The big story from last night’s 2011 MLB All-Star Game isn’t the fact that if the Boston Red Sox get to the World Series they won’t have home field advantage there. Rather it’s the left knee of one Josh Beckett.
We had learned during the day that Beckett would be second in line to pitch for the American League squad after Jered Weaver. But no one got an opportunity to see Beckett pitch in the game because he felt some soreness in it while warming up. So rather than go out there and pitch through it, Beckett decided it was best to shut it down.
It’s a good thing that Beckett had made Terry Francona a promise that he wouldn’t pitch if he felt anything. But the bad thing of it all is now the fact that the Red Sox really only have one of their original five starters that even healthy in John Lackey. Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and now Beckett are all battling with some type of injury. And that’s not to mention the fact that Daisuke Matsuzaka is out for the season.
You have to believe that when Beckett and Tito said he was fine after throwing a side on Sunday that he was. But given the end result, wouldn’t it have been better for Beckett just make the appearance at the game and not even pitch at all. Even with home field advantage for the World Series on the line, Beckett made the smart move of not pitching.
As for the other members of the Red Sox at the game and that played, Adrian Gonzalez hit the first home run in 208 All-Star at-bats to provide the only run of the night for the American League. The last player to hit a home run in the All-Star Game was J.D. Drew back in 2008 at Yankee Stadium.
Kevin Youkilis added a hit in his only at-bat. Jacoby Ellsbury had a rough night in his first All-Star Game going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. David Ortiz also was 0-for-2 but only struck out once.
Now that the fun of the All-Star break is over, the Red Sox get to enjoy two more days off before starting back up in St. Petersburg on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays. With the stretch run coming, the Red Sox need all the rest they can get to help heal some of those nagging injuries.
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
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