IT HAS BEGUN.................ALL HAIL THE AGE OF PAPELBON

The Boston Red Sox defeated the Texas Rangers 2-1 in the first start of Josh Beckett's Red Sox career. Beckett gave up a run in the first then battled through the next three innings until he turned it on in the fifth and dominated up till the eighth. Unforunately for the Red Sox Texas starter Cameron Loe was on as well shutting the Red Sox until the seventh inning when Trot Nixon knocked a two run homer to give the Red Sox the lead. Beckett's passion was evident throughout the game will hand-pumps and shouts after striking out batters. However what will be the big story in Boston tomorrow is the fact that in a one run it was newcomer Jonathan Papelbon pitching for the Red Sox in the ninth instead of closer Keith Foulke. It's true that the Red Sox got Papelbon up in the eighth when pitcher Mike Timlin was in trouble but make no mistake this more about Foulke's recent problems on the mound then anything else. Pitching in the ninth opening day Foulke did nothing to relieve Sox fans when it took a great defensive play from Coco Crisp to ice the victory. Francona at some point is going to have to tell the votile Foulke that this is going to be the way it is. He'll pick whichever pitcher he thinks can do the job best in the ninth. This isn't going to sit well Foulke, little does, but he's just pitching well enough right now to be in there. I remember when a similar situation occurred in Chicago when Foulke was still with the White Sox and Foulke bitched and pouted until he was eventually traded to A's where he was restored to his closer position and brilliance. Still when I remember Foulke I'll remember the great job he did in 2004 down the stretch and in the World Series. But times they are a changin.