Beckett Hits The Rough. Sox Place Righty on the DL.

As has been typical of Josh Beckett’s last three seasons, a mini-run of good pitching peppered with a liberal dose of controversy, defiance and hubris has ended, for the time being, with Beckett on the DL.

The Red Sox announced today that Beckett had an inflamed right shoulder and that they would be taking the conservative path by putting Beckett on the DL. Right-hander Clayton Mortenson has been called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Beckett’s place on the roster. Clay Buchholz could have pitched in Beckett’s place on Sunday on regular rest but lefty Franklin Morales will come out of the bullpen to make that start instead.

Quoted on the Red Sox website, manager Bobby Valentine said, “He’s got some inflammation that’s got to calm down and take the time, whatever time it takes to do it. We thought in between starts was enough, and he could have gotten an extra day or two [of rest] I guess, but we’re going to take the conservative route.” Valentine also admitted that Beckett is still dealing with a spring training thumb injury.

And so the precarious situation Boston finds itself in with Kevin Youkilis grows more important by the day. Tick, tick, tick…