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After losing to Rockies, Josh Beckett takes on LA Times columnist T.J. Simers 08.28.12 at 1:20 am ET
By Rob Bradford

Josh Beckett took the loss in his Dodgers debut Monday. (AP)

DENVER — Following his Dodgers debut — in which he allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings — Josh Beckett met with the media in the visitors’ clubhouse. The former Red Sox pitcher noted that he regretted missing on a few key pitches, and that he was “the second-best pitcher out there,” praising Colorado starter Jeff Francis.

Beckett reiterated that he enjoyed his new teammates, and lamented the fact Colorado leadoff hitter Tyler Colvin took the righty’s second pitch in a Dodgers uniform over the left field wall.

But the real entertainment came with the back-and-forth with Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers. The following is the portion of the six-minute question and answer in which Simers executes his trademark pointed line of questioning (to listen to the entire interview, click here).

Did you ever think the ball would ever come down that first batter you faced?

“I figured it would eventually. Yeah, I figured it would.”

What did you think at that moment, Dodgers debut, second pitch and …

“I thought I made a pretty [expletive] pitch. That’s what I was thinking.”

That’s your choice of words?

“Sure.”

Were you nervous?

“No more than normal. I’m always nervous on start day.”

With rookies shouldn’t it be easier to pitch against them?

“If you make pitches, yeah.”

Los Angles Times columnist T.J. Simers

After giving up so many runs in the last three games did you feel like this was progress?

“I felt like I made some pitches when I needed to and didn’t make some when I needed to.”

How’s that different than normal?

“You try and make the majority of them.”

I don’t understand your answer to my question. How’s that different from how you normally pitch?

“You’re going to have four or five pitches every game that you have to make and if you make the majority of them you usually pitch good.”

So four or five pitches every start, swings on those four or five pitches, is that what you’re saying?

“No, you’re going to have situations where you have to make those pitches.”

So we’re talking triple and you have to make pitches to the next hitter at that point?

“No, I was talking about actually two of the pitches in that last inning, the same ones I keep referring to.”

What about that guy after the triple?

“I was trying to throw a fastball in and I didn’t get it in that far. That was one of the pitches.”

I’m trying to understand your mindset as you’re out there, a new Dodger, and the guy kills the ball off you like that.

“It happens. It’s the big leagues.”

Yeah, but it’s not supposed to. This is the Rockies and you’re supposed to be a dynamo. It’s not supposed to start like that.

“No, it’s not. I didn’t draw it up that way. It just happened. I had it going differently in my head.”

Did you? How did you have it happen?

“A weak ground ball would have been nice.”

So when the ball is leaving the park as quickly as it did, did you …

“Oh, he hit it too high. It didn’t even leave that fast.”

That’s true. Good point. He killed that ball.

“Absolutely.”

That didn’t do anything to you?

“No.”

What did you learn about this team today, besides the fact they can’t score?

“They can score. I’ve seen them score. Since I’ve been here they’ve scored.”

Two runs?

“No. How about the day before that? That’s 10 runs in three days. That’s not too bad.”

Against the Marlins and Rockies?

“Sure. It’s the big leagues. That’s what happens in the big leagues. I have to pitch better.”

Do you feel like this can be your type of team?

“I’ve been here for two days, I can’t answer that. I’m very happy to be here.”

Are you on your best behavior now?

“No.”

This is what we’re always going to get?

“Probably.”

So I can play this tape to you over again and again over the course of time?

“Sure.”

And it will still work?

“You bet.”

That’s a promise?

“I don’t promise anything.”

Then my tape is no good then.

“I can’t believe you’re using that tape [recorder] anyway.”

I’m 61 years old, that’s the only tape I know how to use. I never figured out those [digital recorders]. You promised me if I didn’t win the game it would be a better column that it would be a better column and how I’m struggling a little bit. Shouldn’t you pick up a chair and throw it or something or do something? Because these guy have filled me in what you were like in Boston.

“Yeah, I threw a lot of chairs at them.”

