By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Josh Beckett has been perhaps the biggest lightning rod for criticism on the Red Sox over the last two seasons, so when he chimes in on clubhouse matters, it's usually news. Beckett put a fairly positive spin on the team Tuesday during an appearance with WAAF's Hill Man Morning Show, attempting to squash the belief that the Sox clubhouse is dysfunctional.

"No, it’s the exact opposite," said Beckett. "There’s people who want it to be that way, and it’s not so it makes them mad when they come in there and we’re laughing and joking and having a good time. They want the perception to be something, and that’s what they’re going to write. There’s some very, very good media outlets here and there’s some very, very not good ones. The ones that are not good are the ones that want to perception to be what they want it to be no matter what, and that’s what they’re going to write."

Beckett didn't throw bouquets at everyone. He admitted that the media in Boston is persistent and that the pressure from the fans can be intense.

“There’s nothing you can do about it," said Beckett. "And that’s the way it’s been here for a long time. I talked to Jim Rice about it a few days ago. Jimmy was obviously not a fan of the media at all when he was here and had a lot of trouble with that and ended up to where he thinks it actually cost him a couple years on the ballot for the Hall of Fame. That’s just the way it is, that’s the way it’s always been here apparently. They talk about Ted Williams had problems with it when he was here.”

Beckett missed his scheduled start Sunday against the Twins and was pushed back to Wednesday night against Texas. He said the muscle spasms that caused him to miss a start won't prevent him from starting Wednesday.

On being a lightning rod for controversy, Beckett said, "I think for me, I’m just me. I don’t pay too much mind to when people have their opinions about it. I’m not going to change and I think sometimes that’s kind of what the media outlets want you to do here. They want you to be who they want you to be instead of just who you are. I’m just me, and I have a really good support group around me. As long as I don’t do anything to piss my wife off, I’ll be OK.”