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More on Beckett

Print | Comments () Posted by Amalie Benjamin February 11, 2009 01:29 PM

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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- So, it seems, there won't be any more photos circulated with a gut hanging out. Josh Beckett looks to be in good shape this spring, and was able to make use of that in his 62-pitch bullpen session this morning at 9:15 a.m.

He was followed to the mound by Jon Lester, then Hideki Okajima, Brad Penny, and Takashi Saito also had bullpen sessions, among others.

"With the prolonged rest, a chance for his body to recover, it's really what he needed most is just to get away from the game, to allow his body to recoup physically, which it has done," pitching coach John Farrell said, of Beckett. "His workouts, even when he started back in with the strength and conditioning program, the early part of the throwing program, there were no issues. He comes in today and as his progression has continued he's probably more in line with where he was in '07 rather than the start of '08 large in part because he had a couple extra weeks to rest and recover."

That time, of course, came when the Sox were sent home from the ALCS by the Rays.