The Red Sox’ Josh Beckett is pumped after striking out the Angels’ Kendry Morales in the eighth inning of the first game of the ALDS.

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The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — C.C. Sabathia beat out Josh Beckett for the American League Cy Young Award.

But at what price?

Sabathia, who received 19 first-place votes to Beckett’s seven, had one fewer win (19) than Beckett (20) and a slightly lower ERA (3.21) than the Red Sox’ starter (3.27).

The Cleveland lefty’s big edge with voters came in workload. Sabathia led all major-league starters with 241 innings, compared to Beckett’s 200 2/3. Sabathia also made 34 starts, to Beckett’s 30.

Beckett missed two starts during the middle of the season and another in the final week as the Red Sox juggled their starting rotation to get their pitchers some extra rest for the postseason.

That strategy seemed to pay off. Beckett was nearly unhittable in the postseason, going 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA, while Sabathia, whose command wasn’t nearly as sharp as it had been during the regular season, was 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA. Both of his losses came against Beckett.

In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Sabathia, who became the first Cleveland pitcher in 35 years to win the award, said he didn’t feel fatigued from his regular-season work.

“I feel fine,” said Sabathia. “I had no problems going into the playoffs or throughout the playoffs.”

But in October, Sabathia’s command wasn’t nearly as sharp as it had been from April through September. In the regular season, he posted a remarkable 5.24 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, among the best in recent history. He walked just 35 hitters in 34 starts.

“I think just keeping down the walks,” said Sabathia, “and being able to go deep in the games, I think was the biggest deal in helping me win this.”

In the postseason, however, Sabathia issued 13 walks in just three outings, and only once in his three starts did he pitch beyond the sixth inning.

“I can’t really say I was tired in the postseason,” said Sabathia. “My arm felt fine. My velocity felt fine.”

Perhaps credit should go to the Yankees and the Red Sox — his two postseason opponents. Both, after all, are known for making pitchers work and driving up pitch counts. But surely, throwing 478 more pitches than Beckett did — the equivalent of another five starts — eventually take its toll on Sabathia’s effectiveness.

Beckett, by contrast, pitched with even better command than he had shown during the season. In the regular season, Beckett had an excellent 4.85 strikeouts-to-walks ratio; in the postseason, he fanned 35 and walked two, resulting in a miraculous 17.5 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox are already exploring ways to limit the wear and tear on Beckett and the rest of their starters next season. When the Sox re-signed Curt Schilling last week, they revealed that they were entertaining the idea of using a six-man rotation in 2008 — at least part of the time.

“I certainly think it’s a good deal,” Beckett told the Boston Herald over the weekend. “It’s something we’re definitely going to look into next year. I’ve already had conversations with them about that. (The idea would be to) give each guy a little sabbatical right before the All-Star break, whether it be one start or two starts. If somebody needs a little more time, we’ll give them more time.”

While most teams struggle to find five competent starters, the Red Sox have an embarrassment of riches. In addition to Beckett and Schilling, the Sox figure to have Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield and Clay Buchholz.

That depth will enable them to provide plenty of rest, so that next fall Red Sox pitchers aren’t exhausted.

“We’re in a new day and age,” Beckett told the Herald. “Guys are pitching until they’re 43 years old. It’s tough on their body; it’s tough on everybody’s body. It’s tough when you’re 27 (and it’s tough) when you’re 40.”

Just ask C.C. Sabathia, who won the award, but as a consequence might have lost his way in October.

smcadam@projo.com