Image courtesy of United States Postal Service

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

The United States Postal Service said it will feature Red Sox hall of fame player Ted Wiliams individually on its new "Forever" stamps, a change from its original plan.

Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Larry Doby and Willie Stargell were to be featured on the new "Forever" stamp sheets together, but demand for the stamps spurred the postal company to reconsider the group configuration.

"We’ve heard from Indians, Pirates, Red Sox and Yankees fans and we’re stepping up to the plate to immortalize their revered players individually,” said U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Manager Stephen Kearney in an e-mailed statement.

The stamps, designed by Los Angeles based artist-illustrator Kadir Nelson, will be released July 21, but will be available for order through Aug. 21. There will be a special event in Boston July 21 for the Williams stamp unveiling. Details about that event will announced later, according to the postal service.

"It will be interesting to learn which of the four players sells the most individual sheets," Kearney said.

Red Sox fans can order the stamps online at http://www.usps.com/play-ball, or by calling 1-800-STAMP24 (1-800-782-6724).

Or, in the spirit of the enterprise, by mailing a check or money order to:

MLB Pre-Order Offer
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive #210
Kansas City, MO 64144-0001

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Here's some Patriots hate from the Dungeons & Dragons crowd.

"Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin, whose books have spawned the popular HBO drama by the same name, through some nudging, has likened the New England Patriots to one of the more detested families in his novels.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Martin compared the Patriots to the oft-feuding and evilly inclined Lannisters, a murderous bunch that play the antagonists to the Starks.

Let's just say that the Lannisters are viewed as the bad guys, capiche?

Here's how the conversation went down, which you can find in full on their site:

SI: A popular internet story recently imagined Game of Thrones characters as politicians -- Barack Obama as Robb Stark, George W. Bush as Hodor -- can we try this with the NFL?

...

SI: What about the families: Are the Starks, say, the Green Bay Packers?

MARTIN: Whenever I propose analogies like that, fans jump in with their own ideas, but it depends on what team you root for. To me, the Starks are heroes, so they would be the Giants.

SI: And the Patriots, the archenemies?

MARTIN: Maybe those would be the Lannisters.

Martin, who is also known for producing episodes for the "Twilight Zone," is a self-professed New York Jets fan. So Patriots fans can rest assured that Bill Belichick will store this slight in his memory bank for those two contests this upcoming season. Or maybe not.

The season 2 finale of "Game of Thrones" will air at 9 p.m. this Sunday. The Celtics will be playing the Miami Heat in Game 4 at the same time (8:30 p.m start). What will you be watching?

Dario Franchitti has won the Indianapolis 500, crossing the finish line first under caution ahead of Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan.

It is Franchitti's third Indy 500 victory.

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

The Rays are traveling to Boston for a Memorial Day weekend series against the Red Sox, and manager Joe Maddon has made this one of his famous "theme" road trips.

This time around, it's the "Ken Rosenthal/nerd theme," according to a Tweet from Maddon. Players and team personnel have donned bow ties like Rosenthal, the Fox Sports baseball reporter, and other geeked-out attire. Previous themes have been letterman sweaters, minimalist, and all sorts of costumes.

Here's an example, from Dave Haller, the team's director of communications:

Here is the full view, revealing highwaters, pennyloafers. #revengeofthenerds twitter.com/HallerDave/sta…

— Dave Haller (@HallerDave) May 24, 2012

From Maddon:

Heading for Boston. The guys are digging the nerd theme. The ties represent 18 different charities. yfrog.com/h7j48jej

— Joe Maddon (@RaysJoeMaddon) May 24, 2012

Maddon said (on Twitter, of course) his granddaughter was the inspiration for the theme.

Go here for more photos from the Rays.

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

We caught up with Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia Thursday at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston where he along with teammates Daniel Bard, Darnell McDonald, and other members of the Red Sox staff were on hand promoting the new music album: "Fenway Park Greatest Hits" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ballpark and to benefit the Red Sox Foundation.

Saltalamachhia talked about what's contributed to the Red Sox turnaround on the recent road trip that just concluded in Baltimore.

