It isn’t even opening day and the first potential kerfuffle of the Red Sox season is upon us.
Just days after Andrew Bailey, who went down with an inexplicable thumb injury, had Bobby V doing the bullpen St. Vitus’ dance shuffle, Josh Beckett too sustained a thumb injury of unknown origin. It was later reported that Bailey may have received his injury while making a play at first base while I believe Beckett’s injury may have been aggravated by too much sucking (double entendre intended).
The Beckett story was inadvertently leaked by Alfredo Aceves when he said he’d had a conversation with Valentine and was told to be ready if Beckett was not available. Perhaps I was the only one who read Aceves’ quotes as inflammatory but I doubt it. When I went back to WEEI’s site the story had been updated and the quotes removed. Here they are from an email I saved.
"Let the games within the games begin."
“He (Valentine) said Josh Beckett has an injury in his thumb. If he doesn’t start the second game I will start the second game and the first game at home,” Aceves told WEEI. “For now, he said, ‘You are going to be in the bullpen. I like Felix Doubront because he’s lefty, that’s his approach.’ And he said Bard, the organization wants to give him the chance. So I have no chance. It doesn’t matter how good you throw, you’re still not going to pitch.” Doesn’t sound like Aceves’ is pleased.
Later in the morning WEEI reported that Valentine diffused the situation by characterizing the conversation as a simple contingency plan and that he “totally” expected Beckett to make his first start on Saturday in Detroit. Nevertheless, Beckett hopped a plane to see a doctor in San Antonio today.
Beckett later texted that as far as he knew he was starting Saturday and that his thumb was fine. Let the games within the games begin.
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