BOSTONClay Buchholz believes Josh Beckett, who played golf on Thursday, even though he had been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday because of a sore right lat, would not do anything to jeopardize his health or the team.
The one thing I said about Josh Beckett is hes a professional, said Buchholz, who was Becketts golf partner that day. Hes not going to do anything to make him not be ready to do his job. Been around him for a while now, thats just the way he goes about his business. Thats an offday and thats something that gets him away from the field. If he likes to do that, then thats what he likes to do. I think thats his decision. I dont think hes going to do anything to make himself unable to go out and pitch and help his team win.
Buchholz does not understand why there might be so much enmity directed at Beckett.
Not really, he said. I dont think it was a big deal at all butpeople feel differently than I do, I guess.
Asked if there is a carry-over from the September fallout that bothers him, Buchholz replied:
Thats nothing to me right now. That was so much blown out of proportion just because of the organization we play for. So it is what it is. I dont think anybodys made mistakes as far as that. But as far as baseball goes, trying to get back in the grind of pitching every five days.
If the team had a winning record, perhaps nothing would be said about Becketts round of golf.
Boston Red Sox
Just like last year, Buchholz said. The whole beer and chicken wouldnt have been a story if we would have won and we would have went to the playoffs. Its just theres always got to be something to talk about and I think thats what it comes down to.
Asked if it makes him feel like he has to think twice about his actions away from the field, Buchholz replied:
I think everybody does. But to a point, to where if they think its going to be something thats going to hurt the team or anything, nobodys going to do it. But that was an offday. I believe that an offday is a day that guys can get away from the field. Theres only a couple of them throughout a season. If JB was hurting really bad, then that wouldnt have been an issue.