Beckett To Miss Red Sox Opener In Japan Due To Back Spasm

Fort Myers, FL (AHN) - Red Sox ace Josh Beckett will miss the team's game trip to Japan after hurting his back eight days ago. The Boston Red Sox will open the 2008 Major League Baseball season in Tokyo against the Oakland Athletics on March 25 and March 26.

In an expected announcement Sunday, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said it was "common sense" to keep Beckett back in the United States as he recovers from back spasms. The Red Sox leaves on Wednesday for four games in Tokyo.

Francona, when asked of the Red Sox's target date for Beckett to return to the mound, told ESPN's Jason Stark that team doesn't have one yet.

"That target is whenever he is ready to pitch. When you start putting targets on people, that's when you hurt somebody. I guarantee that when he's ready to pitch he'll be ready. And it won't be a day later," Francona reportedly told ESPN.com.

Beckett threw to pitching coach John Farrell from flat ground Sunday for the first time since he hurting his back and he is expected to do the same drill for the next two days. On Thursday, the ace right-hander would throw from the bullpen mound, Farrell said.

Beckett, 27, suffered back spasms when he threw his first warm-up pitch before the spring training game against the Florida Marlins.

Beckett, who finished second to the Cleveland Indians' C.C. Sabathia in voting for the American League Cy Young Award, went 20-7 last season, with a 3.27 earned-run average and 194 strikeouts in 200 2/3 innings.