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Boston Red Sox: Top five starting pitchers of this decade

By Rudi Richards

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Christian Vazquez #7 jumps into the arms of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox to celebrate their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Christian Vazquez #7 jumps into the arms of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox to celebrate their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – JULY 31: Josh Beckett #19 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the game on July 31, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JULY 31: Josh Beckett #19 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the game on July 31, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

5. Josh Beckett (2011)

Josh Beckett‘s six season stretch from 2006-2011 was pretty fantastic. The right-hander, who came to Boston in a Thanksgiving Day trade with the Florida Marlins, put on a number of productive pitching seasons while wearing that Red Sox jersey. He earned three All-Star appearances in Boston, as well as being an integral part of the 2007 World Series winning side.

He left the Red Sox in the 2012 season, so hasn’t exactly been a vital part of what’s happened this decade for the team, but nonetheless, his 2011 season was one to remember. In a season which saw him start at least thirty games for the fourth time in his career, Beckett led the Sox in innings pitched, and developed a 2.89 ERA on the year. His WHIP that season was 1.206, which is tied for 29th best over a season-long period in franchise history.

Beckett’s 2011 season was more productive in many ways than his 2007 season was. In 2007, he led the entire majors in wins (20) and came second in Cy Young voting. Apart from that he was much more dominant at times during the 2011 season. It was his best year in terms of not giving up anything from the mound – averaging 6.8 H/9 through his thirty starts.

All in all, Beckett’s six full years with the Sox can be considered as up there with the best from this century. His 2007 and 2011, however, are the ones that made him as a pitcher. The dominance that he brought was a huge part of the Sox winning it all in 2007 and helped a lot carrying the side through the years prior. His stint in Boston will always be a remembered as a special one.

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