"I feel good," Saltalamacchia said. "Like I said before we started the road trip, the starters set the tone, and they've done a great job with that, they've set the tone, bullpen's done their job where they just come in and shut guys down, and our offense put some runs on the board and we're able to just continue and feed off each other."

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

We caught up with Red Sox starter Daniel Bard -- fresh off his fourth victory of the season -- Thursday at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston, where Bard and teammates Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Darnell McDonald and other members of the Red Sox staff were on hand promoting the new music album: "Fenway Park Greatest Hits" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ballpark and to benefit the Red Sox Foundation.

"Today, already before the first CD is sold, we're already aware of $20,000 to the Red Sox Foundation by virtue of this CD," Dr. Charles Steinberg from the Red Sox front office said during the event.

Bard, Saltalamacchia, and McDonald are part of several current and former Red Sox who appear in a variety of roles alongside professional musicians on the album. Bard plays acoustic guitar on the song "Let the Good Times Roll," made famous by the Boston band The Cars. Saltalamacchia plays guitar on the Aerosmith hit "Dream On." And McDonald sings backup vocals on the Fenway favorite "Sweet Caroline."

See the full track listings and performers on the album here.

Bard spoke about the ongoing process of transitioning from a reliever to a starter this season.

"It's definitely a process, and I guess we're about nine starts into that process, plus spring training, so I'm learning something new every time out," Bard said. "It's kind of just learning that every start's a new battle and definitely learning new things about yourself, so I'm just trying right now to find that consistent delivery and mentally, I'm good. As long as I can scratch out a win like I did yesterday, or help the team win, but not really feel like I had my good stuff, I'll take it."

We'll have more video Q&A with Saltalamacchia talking about the Red Sox turnaround from today's event in The Buzz shortly.

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

ESPN basketball analyst Chris Broussard reported the Orlando Magic may meet with former Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal to discuss the team's general manager position.

O'Neal, who retired as a player after the 2010-11 season, has been working as an analyst on NBA broadcasts. He began his NBA career with the Magic in 1992 after Orlando made him the top pick in that year's draft.

Another ESPN analyst, Stephen A. Smith, said Thursday on SportsCenter he thinks O'Neal's real motive is to someday become an NBA team owner. A third ESPN expert, Marc Stein, said his sources have indicated O'Neal has lobbied behind the scenes to be considered for the Magic GM job and the team will at least give him a courtesy interview.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic declined comment, and the team was still making its list of candidates for the job.

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

As he does most days, Patriots receiver Chad Ochocinco documented his life Wednesday in detail on Twitter.

Wednesday stood out, though, because he was the victim of a vehicle break-in, and while the thieves apparently smashed a window and took his wallet, it was the loss of his Starbucks Gold Card that troubled him the most.

He even made a short video and posted it with the message "The Thief Will See This." Watch it here (warning: explicit language).

"Not just any Starbucks card. I earned the gold card. You know how many coffees I've had to drink, and lemon loafs I've had to purchase to get to that gold card?" he said.

That was followed with this classic outburst toward the thieves.

I wish Tyrannosaurus Rex diarrhea on whoever broke my window and stole my #Gold starbucks cards...

— Chad Ochocinco (@ochocinco) May 23, 2012

It all had a happy ending. Starbucks has agreed to replace the card, and his wallet was returned after being found in a parking lot and returned to Ochocinco via, of course, a string of Twitter messages.

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine spoke Wednesday on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show about having Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Gonzalez, and Will Middlebrooks all in the lineup at the same time. Valentine was asked if the new outfield alignment was sustainable over the long term.

"I don't think it's an everyday thing," Valentine said. "I think it's something that can be used throughout the year, but no I don't think it's an everyday solution ..."

"You have to see things to figure out what can go right and what can go wrong only because of the lack of familiarity with Adrian playing right field mainly, but even Kevin, he'd have to get back in the saddle at first base to do it every day. I just don't know that it's an everyday fix."

Regarding third baseman Middlebrooks's status with the big club, Valentine said he and Sox GM Ben Cherington were both on the same page.

"I totally am on board with Ben's take (that Youkilis would not lose his job to injury)," Valentine said. "Kevin's going to play third base. This is a situation that arose out of necessity, not out of choice. We're lucky to have a guy as versatile as Kevin to play on both sides of the infield and a guy as willing and versatile as Adrian who would move from first to right field to allow us to line those guys up for a while."

