5/30 Pitcher Preview: Josh Beckett

Josh Beckett will go tonight for the Sox vs the O's and Daniel Cabrera. Beckett is coming off a good performance last time out vs Oakland in which he gave up 2 runs in 7 innings. While Beckett's season to date might look discouraging to the casual viewer with a 5-4 record and a 4.43 ERA, there are many more encouraging signs in his perphials. His 31-3 strikeout to walk ratio over his past three games along with a 65-11 K:BB rate on the year is extremely impressive. In fact, look at these numbers from Fangraphs over the past three seasons:K/9: 2006: 6.952007: 8.702008: 9.59BB/9:2006: 3.252007: 1.792008: 1.62FIP: Predicted ERA based on peripherals2006: 5.132007: 3.082008: 3.59So with that said, where is he struggling? Three main things are leading to "presumed" lack of success this year:HR/9: This is increased because of his fly ball percentage2006: 1.582007: 0.762008: 1.48FB%:2006: 38%2007: 37%2008: 40%LOB%: Needs to do a better job of stranding runners2006: 69%2007: 75%2008: 68%Over...