If ace isn't whole, hand is weakened

Daisuke Matsuzaka was able to keep his chin up despite encountering trouble with base runners during the early innings. (Joe Giza/Reuters)

BALTIMORE - Yes, it is a development that should have Red Sox fans holding their breath.

The fact that the ace of the staff, Josh Beckett, was pummeled by Toronto Sunday and is now being pushed back after complaining of "numbness and tingling" in the pinky and ring finger of his right arm is worrisome.

In the absence of a diagnosis, as Beckett continues to be tested, it would be foolhardy to suggest that the Sox are doomed without him, because we don't know if they will be without him for a prolonged period.

The Sox are worried, but not overly so. The test results so far have been good, and as of last night, there were no plans to send Beckett back to Boston. Manager Terry Francona reiterated after the game what he had said before it - that Beckett will start Tuesday in New York instead of Saturday in Toronto, though his symptoms have subsided.

It is times such as these that reinforce how quickly things can turn for a team if its ace goes down. The Sox, though, have two other pitchers capable of winning big games. Jon Lester has been going out and pitching with dominance of late. And Daisuke Matsuzaka won his 15th last night, though it was a typically tedious performance: five walks and 105 pitches over five innings.

Beckett said he slept awkwardly on his shoulder before Sunday's start, though he revealed yesterday that this is something he's experienced before.

"Just something I've been dealing with," he said. "At some point in time, just got to figure out what the heck it is. Obviously, it's not what I want, but at this juncture, something needs to happen. Obviously, there's something going on."

You can debate whether Lester or Beckett is the true ace of this staff. In this reporter's eyes, it would be Lester. You could also throw Matsuzaka into the argument, but history is what's important here. Beckett has been a superstar in two postseasons, and there's no reason to believe he wouldn't be that again if the Sox get there. Without him, the Sox are in trouble.

While Beckett's comments seemed more alarming than Francona's, the Sox are hoping this is a matter of a bad mattress causing some discomfort. Beckett has had a few tests but nothing as intrusive as an arthrogram, which would keep Beckett out longer.

When you hear about numbness and tingling in the fingers, you sometimes think of David Cone and the aneurysm he suffered in May 1996 while pitching for the Yankees. But Beckett has been assured this is nothing like that.

With Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Lester, the Sox would have a formidable threesome that could match up against any team's in the postseason.

Without Beckett, they would have to lean on Tim Wakefield, who should be ready to come off the disabled list sometime in the next two weeks, and Paul Byrd. And there would be options in Clay Buchholz and Bartolo Colon.

But none of them have Beckett's résumé, and there is no chance of acquiring anyone close to his caliber during the waiver period.

With Beckett, the Sox line up well against the Angels' John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Joe Saunders. They can line up against the White Sox' Mark Buehrle, John Danks, and Gavin Floyd/Javier Vazquez. They can match up against Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, James Shields, and Matt Garza.

In the playoffs, matchups become crucial. The Colorado Rockies had no answer for Boston's formidable starting rotation last season. The Indians had a strong group in CC Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, and Jake Westbrook/Byrd, but the Sox overwhelmed them as well.

With the Beckett issue, it is a significant development that Lester has risen to ace status. A few of the Orioles were discussing Lester, and their consensus was that he is like a young Andy Pettitte, someone many baseball people have compared him to. The comparison stems from his ability to throw a variety of pitches for strikes - a cutter, a two-seamer, a curveball, and a four-seam fastball - and keep batters off balance.

"They might have three aces," said a National League scout yesterday before the Beckett injury came to light. "That's why, around baseball, many of us think the Red Sox still are the most talented team and the deepest team."

Yet Matsuzaka continues to be an enigma. In one sense, he is masterful at working his way out of jams. With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth last night, he struck out Melvin Mora and got Aubrey Huff to pop out.

Opponents are now 0 for 14 with the bases loaded against him.

"Just get them on first and second and let him start pitching," Francona said. "It's kind of a tightrope act sometimes. But he has the ability to make pitches, have some power on his fastball. Just a lot of men on base; only two of them scored."

The last thing the Sox want is to test their mettle without Beckett. Which is why, until you actually see him pitching again with his usual authority and confidence, there is good reason to hold your breath.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com