Putting finger on a problem

November 23, 2005|Jackie MacMullan, Globe Columnist

My first instinct is to tell Larry Lucchino he can come out of hiding now. Acquiring Josh Beckett is exactly what the Red Sox need. The kid throws heat, he doesn't have control problems, and he's only 25 years old. Suddenly, a creaky starting rotation has sprouted all sorts of new life, and with it comes renewed hope for an intriguing 2006 season.

There is one thing about Beckett that gives me pause, however.

What's with the blisters? In the past four seasons, Beckett has been on the disabled list an astounding nine times, and even more astonishing, six of those trips were 15-day stints that were a direct result of blisters on his right middle finger.

This isn't the kind of blister you get when you show up to camp out of shape and your coach or manager runs you ragged to teach you a lesson. It's not the kind you get when you decide to play a game of pick-up basketball at lunchtime wearing your pink suede Pumas.

This is serious. A persistent blemish on Beckett's finger has almost derailed his promising career. Last season, he missed 15 days in June with a blister. In 2004, he went on the disabled list in May and again in July with the malady. In 2002, he landed on the DL in April, June, and August with the exact same problem: blister on the middle finger.

Having failed to locate a blister expert in the Yellow Pages, I put the question to former Marlins manager Jack McKeon.

''Those blisters were really frustrating," McKeon said. ''But not so much this past season. I think he had only one stint on the DL because of them. I know he spent a lot of time seeing different doctors about it, and they came up with some kind of remedy that helped him. I'm not exactly sure what it was. Some kind of medication.

''Blisters are tricky. People think that kind of injury is no big deal, but that's wrong, especially when it comes to pitchers. Sometimes the metabolism of certain players makes them prone to those things. And then there's the climate in Florida. It's always hot, and it's always sticky, so those fingers are always moist."

(Are you thinking what I'm thinking? It's not always hot at Fenway Park, particularly during those early April dates.)

I was hoping Red Sox physician Thomas Gill might let us in on some of his brainstorms about how to preserve the health of this coveted acquisition, who should be in the fold by the end of the week, but Gill politely declined to comment until the trade was official.

Celtics physician Brian McKeon is no relation to Jack McKeon, but he's seen his share of blisters.

''Our guys come up with chronic blisters on their big toes," he reported. ''That's an easier fix. We get them some orthotics or we fashion a pad or tape it for protection. It's a whole different story when you start talking about a pitcher."