The Josh Beckett NON Issue

Smiles, everyone, smiles! (Photo courtesy of Kelly O'Connor and used with permission)

After the announcement that Jon Lester would be the starting pitcher on Opening Day, we waited patiently to find out how the rest of the rotation would round out. We have to wait no more!

After Jon Lester the rest of the rotation shakes out with John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The moment this information was shared with the free world it started:  Josh Beckett will be pissed.  This is the beginning of the end for him.  Tito has no faith in him.  The horror.  The horror.

Beckett’s a big boy.  I think he can take the hit.  You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think Lester deserves the Opening Day start, including Beckett:

“It’s a body of work. It’s not just a one-time deal. It’s a sacred thing. It’s a real cool honor to have, especially with an organization like this. It’s something nobody can take away from him. No matter what happens, it’s something that’s special. I’m happy for him. I’ve been telling him for years, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of Opening Day starts.'”

Sure, I hear you say, but that’s just one guy. Beckett has three in front of him.  Well, maybe he’s taking public speaking classes or maybe his new status as married has mellowed him, but according to the same Rob Bradford entry:

“Those are his decisions,” said Beckett, who is scheduled to pitch in the Red Sox’ first game of their three-game set in Cleveland. “Just like I would always feel like he would back me up, I back him up on his decision, as well.”

Not exactly bitter-sounding is he?

Here’s what I think:  This team has a unified goal…they want to win.  Theo Epstein has put them in an excellent position to do just that. Maybe they are all realizing that little things like number in the rotation is meaningless once the season begins?  Maybe they’re all on the same page and just want to win games?

Everything doesn’t have to be a controversy.  The fans and the reporters can get their feathers ruffled about Beckett’s spot in the rotation but the only important thing to me is what he does in that spot.