The Red Sox manager expressed a few concerns with having Gonzalez in the outfield, but nothing that is stopping him from using doing it again. Valentine said Youkilis would be back at first base today with Adrian Gonzalez in right field if he "had his legs under him." Valentine also said Scott Podsednik would get a start in center field in today's matinee at Camden Yards.

Before Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Orioles, Youkilis downplayed his return from a DL stint. He started at first base.

"There's not more to the story than playing tonight and just going out there and playing ... that's it. There's not a story here, just going out and playing ... I played first base for five years here, it's not like they asked me to play center," Youkilis said.

Regarding having the speed-challenged Gonzalez play in Fenway Park's spacious right field, Valentine did not rule it out.

"Adrian is a very astute baseball player," Valentine said. "He positions himself as well as anyone I've seen in the outfield in the two games he's played there. He understands the hitters that we're playing against and he's moving more than normal, so if we pitch properly and the guy hits it where they're supposed to, I think that he'll be able to close a gap, but there's no way of covering all the ground because of a lack of foot speed."

Valentine did not embrace the idea of having Gonzalez play left field because of the added challenge of having a different view of the ball coming off the hitter's bat on the left side of the field, but wasn't ruling out having the All-Star first baseman seeing substantial playing time in right field while the outfield injury crisis continues.

"He played right field one winter ball season in Mexico," Valentine said, and then adding later, "We had a situation where Adrian, to try to allow the team to win, was volunteering to pitch, and the relationship I've had with Adrian from the first day of spring training has been one where he communicates his thoughts freely and he has thoughts every day on what could be the best thing and the best solution for our team and when this situation presented itself, it was eye contact was all that was needed and he came walking in and said 'if you're thinking about me in right field, go for it. I'll come out tomorrow and take fly balls.' You know he came out the next day and took some fly balls and you know, we're ready to go and that was just interleague play. When Cody [Ross] got hurt, he came in after the game and said the same thing."

Valentine indicated Middlebrooks would be on the Red Sox bench rather than be sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket.

"On occasion that probably will happen," Valentine said. "I don't know [if he'd go to Triple-A]. We'll see how the usage is being executed. I think we just have a situation where we have to play this by ear. This isn't something that was planned out over the winter or even was planned out last week or two weeks ago when Will first came up and Kevin first went on the disabled list. This is a work-in-progress. We'll adjust to it as the situation presents itself."

The Boston Cannons (4-0) received three goals apiece from Kevin Buchanan, Mike Stone, and Paul Rabil in a 17-10 Major League Lacrosse win over the host Denver Outlaws (3-1) on Saturday.

"We knew it was going to be a challenge, but it was mostly business as usual this week," said Cannons head coach Steve Duffy. "Denver is a good team and we knew we had to come in here and play well. Paul is a great team player and understands what we need to do to win, and were able to do it tonight."

Bill Belichick is the highest paid coach in America. (Bill Greene / Globe Staff)

By Steve Silva, Globe Staff

Bill Belichick is in a league of his own when it comes to getting paid. But Doc Rivers isn't far behind.

According to Forbes magazine, the three-time Super Bowl winning Patriots head coach makes more money than any other coach in America. Belichick's estimated salary of $7.5 million puts him at the top of the Forbes list.

NFL coaches dominate the top 10, with eight representatives. The two other top-10 paid coaches come from the NBA: Celtics coach Doc Rivers ($7 million) and San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich ($6 million).

Super Bowl winning coach Tom Coughlin of the Giants, with an estimated salary of $5.25 million, didn't make the top 10.

Local coaches Claude Julien of the Bruins and Bobby Valentine of the Red Sox were not on the Forbes list:

10. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles: $5.5 million
9. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers: $5.75 million
8. Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals: $5.75 million
7. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears: $6 million
6. Greg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs: $6 million
5. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks: $7 million
4. Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams: $7 million
3. Glenn "Doc" Rivers, Boston Celtics: $7 million
2. Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins: $7 million
1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots: $7.5 million

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie could be facing a suspension after he threw his helmet and struck an umpire after striking out Tuesday night against the Rays.

