Strained muscle frustrates Beckett Casey preparing for role as backup

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Frustration, pain and disappointment were all over Josh Beckett’s face as he hosted a small group of reporters in front of his locker Monday morning.

Boston’s ace pitcher had just finished almost two hours of massage and manipulation in the City of Palms Park home team training room, but his slumped shoulders suggested he was still feeling the weight of Red Sox Nation, and his own expectations, after injuring his back in pregame warmups Saturday.

“It’s a frustrating day because yesterday was good and today was horse[bleep],” Beckett said. “I’ve had an MRI and we’ve done all the tests.

“It’s my lower back. There’s nothing wrong with my discs. It’s a strained muscle, pulled muscle, or whatever you want to call it.”

For now, the only treatments the Cy Young candidate is getting include ice, massage, aspirin and rest.

“I’ve had six or seven ice packs on it all day. It’s pretty tough,” said Beckett, who slipped on the mound during his final warmup pitches Saturday and suffered immediate back spasms. He left the game before throwing the first pitch.

“The night before, I was a lot more optimistic yesterday than I am today, but a lot of that has to do with me being in a [bad] mood after not getting much sleep last night,” said Beckett, who went 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA to finish as the Cy Young Award runner-up last season.

“I’ve never had an injury like this,” the 27-year-old righthander said. “I can’t even really lay in one position too long, sit in one position too long or stand in one position too long. I’ve gotta keep moving.”

Beckett said he’s not getting any kind of shot for the pain, at least for the time being, and surgery hasn’t been discussed.

“I kicked some of those ideas around, but basically they told me it would be iffy finding a spot to put the shot in. We’re just going day to day,” he said. “I pretty much have an interview with two or three doctors every day and report to the manager, pitching coach and trainer.”

Casey at the bat for Boston

For three-time National League All-Star Sean Casey, it’s not just a new team this spring, it’s a new role.

The 33-year-old first baseman averaged 15.7 home runs per season in seven seasons with Cincinnati (1998-2004), but even after finishing 2006 with a flourish for the Detroit Tigers, a subpar 2007 saw fewer takers for his services this past winter.

“At this stage of my career, to be on a team like this and be part of this group of guys and what this organization is doing, this is where I wanted to be,” Casey said. “It’ll be a new role and I think I’ll just have to figure out what my routine is and how to fit into this role.”

His role figures to be backup as no one is expected to displace starter Kevin Youkilis at first or the American League’s pre-eminent clutch and designated hitter David Ortiz. Ortiz’s locker is just two away from Casey’s down in the back corner of the locker room – also “home” to Mike Lowell, Manny Ramirez, Alex Cora and Doug Mirabelli.

“I’m with the big dogs down here,” Casey said with a smile. “It’s a good bunch of guys and they’ve made me feel so comfortable and welcome, and that makes it a lot easier for the new guy.

“There aren’t a lot of egos in here. There are a lot of great players but not a lot of egos, which ultimately leads to their success. The veterans in here are not only great players but great people.”

Casey, a lifetime .301 hitter who hit .296 with four homers and 54 RBIs in 143 games with Detroit last season, has gotten off to a great start this spring by batting .455 with one RBI in his first 11 at-bats. He’s spending the spring trying to get himself in game shape and mentally ready to fill a backup and/or pinch-hitting role.

“I’m looking forward to it. I got some experience as to what that’s like because I shared time with Carlos Guillen toward the end of last season,” said the Willingboro, N.J., native. “I think you’re going to see everything I have every time I get out there. That’s the only way I know how to play.”

Rising sun casts shadow on Sox

The trip to Japan to open the season against the Oakland Athletics March 25 and 26 is causing all kinds of wrinkles for the Red Sox this spring.

“It doesn’t make it easier, the fact we’re leaving in 12 or 13 days,” Sox manager Terry Francona said Friday. “We say we’re not going to make excuses this spring about winning and losing, but it’s there on making decisions. You can’t get around it.

“There are going to be kids we have to look at and say ‘Sorry, we have to do this now’ and it’s not altogether fair.”

And then there’s the trip itself, which will start with an 18-hour airplane flight from Fort Myers to Japan.

“It’s 19 days, one day longer than spring training,” Francona said, correcting a sportswriter asking about what he thought was a 16-day trip. “Obviously, I’ve thought about it a little bit. I know I’m going to need my third pair of pants.”

Francona can joke about it, but he’s clearly not happy about the logistical nuances of the goodwill trip organized by Major League Baseball.

“You know what? We go where they send us and try to play the best baseball we can,” he said. “What are you going to do? There’s no way to make that trip faster.

“We’ll get on the flight and instead of bitching about it, we’ll organize a cribbage tournament. That way, we’ll have 12 guys involved in something, I’ll make some money. That’s how we do things.”

The fifth-year Red Sox manager has made it a point not to make the trip as much of a focal point as it could be. He credits his team’s veteran presence and leadership for much of that.

“It’s too easy to bitch about something we shouldn’t be bitching about and our guys thankfully don’t,” he said.

Tough ticket

Saturday’s home game against the Florida Marlins drew 7,855 fans to City of Palms Park, making it a 68th consecutive sellout for a Grapefruit League game at the stadium. The sellout streak began March 16, 2003.

No solid food for Crisp

Spring training has been tough enough already for Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, who is locked in a tight competition with rookie Jacoby Ellsbury for the starting position.

The fact Crisp has had only four at-bats through the first 12 games this spring due to tightness in both groin muscles has been particularly frustrating for the speedy Crisp.

The news didn’t get any better for him last week.

“Coco’s having a root canal today, so he’s having a great week going so far,” Boston manager Terry Francona said with a sheepish grin Friday.

As far as Crisp’s inability to play with all the setbacks besetting him, Francona remained upbeat but realistic about how much his absence will affect the competition.

“It’s not an issue, but the point’s well taken,” he said. “It’s hard when a guy’s in the dentist’s chair or laid up. That makes it tough for them.”

aneff@bangordailynews.net

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