Here are some other non-Simers-induced answers:

• “Second-best pitcher out there. Jeff kept us off-balance and made some pitches when he needed to.”

• “The last pitch I made and then the hit that [Jonathan] Herrera got that inning those were the two that I really would like to take back, with the exception of the second one of the game. Jeff did a good job tonight and then their offense kind of got to us at the end.”

- “I’ve only been here a couple of days. I’m still trying to feel things out. Moving forward you get more and more comfortable.”

• “You still have to make pitches. When you make pitches you get outs anywhere, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing.”

• “I thought [catcher A.J. Ellis] did a really good job. He’s never even played catch with me, so for him to go out there and do that I felt like he did a really good job.”

• “I actually felt like I had pretty good location on the ball.”

Read More: Dodgers, Josh Beckett, Red Sox, Rockies Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Masardinskas

    Beat writer sounds like a major league ball buster. Kudos to Beck, he handled it well

  • Iub943

    +1.. y is this even a story? becks just doesnt have dominant stuff anymore, it happens. tops off at 91. unlike dice k who now removed from his tommy john has re-discovered his dominant stuff. consistently hit 93 yesterday and in control of all 3 of his secondary stuff. 

  • ILoveHockey

    that reporter was trying to induce a meltdown, to make headlines- see everybody, it’s not just the Boston Media

  • Mjbuetow

    Simers = jackass. There was nothing that was going to be revealed to the reader via that line of questioning.

  • specport

    audio is no longer working.  eei get your act together!!!!!!!!!!!

  • AlCo

    It seems like we traded a sports writer too….what a douche!

  • Tchuyoyo

    If that beat writer is just a ball buster or not, that’s just karma coming back to haunt Josh. The only guy that went to LA that I want to see not enjoying himself is Popeye Beckett. He caused enough misery in Boston. Second pitch of the game left over the plate and it gets crushed. Just shades of things to come, LA. There’s more where that came from. Wait until he gets really shelled and afterwards pisses off the media, players and fans in LA. with his foul attitude. Wait till Mattingly gives him a day off to rest his back and fans and media learn that he used it to golf 18 holes.  Josh just can’t help himself.

  • Robert

    Thankyou LA !!! Never thought we would ever be so thankful to our sports enemies…… but yet here we are thanks to Magic !! Josh Beckett…… well this is exactly the attitude and performance we have been seeing for a couple years , Beckett by far is the greatest relief to see gone !! You pay him his 15 mil per year, we wil enjoy paying 1 mil to someone who actually wants to play lol …
    As far as Adrian goes , well nothing bad to be said, Crawford, well again we really never got a chance to see much of him either , he signs a huge deal and gets hurt two seasons in a row !! Which is why the unthinkable had to happen, we had to find some sucker to off load these contracts….. so once again thankyou :)

  • wideright

    writer sounds like an idiot

  • http://www.jimmacleod.com JimMacLeod

    This is the same reporter that was on his knees for Manny every day in LA. I’m surprised he’s giving Beckett such a hard time.

  • Anonymous

    Professional journalists shouldnt try to bait players just to piss them off and get them to embarass themselves. Thats totally unprofessional. Beckett answered the questions honestly. 

  • Nate

    I watched the first 4 innings with the LA TV feed  and didn’t see anything different from Josh last night compared to his last few starts.  Mediocre at best against a line up that’s AAA. He is not the same pitcher as he was even a year ago. 

  • Hub

    It’s nice to see Josh making new friends in the media already.

  • Robisatool

    Hey Rob, why don’t you include the entire interview in the transcript above? You tool!

  • Lizzie77

    This guy is a professional writer???  He doesn’t even make a good hyster lawyer.  What an idiot!!  Beckett handled it really well. Good for him, I believe he took a lot of criticism here in Boston – fair and unfair at times – and handled it all like a pro.  Too bad if reporters don’t like his answers.  I prefer to remember the good things he did and there were a lot of them.  I wish him the best of luck.

  • Lizzie77

    Yeah from the Felger school of broadcasting.

  • Rebuilding?

    I don’t even like Beckett and I think this guy is a douche.

