Masterpiece Theater

Josh Beckett pitched one of the most dominating performances I have ever seen in Fenway Park with a 4-0, four-hit, complete game shutout in Game One of the ALDS. Beckett fanned eight and walked none, using 108 pitches to dispatch the Angels.

He gave a clinic for other Red Sox pitchers and fans. How did he do it?

• First pitch strikes
• Overpowering heat (fastball regularly touching 96-98) with outstanding fastball command
• Use of secondary pitches to complement the fastball

Beckett had tremendous repetition of his tight delivery, with outstanding leg drive, and his ball had tremendous movement, running down and in to right-handers and he seemed to use a cut fastball at times to the lefthanders.

The single most dominating game I've seen this year at Fenway was Buchholz's no-hitter, but Beckett reminded us of Jim Palmer with his ability to use both sides of the plate.

We can only hope that Daisuke Matsuzaka was taking notes.