Beckett almost got the Clement treatment last night

I still remember watching Matt Clement nearly get his head taken off back in '05 in Tampa Bay and he was never the same after that. So when Dejesus nearly be-headed Beckett last night I nearly needed a mid-game pants change. It could have been really ugly. Guy signs a new contract, comes out for the first game and takes a shot to the head that could have had all us talking about how Josh Beckett and baseball aren't important anymore, but we just hope he's ok and can eat his own Cheerios in the morning. Thankfully for all parties involved that wasn't the case and now we can associate Beckett with things like hazing rookies by marinating their jock straps in Stubbs BBQ sauce and bringing in his pit bulls, and of course providing needed beat downs in the middle of a losing streak.

As for the Sox getting Greinked, well that sure as hell wasn't the case. There probably won't be many games in which Jeremy Hermedia and Jason Varitek go back-to-back off the reigning Cy Young winner, so yesterday was a treat in many ways. A treat, that's right, it's an early Sunday morning and that's what you get. A treat.

Welcome, Josh. Welcome, to the future!

And we'll be welcoming you back for another 4 years, Mr. Beckett. I'm just so glad that The Sox got this done before the season really got into full swing and before the rumors started flying that I haven't even checked out the logistics of the contract. Is there a no-trade clause? Is there a hazing clause where Josh gets first dibs on all the newbies in the clubhouse? Is that hazing clause underlined with an anti-hazing clause that involves Tito having to step in to stop things from going over the line again? You remember, right Clay? The waffle iron. All that silly putty. There is a line, I know.

Most of all though, with this signing it gives the Sox the 'your ass is grass and our starting rotation is the lawn mower' power by having Beckett and Lackey signed through 2014 and Lester through 2013. 2014 sounds like the future, and not just because it's one year before Back to the Future Part II takes place, but that's 4 full seasons from right now. Sure arms can get hurt, elbows can need to be Tommy John'ed, backs can spasm, but for the most part the Sox have 3 kick ass studs sitting atop their rotation pretty much til Marty McFly finds out that Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers got him fired.