Josh Beckett

In an afternoon press conference at Fenway Park, the Red Sox and RHP Josh Beckett announced they have finalized a four-year, $68 million extension that will keep the right-hander in Boston through the 2014 season. The contract includes a $5 million signing bonus and annual salaries of $15.75 million per year from 2011-2014.

For those of you who might find it suspicious the deal was announced on the day AFTER Beckett was roughed up by the NY Yankees on Opening Night, there IS reason to find the timing curious, though it probably isn’t what you are thinking.

Sunday night's game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees marked the beginning of the 2010 MLB regular season.

Despite the return of Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez to throw out the first pitch, the season's inaugural game was anything but a pitchers' duel.

It didn't take long for Boston's Josh Beckett to run into trouble against the stacked Bronx Bomber lineup.

The baseball season begins tonight with arguably the best rivalry in sports.  With the Red Sox and Yankees both making major changes to their team over the offseason, it's time to take a long at what differences the fans will look at this season.  With that in mind, here is a look into who made the right moves and who made the wrong moves.

Boston Red Sox

At 1 am, the Red Sox announced their 25-man Opening Day roster in an e-mail to the media. Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein made the announcement.

If you have any doubt as to the reasons this organization is successful, all you need to know is that the front office was toiling away at 1 am on Easter Sunday morning.

A few years ago, the Red Sox front office decided to experiment with Bill James’ closer-by-committee theory, and we all know how THAT worked out for them.

This season, Theo & Company have decided to pursue the concept of run prevention as opposed to run production — and over the course of the next several months we will learn how THAT will all learn how THAT will work out for them.

It says here that it will work out just fine.

With the start of the 2010 MLB season fast approaching, questions remain regarding the possibility of success for the Boston Red Sox. After some major off-season acquisitions and departures, the Red Sox front office is hoping for solid contributions from their new arrivals and continued success from some of their younger members.

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Just five days before Opening Night against the NY Yankees, ESPN.com reporter Buster Olney reports that contract negotiations between the Red Sox and RHP Josh Beckett have progressed to the point that there is optimism a deal will be finalized in the next week or two.

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.

The Red Sox seem quite comfortable spending liberally to bring players into the organization from other teams while simultaneously refusing to give their own players similar consideration when negotiating new deals.

The question is—why?

What I’m Reading

• Just imagine a Mauer-less Twinky-Town. Through means of a trade, no less. My head hurts already.

• So Jose Reyes’ thyroid is due to keep him out anywhere from two weeks to two months. Great diagnosis, Doc.