  • TAP73

    Wow – I was actually rooting for Beck in that interview and I’m a Yankee fan.  That writer is a MAJOR d*ck.  That guy covers the Dodgers?  Why be suck a pr*ck to the guys you’re going cover and therefore have to work with on a regular basis?  I’d actually deny that guy credentials if I’m the Dodgers.  He’s unprofessional.  

  • http://twitter.com/pee_elle Pete

    +1 more like Slimers, what a scumbag.

  • Captain Obvious

    Funny how now everyone is rooting for Beckett, and now that he’s out of town the media’s true colors come out. The media fiasco in the wake of the collapse is why this team didn’t do well this year. And that’s because players probably had to deal with this every day. Would you be happy playing baseball like this? It’s a shame, we had a good team too. Oh well…My point all along has just been proven. 

  • Jack

    I think Beckett (who I did NOT like in Boston, partly for his attitude) showed remarkable restraint in not telling this jerk to stuff it.  I agree with others that he handled it very well.

  • Sunglasses1940

    I will read any column, and any story, and ANYTHING that reinforces the fact that this Punk Beckett no longer plays for the Red Sox.  I keep thinking it’s a dream.  Anyone have the address of this L.A. writer?  I’d like to send him ten years worth of booze and cigars for busting this Punk’s chops.  I mean, the Punk busted ours big time and then laughed when he went to the bank to cash the check that the paying Fenway Park fans provided the money for.  Hey Punk!  When are you going to tell the L.A. fans to go *$%^ themselves like you told us?

  • WHO CARES

    who cares

  • Anonymous

    beckett’s pitching, results and attitude  did not change with a LA plane ride.  he did an ok job with this pushy interview, but he said his his attitude would not change.  you have to wonder if he wants to play anymore.  i have wondered since his 2011 bench drinking days in boston.  too bad. with serious effort he might have been a hall of famer.  started that way.  what happened/

  • Autoballstwo

    Enjoying MLB in the tired city of St. Petersburg, Florida has never afforded me the opportunity to view (or listen to) an interview as obnoxious as the one T.J. Simers attempted to blindside Josh Beckett with. Whew! That was more of an attempt on Simers part to alienate Beckett from his new Dodger teammates and fans than questions related to his first appearance with the team. Talk about trying to bury a guy? Very unprofessional.

  • Autoballstwo

    Enjoying MLB in the tired city of St. Petersburg, Florida has never afforded me the opportunity to view (or listen to) an interview as obnoxious as the one T.J. Simers attempted to blindside Josh Beckett with. Whew! That was more of an attempt on Simers part to alienate Beckett from his new Dodger teammates and fans than questions related to his first appearance with the team. Talk about trying to bury a guy? Very unprofessional.

  • Autoballstwo

    Enjoying MLB in the tired city of St. Petersburg, Florida has never afforded me the opportunity to view (or listen to) an interview as obnoxious as the one T.J. Simers attempted to blindside Josh Beckett with. Whew! That was more of an attempt on Simers part to alienate Beckett from his new Dodger teammates and fans than questions related to his first appearance with the team. Talk about trying to bury a guy? Very unprofessional.

  • Harry 3

    That wasn’t an interview. It was an interrogation. Looks as if Beckett might wind up actually missing the Boston media.

  • Harry 3

    That wasn’t an interview. It was an interrogation. Looks as if Beckett might wind up actually missing the Boston media.

  • Harry 3

    That wasn’t an interview. It was an interrogation. Looks as if Beckett might wind up actually missing the Boston media.

  • Brule

    What an a hole that writer was. 

  • Walt

    lol

  • HomeGame

    I didn’t hear the interview – just read this transcript but it looks like Beckett handled the situation brilliantly.  Did this reporter think Beckett was going to melt down under the interrogation?  Beckett is used to the Boston sports writers – LA writers are creampuffs by comparison.

  • Kbksi

    What a Kiss Ass….if you listen to him on D&C, that is exactly what he is. Hey Boomer, news flash: when a team beats you TWICE in the same year, THEY are the better team.

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