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Beckett plays catch

Josh Beckett was just on the field at Fenway this afternoon, playing a light game of catch with assistant trainer Mike Reinold. Just easy tossing, nothing more.

What does it mean, in terms of the torn skin on the middle finger of Beckett's throwing hand? The clubhouse doesn't open for another half hour, so won't know what the official word is, but I suppose it's mildly encouraging that Beckett played catch.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland, incidentally, said Sunday that if he had to pick now, Beckett would be his choice to start the All-Star Game. Leyland will manage the American League squad.

"He's been the best pitcher in the league, to this point," Leyland said, in quotes provided by Globe alum Jon-Paul Morosi. "There's a ways to go, obviously, but, right now, I would definitely pick Josh Beckett. He would certainly deserve it."

Leyland does not expect March's bench-clearer to influence this series. In that game, Beckett hit two Tigers -- sluggers Gary Sheffield (ribs) and Magglio Ordonez (head) -- and nearly hit a third, Brandon Inge.

"I don't have anything against Josh Beckett," Leyland said. "Everybody totally misunderstood that whole thing.

"I wasn't accusing Josh Beckett of throwing at anybody. I was making the point [that] if you throw inside and start plunking people, eventually somebody gets [ticked] off."

Leyland has been very impressed with the Red Sox in general: "I think they're loaded. They're real good. I don't think there's any question about that. They've got a lot of nice pieces, and I think the biggest piece was when they put [Jonathan] Papelbon back in the bullpen."

Added Todd Jones, the Detroit closer: "If anything, both teams are going to let their hitters know that there may be some throwing inside. ... You've got to pitch in, especially at Fenway, but I don't think there's any animosity. Whether that builds up, I don't know."