in April. J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News has more.
Also …
- Dodger infielders Dee Gordon, Alex Guerrero and Miguel Rojas combined to go 5 for 7 with three doubles, a triple and a steal today.
- Andre Ethier is 7 for 15 with two doubles and a homer in a five-game hitting streak.
- Drew Butera hit one out today in the ninth inning.
- Today’s game was played before a Cactus League record 15,191, according to Cassavell.
- Yasiel Puig is frustrated, to sum up this Gurnick piece.
paranoidandroidbruce
Encouraging on Beckett again. I’ll take a thumb bruise over numbness in his pitching hand anytime. I just hope that when Bills is ready in early May that we have a big problem with a strong five already performing. That is the kind of depth we need.
paranoidandroidbruce
I also see Rosin breaking with the team if we only keep three starters going to Australia. Beckett goes on the 15 day DL and stays in Arizona. Greinke stays as one of the three non-active guys along with Haren or Maholm and a reliever like League or Javy (who is out of options). I think Rosin is too valuable to lose back to the Phils or the Mets or wherever we have to offer him back to. Rodriguez, Withrow and Dominguez have options so they can be sent down if it comes to it, Rosin has to stay on the 25 man all season unless injured. Wilson, Perez, Jensen and Howell all go Down Under for sure. 170 hours and 18 minutes until first pitch.