Boston

Josh Beckett continued to live up to the four-year, $68 million deal given to him by the Boston Red Sox prior to the season.

Due to David Ortiz’s struggles last season and early this season, many people have speculated over whether or not Big Papi is done.

In short, I think he is nearing the end. 

I am sure he still has a few good games left in him, but I would venture to guess that even the most diehard member of Red Sox nation would agree that his best years are behind him.

Whenever a player of Ortiz’s caliber nears the end of his career, the conversation almost always switches to a discussion of whether or not said player will make it to the Hall of Fame.

Caption: Tonight’s hero, CF Darnell McDonald, drove in the last three Red Sox runs—with a two-run home run in the eighth inning and a wall-ball scraper in the ninth—in the Red Sox' 7-6 win. Here, he is mobbed by Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, and the rest of his Red Sox teammates.

Tonight’s contest between the Red Sox and Texas Rangers was one for the books on so many levels that it may be difficult to do the game justice.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did.

There isn’t a single aspect of the team game that the Red Sox are doing well right now.

The pitching has been poor. The hitting has been horrendous. The baserunning has been embarrassing. The defense has been indefensible.

That’s a bad combination on a team that was built on pitching and defense.

Francisco Liriano’s performance as a rookie in 2006 caused people to draw comparisons between him and teammate Johan Santana, but an August elbow injury sent him to the disabled list and ultimately led to offseason Tommy John surgery.

After missing all of the 2007 season, he returned to the major leagues in April 2008. He performed admirably in 2008 (6-4, 2.91), but last year was disastrous (5-13, 5.80).

He had lost his fastball and his ability to throw strikes. Most importantly, he lost his confidence.

After seven and two-thirds innings of no-hit ball Saturday afternoon in Tampa Bay, C.C. Sabathia was within striking distance of his first career no-hitter.

Just four outs to go.

Tim Wakefield made his sixth start of the spring yesterday against the Florida Marlins, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five Fish.

It was just the second time this spring he surrendered runs, as he improved to 3-1, 3.66.

Afterwards, he said he hasn’t been told anything about the ball club’s plans for him once the regular season opens, though he seems assured to start the year in the rotation due to Daisuke Matsuzaka’s continuing physical issues:

It may be just 10 days before Opening Day, but for starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka—who has been sidelined by a series of aches and pains for a large portion of spring training—it’s much more akin to March 1.

Dice-K took his first steps towards becoming a contributing member of the rotation yesterday with two innings of work against the Florida Marlins, allowing a run on two hits in his outing.

It was the first time he faced major league hitters in live action this spring.

Let’s set the debate aside for the moment over the Red Sox's shift in philosophy.

Volumes were written this winter (here and elsewhere) about the front office’s desire to transition the team more towards pitching and defense.

What can be said with near certainty is that once Theo and Company decided to head in this direction, it was clear the club should spend its $80 million on pitcher John Lackey instead of hitter Jason Bay.

The acquisition of Lackey did several things.

Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett missed his start on March 14 when he came down ill.

He made his scheduled start last Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he pitched in a weakened state and was largely ineffective.

So all eyes were on the big Texan this afternoon in Bradenton—hoping to get some indication as to whether he will be ready to take the ball on Opening Night against the Yankees, just 11 days from now.