Beckett Looks To Bounce Back For Red Sox In 2011
FORT MYERS, FL (CBS) - It's a new year for Red Sox starter Josh Beckett.
His 6-6 record and 5.78 ERA from 2010 are in the past, but those are numbers that will motivate him in his sixth year on the Red Sox.
"It's not a good feeling leaving the season knowing things could have been better for the whole team if you had just done your part," Beckett told the media on Tuesday at the Red Sox Spring Training complex.
Josh Beckett Talks About Moving On To 2011
Beckett got sick in spring training last season, and had to play catch-up the rest of the way. Things got worse when he missed two months of the regular season with a bad back.
The righty also fell in love with his cutter, which at time, haunted him throughout the year.
"I definitely think there were times I fell in love with it," he said. "I tried to use it in situations when it wasn't the wisest thing."
2011 is a fresh start for Beckett. He plans on using all his pitches, mixing things up and keeping hitters off guard. Beckett also said he could return to his 2007 form.
"Why not? I'm only 30," he joked. "30 is the new 20. Someone told me that."
The 2007 Red Sox won 96 games and took home their second World Series in four years. Beckett see's this 2011 Red Sox team doing similar, if not better, things this season.
"I've always wanted to be on a team that won 100 games." "This team has a chance to do something really special like that."
It is a very big goal to talk about on day one of Spring Training, especially since it sounds like Beckett barely made it through the first workouts.
"Day one was great except Tito thinks it's day 13 with the rag ball," he said of his manager. "I got hit right in the face. I hope someone got that on tape, he'll be hearing from my lawyers."