Lawrie was called out by umpire Bill Miller, then turned and spiked his helmet, which bounced into Miller. He was ejected, as was manager John Farrell following the ensuing argument.

Lawrie said he didn't intend to hit Miller.

"That was not my intention at all," Lawrie said. "I've never, ever done anything to go at an umpire before in my life, and I didn't mean to tonight. I apologize for that," he said.

After the game, Miller was also hit by a drink tossed by a fan.

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

Daniel Bard has turned out to be a fairly solid starting pitcher for the Red Sox this season, but he shows off another skill set on the soon-to-be released collection "Fenway Park Greatest Hits" that commemorates the park's 100th anniversary.

Bard is one of several current and former Red Sox who appear in a variety of roles alongside professional musicians on the album. Bard plays acoustic guitar on the song "Let the Good Times Roll," made famous by the band The Cars, which got its start in Boston. Former Van Halen and current Extreme singer Gary Cherone and Extreme singer and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt also perform with Bard.

The album is on sale at the Yawkey Way Store right now and on redsox.com, and hits other retailers, including iTunes, on May 22. The Bard song is available now on iTunes.

Here's the track listing and performers:

1. TESSIE
Lead Vocals & Spoken Word- Kevin Millar
Drums- Kenny Aronoff
Bass- Leland Sklar
Guitar- Tim Pierce
Piano- Matt Rollings
Background Vocals- Red Sox Scholars

2. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
Lead, Background Vocals & Lead Guitar- Nuno Bettencourt
Lead & Background Vocals- Gary Cherone
Drums- Gregg Bissonette
Bass- Leland Sklar
Electric Guitar- Tim Pierce
Acoustic Guitar- Daniel Bard
Piano- Matt Rollings

3. THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM (THE QUEST)
Lead Vocals- Dicky Barrett
Drums- Kenny Aronoff
Percussion & Spoken Word- Rico Petrocelli
Bass- Leland Sklar
Guitar- Tim Pierce
Piano- Matt Rollings
Strings-Loren Harriet

4. DREAM ON
Lead Vocals & Additional Guitar- Jon Butcher
Drums- Kenny Aronoff
Bass- Leland Sklar
Guitar- Tim Pierce
Additional Guitar- Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Piano- Matt Rollings
Strings- Loren Harriet

5. MEET ME AT MARY’S PLACE
Lead Vocals- Peter Gammons
Drums- Kenny Aronoff
Bass- Leland Sklar
Guitar- Tim Pierce
Piano- Matt Rollings
Keyboards- Seth Justman
Background Vocals- Red Sox Scholars

6. KNIGHTS OF BOSTONIA
Lead Vocals- Ken Casey
Drums- Gregg Bissonette
Bass- Leland Sklar
Guitar- Tim Pierce
Piano- Matt Rollings
Accordion- Cory Pesaturo
Background Vocals- Nora Parkington

7. TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME
Lead Vocals- Jerry Remy
Acoustic Guitar- Tim Pierce
Acoustic & Electric Guitars- Mike Mushok
Lead & Background Vocals- Red Sox Scholars

8. SWEET CAROLINE
Lead Vocals- Mark Salling
Drums- Gregg Bissonette
Bass- Leland Sklar
Electric Guitar- Tim Pierce
Acoustic Guitar- Clay Buchholz
Piano- Matt Rollings
Keyboards- Loren Harriet
Background Vocals & Spoken Word- David Ortiz
Background Vocals – Ryan Kalish, Darnell McDonald, Red Sox Scholars

9. 2007
Right Side Drums- Kenny Aronoff
Left Side Drums- Gregg Bissonette
Roto Toms- Joe Silva
Cowbell & Spoken Word- Kevin Youkilis
Running Percussion- Jacoby Ellsbury
Batting Cracks- Dustin Pedroia
Percussion- Red Sox Scholars

10. DIRTY WATER
Lead Vocals-Dick Dodd
Drums- Gregg Bissonette
Bass- Leland Sklar
Guitar- Tim Pierce
Piano- Matt Rollings
Lead Guitar- Alfredo Aceves
Lead Guitar- Barry Goudreau
Background Vocals- Red Sox Scholars

