Article: Watching Beckett, uncertainly ; Red Sox pitcher hasn't been himself

The jury was out before last night's playoff game, and, for Josh Beckett, it's not coming back anytime soon.

And that's cutting Beckett tons of slack. Some probably already have a verdict.

What else can you say after watching the Boston ace, traditionally money in the bank this time of year, get pounded by the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series? The Rays had an 8-7 lead in the eighth inning, and Beckett wasn't, well, Beckett.

He allowed eight runs and nine hits in 4-1/3 innings. He was spotty spotting his fastball, his velocity was down and his curveball rarely rolled off the table.

The jury, of course, is the Red Sox's coaching staff and Red Sox Nation. ...

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