BOSTON - When Jason Varitek was still setting up behind the plate for the Red Sox, there was nobody that knew the ins and outs of the pitching staff better than him. So who better to ask about the titanic, season-long struggles of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester after theyd tasted so much success with Varitek catching them both through their respective careers.
The Red Sox are 13-22 in games started by either Beckett or Lester this season, and the two downtrodden Sox aces are sporting a 10-15 record with a 4.67 ERA in 217 23 innings.
That is the very definition of mediocre pitching for a pair of hurlers from which much more is expected. The 32-year-old Beckett has thrown almost 2,000 career innings and has battled through a variety of ailments during his career with the Sox, so perhaps hes simply showing the signs of aging to which every pitcher eventually succumbs.
The former Sox captain has watched his share of Sox games this season, and knows there is still potential in Beckett.
I havent watched in great detail. But I know the outing before last Josh threw the ball pretty doggone well. Then the last outing wasnt too good, said Varitek. Everybody has a tendency to look at what is most recent, but when you put the majority of his starts together hes done pretty well.
There isnt any easy alibi for the 28-year-old Lester, however. There are instead questions around whether the southpaw truly loves pitching in Boston these days, and reports out of Atlanta that the Braves have inquired with the Red Sox about his trade availability.
Despite all of this, Varitek knows the stuff is still there for a young lefty that he helped mold through the early years of his career, and theres every possibility he could dominate down the stretch in August and September.
Boston Red Sox
It hasnt been easy for Lester. But sometimes when things arent easy maybe the next two months could be. His stuff is there, said Varitek. It looks like he still has the good stuff. If they execute one through four then theyre going to be fine. They start with the number one fastball and then you build everything with the ability to work that pitch.
The key for both pitches in Variteks mind: stay away from the negative thinking that has sometimes infected the Red Sox clubhouse over the last couple of years. Both Beckett and Lester have struggled mightily since the fried chicken and beer chronicles of last winter, and the Sox have scuffled right along with them.
We stay in the moment of negativity, so to speak. We can all catch ourselves in that turmoil of worrying about whats wrong instead of whats right, said Varitek. I think if the two of them continue to focus themselves on whats right instead of whats wrong, then theyre going to be fine.
Boston is still in wild card playoff position and would be lifted substantially if one of their name pitchers could begin living up to their billing.
Perhaps they simply need a visit from their pitcher whisperer in Varitek.
Or maybe the law of averages will simply balance out for two pitchers that are sitting far below their career norms.
But whatever the case the Sox will take whatever they can get at this point.