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How did we not learn? After half a decade, you think we would have figured it out.
Odd-year Beckett is good. 2007 was Cy Young caliber, 2009 was a solid return to form, 2011 was brilliant.
Even-year Beckett is a wreck. 2006 was a tremendous disappointment, 2008 a let-down, 2010 an injury-riddled mess, and 2012...
Well, 2012 was the end. When all the heat and controversies and garbage pitching finally got together and resulted in the end of Josh Beckett in Boston.
Somehow, though, we didn't see it coming. As evidenced here:
| Name | Wins | WHIP | ERA | K/9 | BB/9 | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | 7 | 1.33 | 4.65 | 6.97 | 2.75 | 205.33 |
| dmbhaggis | 17 | 1.15 | 2.24 | 8.3 | 2.2 | 187 |
| donnyhardy | 21 | 1.09 | 2.38 | 8 | 1 | 212 |
| GerryT | 16 | 1.27 | 3.36 | 8 | 3 | 200 |
| Brosendin | 14 | 1.21 | 3.39 | 7.8 | 2.7 | 194 |
| Braden Beaudreau | 14 | 1.09 | 3.45 | 8.2 | 2.53 | 190 |
| Boston Red Sox | 12 | 1.27 | 3.47 | 8.5 | 2.7 | 183 |
| Sologub | 12 | 1.16 | 3.5 | 8 | 2.8 | 180 |
| TheLoneDavid | 14 | 1.27 | 3.56 | 8.05 | 2.78 | 177.66 |
| Debageldond | 14 | 1.26 | 3.57 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 181.66 |
| Fromalabama | 15 | 1.21 | 3.68 | 8.11 | 3.67 | 192.66 |
| bosoxman94 | 15 | 1.21 | 3.69 | 8.17 | 2.52 | 187 |
| drabidea | 13 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 8 | 2.7 | 195 |
| Thin | 15 | 1.19 | 3.79 | 8.2 | 2.16 | 180 |
| BigNachos | 14 | 1.29 | 3.84 | 7.9 | 2.9 | 175 |
| Rogue Nine | 14 | 1.2 | 3.85 | 8 | 2.6 | 175 |
| T-Money | 10 | 1.31 | 3.89 | 8 | 4 | 150 |
| flasoxfan | 13 | 1.35 | 3.93 | 7.9 | 2 | 170 |
| dsharp | 12 | 1.24 | 4.02 | 7.9 | 2.8 | 161 |
| Justin_Bobo | 12 | 1.61 | 4.05 | 8.1 | 3.5 | 155 |
| cds7c | 11 | 1.275 | 4.22 | 7.8 | 3 | 170 |
| bososx13 | 18 | 1.21 | 3.26 | 8.7 | 2.8 | 192 |
| AlohaSox | 17 | 1.21 | 3.92 | 8.3 | 2.6 | 190 |
| theartolater | 16 | 1.25 | 3.79 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 180 |
| The Big Fundamental | 15 | 1.23 | 2.99 | 8.9 | 3.4 | 222 |
| Buccaz | 13 | 1.18 | 3.69 | 7.1 | 2.35 | 161 |
| slothman | 16 | 1.16 | 3.37 | 8.21 | 2.3 | 191 |
| robertsstolesecond | 17 | 1.14 | 3.12 | 8.8 | 2.3 | 193 |
| Sean O | 12 | 1.35 | 4.75 | 8.1 | 2.9 | 125 |
| lamb | 18 | 1.15 | 2.9 | 5.8 | 3 | 200 |
| The Duke of Silver | 15 | 1.18 | 3.46 | 8.44 | 2.26 | 195 |
| camthomas | 15 | 1.18 | 3.55 | 8.2 | 2.8 | 187 |
| QW | 15 | 1.19 | 3.52 | 8.13 | 2.61 | 201 |
| MrBill82x | 17 | 1.19 | 3.27 | 7.42 | 1.92 | 189.66 |
| Steve Boyle | 13 | 1.2 | 3.61 | 8.57 | 2.54 | 186 |
| The Laser Show | 14 | 1.21 | 3.7 | 8 | 2.3 | 182 |
| fizrat | 16 | 1.23 | 3.86 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 184 |
| westcoastredsox | 14 | 1.44 | 4.04 | 7.6 | 2.02 | 202.33 |
| B_Edelman | 18 | 1.12 | 2.97 | 12.1 | 3.4 | 213 |
| Chris Sanford | 17 | 1.18 | 3.66 | 6.63 | 2.1 | 198.33 |
| Jason Zak | 18 | 1.13 | 3.36 | 8.3 | 2.1 | 203.33 |
| AverageZak | 15 | 1.22 | 3.56 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 185.33 |
Not everyone had faith that Beckett would repeat. Some either stayed true to their dislike for the man or showed their belief in the even - odd tradeoff...
But nobody saw this coming. Even giving credit for Beckett's far superior time in Los Angeles, nobody has even two different stats close.
The winner is Sean O, however. Because he's never relented in his disdain for Beckett, actually came in over the top on ERA (thanks to Los Angeles), and if anyone really saw a bad Beckett season coming it was him.