11. FENWAY PARK
Lead and Background Vocals- Mark Lennon
Drums- Kenny Aronoff
Bass-Leland Sklar
Guitars-Tim Pierce
Piano-Matt Rollings
Chorus Background Vocals- Red Sox fans
Producer- Loren Harriet

12. HUB FANS BID KID ADIEU
Reader One- Jim Lonborg
Reader Two- Mike O’Malley
Reader Three- Curt Schilling
Piano- Matt Rollings

By Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff

The SMU women's rowing team responded to the video sensation made popular by the Harvard baseball team with its own version of the hit song "Call me Maybe."

The team was on its way to the airport in Knoxville, Tenn., after the Conference USA championships in Oak Ridge, according to Emily McCombs, who was the director and filmed it.

The video was posted to YouTube with the quote: "Ball's in your court, Harvard baseball."

"We were listening to a song, and one girl said "let's do this Harvard baseball style!" and she started pounding her fists on the ceiling. Then our trainer said 'if you really want to make something, you should lay down and do that with your feet in the air!'" McCombs said.

The others involved were: Back row (from left) Lauren Moore and Rachelle Schelhaas. Singers (in order of appearance) were Halley Learned, Claira McElroy, and Maggie Jones. The front row dancers (from left) were Courtaney Miller, Chantelle Conley, and Emily Carstens. Athletic trainer Drew Yoder was the "choreographer, driver, and brains of the operation," McCombs said.

Update, 3:07 p.m.: Mike Enright, the sports information director at the University of Connecticut, shared a couple links to videos made by UConn teams of "Call Me Maybe."

Both the women's rowing team and the women's basketball teams at UConn did their versions back in March, around the time Harvard was shooting its video, although it wasn't posted until last week.

CBS Boston is reporting that David Ortiz was involved in a car accident on Boylston Street on his way to Fenway Park this afternoon.

According to the report, everyone involved in the accident, including Ortiz, is OK.

The Globe is working to get details on this story. Check Boston.com for details as they become available.

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was involved in a minor car accident on his way to Fenway Park earlier today.

Someone rear ended Big Papi (David Ortiz) right in front of our hotel. What a character. yfrog.com/kfgx5twj

— Brendan McCormack (@BMacinCle) May 11, 2012

WBZ first reported Ortiz's accident, which was on Boylston Street. No one was injured.

"I lost a little control coming out of the gas station and I hit a car, but I’m fine. Everybody is fine," Ortiz said.

Two witnesses at the scene told WBZ that it appeared Ortiz was speeding.

“What happened was he was speeding, tried to slam on his brakes and spun out of control, hit a car and then turned around," Tyler Bishop said.

“I think everybody is going to make mistakes,” said Kayley Bishop. “He went a little too fast and he’s not going to do it again."

Ortiz is today's lineup against the Cleveland Indians.

By Matt Pepin and Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

A Red Sox fan that wore a bag on his head during the early innings at Fenway Park during last night's Red Sox-Indians game created quite a stir on Twitter last night.

Jon O'Hara, who spoke about wearing the bag on his head on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher and Rich show this morning, was seated in the second row just to the left of home plate during the early innings of last night's game.

"I don't recognize this Red Sox team so I don't want them to recognize me," O'Hara said during this morning's interview.

O'Hara had to leave the section, that was in full view of NESN cameras, after the second inning when the people that had the tickets for those seats showed up. He said he continued to wear the bag when he took his seats in the loge section.

While he was in the second row, O'Hara said one of the Fenway ushers approached him and said he may be asked to take the bag off, but no one had said anything yet.

Had to take bag off head at Fenway ... People behind couldn't see. The other 30 thousand people wish they couldn't

— Jon O'Hara(@JonOcomedy) May 11, 2012

His disappearance after the early innings led to the creation of a hashtag -- #FreeTheBagGuy -- and the hashtag was trending in Boston by the fourth inning.

Here's another picture of the O'Hara giving the thumbs up while Shin-Soo Choo stepped into the batter's box.

