Post by Sean on Mar 28, 2009 14:07:51 GMT -5
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox will come out of the gate with their ace, as manager Terry Francona confirmed Saturday morning that Josh Beckett will draw the start for the April 6 Opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Though Beckett has started three times on Opening Day in his career, this will mark the first time he's done so in four years, and the first since he joined the Red Sox.
"It would be a great honor," Beckett said Friday. "Obviously it's something that you're always striving for when you get to the big leagues. That's something you look forward to, and it's something I'm definitely looking forward to."
Jon Lester will start the season's second game, on April 8, and Daisuke Matsuzaka will close out the brief homestand by pitching the finale against the Rays. Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will open the six-game West Coast swing at Anaheim on April 10. Presumably, Beckett will come back the next day on four days' rest.
It is on April 12 that the Red Sox first need a fifth starter. Brad Penny will draw that assignment if the Red Sox feel he is stretched out enough. Saturday marked Penny's second Grapefruit League start, and fourth outing overall this spring. He will get another turn on Thursday against the Twins, Boston's last game in Florida.
One person who has been ruled out for that turn is Justin Masterson, who has officially been moved to the bullpen.
Masterson had been working as a starter this spring and was stretched out to 4 2/3 innings in a Minor League game on Wednesday. But he will re-acclimate to life as a reliever with a two-inning stint for Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays.
The Red Sox thought it was productive for Masterson's development for him to get stretched out this spring, and it also kept their options open in case they needed a fifth starter.
"We kept checking with him and telling him where we were at," Francona said. "If we ever thought it was counterproductive, we wouldn't have done it. He's a solid kid and he understands."
Masterson was a force for the Red Sox in the bullpen for the second half of last season and into the postseason, so there will be no adjustment period necessary for the sinkerballer.
If the Red Sox feel Penny needs more time, Clay Buchholz -- he of the 0.47 ERA this spring -- is all but certain to take the April 12 turn at Anaheim.
"I don't blame you for reading between the lines. I' m probably not going to talk between the lines," quipped Francona.
But Buchholz -- who had a nightmarish 2008 season -- has been one of the best stories of camp thus far. He has seemingly regained his status as one of the top pitching prospects in the game.
"The closer you get to breaking with the team, it creates some anxiety. At the same time, he's done a terrific job," Francona said. "I think he's been real mature about the whole thing but you can't tell guys things you don't know."
Buchholz will start Tuesday, by which point the Red Sox might have his role resolved.
Though Beckett has started three times on Opening Day in his career, this will mark the first time he's done so in four years, and the first since he joined the Red Sox.
"It would be a great honor," Beckett said Friday. "Obviously it's something that you're always striving for when you get to the big leagues. That's something you look forward to, and it's something I'm definitely looking forward to."
Jon Lester will start the season's second game, on April 8, and Daisuke Matsuzaka will close out the brief homestand by pitching the finale against the Rays. Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will open the six-game West Coast swing at Anaheim on April 10. Presumably, Beckett will come back the next day on four days' rest.
It is on April 12 that the Red Sox first need a fifth starter. Brad Penny will draw that assignment if the Red Sox feel he is stretched out enough. Saturday marked Penny's second Grapefruit League start, and fourth outing overall this spring. He will get another turn on Thursday against the Twins, Boston's last game in Florida.
One person who has been ruled out for that turn is Justin Masterson, who has officially been moved to the bullpen.
Masterson had been working as a starter this spring and was stretched out to 4 2/3 innings in a Minor League game on Wednesday. But he will re-acclimate to life as a reliever with a two-inning stint for Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays.
The Red Sox thought it was productive for Masterson's development for him to get stretched out this spring, and it also kept their options open in case they needed a fifth starter.
"We kept checking with him and telling him where we were at," Francona said. "If we ever thought it was counterproductive, we wouldn't have done it. He's a solid kid and he understands."
Masterson was a force for the Red Sox in the bullpen for the second half of last season and into the postseason, so there will be no adjustment period necessary for the sinkerballer.
If the Red Sox feel Penny needs more time, Clay Buchholz -- he of the 0.47 ERA this spring -- is all but certain to take the April 12 turn at Anaheim.
"I don't blame you for reading between the lines. I' m probably not going to talk between the lines," quipped Francona.
But Buchholz -- who had a nightmarish 2008 season -- has been one of the best stories of camp thus far. He has seemingly regained his status as one of the top pitching prospects in the game.
"The closer you get to breaking with the team, it creates some anxiety. At the same time, he's done a terrific job," Francona said. "I think he's been real mature about the whole thing but you can't tell guys things you don't know."
Buchholz will start Tuesday, by which point the Red Sox might have his role resolved.
