Beckett out to prove his worth as Sox win No. 1 by Mike Ghika
SSN provides a first-hand account of another grand ol' Opening Day


Yesterday's showing by our hometown Red Sox was everything and more we could have hoped for. The offense was hot out of the gate, and Josh Beckett perhaps sent a message that he is finally healthy, and that there will be no messing around when he toes the slab every fifth day.

After a 26-hour period that felt twice as long as that, Beckett (7 IP, 2 ER, 2 H,3 BB, 10 K) finally took the hill for the first pitch of the regular season following Monday's rainout postponement. Although the overall effort from Terry Francona's crew was outstanding, the large story here is Beckett.

Of course we want to see the entire team perform to its capabilities, and many, including me, certainly feel that it will. But Beckett has a $12 million option for next season, which means a poor or injury-riddled season could force him out the door as soon as 2010. Even if his option is exercised (and that most likely will happen), free agency will loom shortly after that.

That winter (assuming he stays healthy for two seasons), he could command a CC Sabathia-like contract. And why not? He's certainly the same caliber pitcher and has MUCH more postseason experience and success. But with the continuing development at the major league level by Jon Lester (my Cy pick for 2009) and Daisuke Matsuzaka, not to mention a staggering economy, Beckett could indeed become expendable over the next season or two. The fact is, albeit in my opinion, No. 19 needs to be the 2007 ace again this year if he has a shot at remaining in a Sox uniform well into the next decade.

Yesterday afternoon, he certainly got off on the right foot. All he needs is more performances like Opening Day's to prove to Theo Epstein and management that even despite the talent around him in the Sox' starting rotation, the organization needs him as a mainstay at the top of the rotation for the future.

Other thoughts from Opening Day:

- From my third baseline seats in Section 26, I had a perfect look at Jason Varitek's first homer of the year. What a site it is to be able to follow the ball of the bat as it hooks around Pesky Pole. Tek also hit the ball hard in the second and the eighth, scorching line drives right at outfielders each time. His power (5 HRs from the left side this spring) so far is certainly encouraging.

- There seemed to be, especially early on, a constant buzz throughout the ballpark. The pieces are in place in 2009, and Sox Nation can sense it.

- Yesterday's outing was without question the warmest Opening Day I've been to. No hat, no gloves, and didn't even need the Northface until the fifth or sixth inning.

- Many members of the Green Team (the group that collects bottles and cups for recycling purposes in between innings) seemed to be part of a select class. In other words, the Sox don't mind hiring some very, very attractive girls to interact with fans. No complaints here.

- 200 more seats were added up in right field, and the Cumberland Farms sign above them is a very nice addition to the ballpark. It's funny - I always felt as if the Sox have molded Fenway to resemble the Yellow Pages, but in times like these, that isn't even an issue for me any longer.

- Boston's 2 through 7 hitters went 7-for-20 with 4 BBs for a .458 OBP on the day.

- In the third inning, a guy near me cleverly noted, "Hey, Beckett's got a perfect game going." This came after the ace had set down the first seven hitters of the game in orderly fashion. The next four Rays proceeded to draw two walks, single, and sacrifice in a run to tie the game. I know fellow SoxSpace readers wouldn't make such a mistake, seeing that those of us with heads on our shoulders wouldn't say "bomb" on an airplane either.

Regardless of that, we can all be glad that the spring is here. In addition, April is here. The 2009 Major League season is here. That should sure well mean that happiness is here to stay as well.

Published on April 08, 2009

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