"Fuuuck!!" (Getty Images Photo / Elsa / via Boston.com)
I was in the other room typing a post for my highly neglected Pats gig when I heard my dad yelling from the living room.
When I rushed out to see what was happening, Josh Beckett was on the TV screen. "What'd he do?" I asked immediately.
So I missed it, but in answering a question about run support, Joshie apparently added a certain word for emphasis; conflicting reports (from my parents) have him saying either "I don't expect 15 runs every time I fucking pitch" or "I don't expect 15 fucking runs every time I pitch." Either of which, let's admit, is pretty interesting.
Given that it was on live TV, NESN didn't bleep this one this time. So there it was, in all its unfettered glory, the word "fuck" from the mouth of Josh Beckett hanging over the airwaves for all the innocent children of New England to absorb. When they cut back to the NESN desk out on Yawkey Way, Jim Rice had trouble keeping his composure.
Joshie was in particularly fine form today, insisting on challenging Lyle Overbay with fastballs even after Overbay made it abudantly clear he was hitting them just fine. F-bombs, exaggerated "GAwwwwwwd-DAMMIT!"s and, in the eighth inning, fist pumps, were the order of the day. (BTW: I would love to know just what he was saying and who he was saying it to as he came off the field in the eighth, making a pointing-down gesture as he did so. I think he was talking to Aaron Hill and telling him to sit down after striking him out; my dad thought he was talking to the umpire about a call; Steve thought he was talking to Doug Mirabelli about a pitch. Anyone else have any thoughts / further clues?)
Unfortunately, the Red Sox offense was most emphatically not in fine form, having apparently used up the rest of its runs for the weekend last night salvaging a mediocre outing from Daisuke. In the bottom of the eighth, with Josh still standing to receive the win (or loss, as it turned out), the heart of our order came up and went down with nary a peep save for a one-out single by Manny Ramirez. This had the effect of ending the perennial bickering between me and my dad about Manny and his relative worth as a human being, but sadly made no difference in the score.
And so we split the series with Toronto. Of the two losses, this one was far and away the more infuriating. "Yo-Yo" just didn't have it on Friday night, but after the second inning today, Joshie was dealing. The Sox offense, meanwhile, put up ELEVEN, that's right, E-L-E-V-E-N hits, and only got one run out of it. I didn't hear any mention of this on NESN, but that's got to be some kind of record for weak-ass, runner-stranding suckitude. Eleven hits and ONE goddamned run? It's enough to make even the mildest-mannered among us resort to f-bombs; a certain hotheaded Texan clearly had no chance at resisting the temptation.
Earlier this season there was plenty of talk about Mark Buerhle, but our pitching staff is clearly solid, even with some guys still on the DL. If we need anything now that the trading deadline is fast upon us, it's probably another bat.
I knew you'd bee all over this. :) I missed part of Beckett's PC; I didn't hear the F-bomb(s?), but I caught a few "goddamns." And I can't really blame him for it. (Personally, I think it's funny more than anything.) He pitched a hell of a game and it still wasn't good enough to get the win. Frustration city at its finest. Eleven hits and one lousy run. Just...ARGH!
I certainly hope Josh's blue language doesn't become one of those nothing stories that gets blown out of proportion. You can never tell since people can be so sensitive about swear words. But maybe NESN should consider doing his PC's on tape delay in the future? Just in case. ;)
Posted by: mouse | July 15, 2007 at 21:19
well it's weird, because the http://confessionalpoet.typepad.com/cursed_to_first/2007/05/watch_you_weave.html>other time he dropped the f bomb in a postgame presser, it was bleeped. it was at an away game in toronto. i don't know why that would make a difference, though.
Posted by: beth | July 15, 2007 at 21:23
Yeah, I remember that. It is very weird that they bleeped it then but not today.
Oh, and I almost forgot: Papelbon in a shiny shirt and tie, for everyone's viewing pleasure! :)
Posted by: mouse | July 15, 2007 at 21:27
I recorded the PC, and put the video up on my blog here: http://www.texas-gal.com/centerfield/2007/07/josh_doesnt_like_to_lose.html
He got in two "ass"es, one "goddamned" and one "fucking" before NESN finally cut away. Not bad, huh?
And for the record, it was "We got guys playin' hurt, bustin' their ass. I'm not worried about if they score me fifteen runs every fuckin' time I pitch."
Posted by: Texas Gal | July 16, 2007 at 03:55
sweet. :-)
Posted by: beth | July 16, 2007 at 06:57
Yes, another bat. A true power 1B to send Kev back to 3B and Lowell as trade bait.
The rumor is Marky Mark from Texas for (might wanna sit for this one, Beth)
Jon Lester
Posted by: David Welch | July 16, 2007 at 12:34
Well, should they trade Lester for Marky Mark, we'll all have plenty of f bombs to drop around. Remember the trick with Texiera: he's a Boras client, and according to numerous baseball sources, is even more vigilant about adhering to the Boras doctrine of getting top dollar than anyone else. So, Jon Lester for a 1 year rental at 1B who may or may not post better power numbers than Mike Lowell? When the Sox can push for A-Rod with cleared money to fill short stop in the offseason, dump Lugo in a trash can (Kansas City anyone?) and then trade another chip for a 1B? Anyone biting? Anyone?
Posted by: Cam | July 16, 2007 at 19:06
agh, you said the A-word.
Posted by: beth | July 17, 2007 at 09:59