Wade Boggs, far left, and Oil Can Boyd, far right, are having issues right now. (Stan Grossfeld / Globe file photo)

By Zuri Berry, Boston.com Staff

Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd's book publicity tour is still having ramifications. Last week, he revealed in interviews that using cocaine was regular pregame fixture. But overlooked in the drug revelations was Boyd's comments on former teammate Wade Boggs, whom he called a racist who used racial epithets on a daily basis.

Boggs, who played with Boyd during Boyd's tenure in Boston from 1982 to 1989, vehemently objected to the accusation on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan's radio show.

"Absolutely, positively, 100 million percent, I am not a racist, I am not a bigot," Boggs said. "You have a delusional drug addict who let not only his family down, but his team, the city of Boston, Red Sox Nation when it counted most. Now he wants the good people of Boston to go out and spend money on this garbage to support his habit. I find that extremely amusing."

Boggs' wife also joined the radio program, defending her husband and Boggs' father, who Boyd said was the source of his racism.

"I have never heard either one of them use the word that starts with an ‘N’ in public or even in private," said Debbie Boggs. "They never used that word. We have relatives that are African-American in our immediate family. They are so hurt."

Boyd's book, "They Call Me Oil Can," will be released this summer.

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

Move over chicken and beer. Golf has been entered into the Red Sox mix.

According to a report by 98.5 The Sports Hub's Hardy, Red Sox righthander Josh Beckett played golf in the area last Thursday afternoon, two days before he was scheduled to miss a start against the Orioles because of stiffness in his latissimus muscle.

The Sports Hub's Michael Felger said the report had been confirmed when he opened the Felger and Mazz show today, but that Hardy did not reveal the name of the golf course to protect his sources. Clay Buchholz was reportedly golfing with Beckett on the off day for the Red Sox.

After Beckett's 126-pitch effort last Sunday in Chicago, the Red Sox announced that Beckett's next start would be skipped because the righthander admitted he had soreness in his lat muscle. He also admitted that the situation existed before his last start.

"I don't know that I'm aware of it," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said of the golf report during his weekly appearance on WEEI's Big Show today. "I'm aware of the story being out there... No, I haven't gotten to Josh about that yet and I'm trying to sort out my feelings. Golf is as much a part of the pitching culture as a curve ball, I know that for sure.

Valentine stressed that Beckett wasn't shut down with an injury after his last start.

"When we decided for Josh not to make his start, it wasn't because he was injured," Valentine said. "It was a precautionary situation because his his lat was a little tight,"

Valentine said he needed to get specifics before he could comment on the situation.

"Again, I don't know the specifics of the situation," Valentine said. "I don't know if he was out at a charity match, just putting, or if he was whaling away and felt that might have loosened things up. I have no idea what the situation actually is, so it's hard for me to comment on it. ... If that was the case [that he played golf, drove the ball], I would say that was less than the best thing to do on that day off."

Beckett addressed the situation that had the Red Sox recommending he skip a start last week.

"It's kind of been there for about a week, kind of leading into my last start," Beckett said. "On your start day, you can always make yourself believe that things are better than they are. I really wanted to pitch. I just ended up making things worse."

Beckett is scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park.

"He threw (Monday) and said he felt fine and was ready to go," Valentine said earlier this week in Kansas City, where the Sox are taking on the Royals.

The Globe will attempt to speak with Beckett and Valentine later this afternoon in Kansas City. Check our Extra Bases blog for updates.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

The Orlando Magic want Dwight Howard to be a part of their long-term plans, but if Howard does not sign an extension this offseason, the team is willing to explore other options.

Magic CEO Alex Martins told News 13 (Orlando) sports reporter David Baumann that the team would like to keep Howard.

"Our No. 1 goal is to get him to sign an extension, so we don't go through a season like we did last year," said Martins.

There was major drama surrounding the Magic last season, with Howard demanding to be traded, then backing off those comments, then asking to be traded again, and then signing a paper waiving his right to opt out this summer. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters that Howard went to the media and asked for Van Gundy to be fired.

The Magic have Howard under their control for one more season, but if Howard does not sign, "necessary decisions will be made," said Martins. Those decisions could include letting Van Gundy go or moving Howard to another team.