Suspended for six games.

And Red was loving it yesterday:

... That guy we saw in last year's ALCS? Apparently wedgied to death and stuffed in a clubhouse hamper. The guy on the mound yesterday was the real deal, besting Small Game James, striking out 10 and giving up a mere two hits en route to his first opening day win in a Boston uniform. It was a performance he'd no doubt been dreaming of since last October, and it was staggeringly beautiful, executed with precision and passion and at least one F-bomb as he stormed off the mound after the top of the sixth. ...

The Herald reports.

We went down to New York for a family gathering this weekend. With some time to kill, I walked through Times Square and was quite heartened to see a four-story tall billboard (advertising TBS's post-season coverage) featuring Josh Beckett (and some Mets guy) lording it over the Square. Still it was kind of surprising to see - it even managed to divert my attention from the five-story billboard right next to it highlighting Jenna Jameson's assets.

I also saw one guy walking up Seventh Avenue wearing a David Ortiz jersey.

Red explains - has to do with a time machine and Julio Lugo.

Some alternate explanations.

With sports reporters now providing hourly updates on Josh Beckett's back and overall mood, Kristen and Amy have put together a color-coded Josh Beckett Mood-o-Meter.

Peter frets.

The Onion reports:

Terry Francona Announces Josh Beckett Will Start Games 1, 4, 7, 2, 6, 3, 5

Also, the paper of record adds:

Chaos and destruction marred the opening of the World Series when Air Force B-52 bombers scheduled to make a ceremonial flight over the stadium before the start of Game 1 instead executed a series of low-level carpet-bombing runs and dropped an estimated 500 tons of incendiary and high-explosive munitions, utterly destroying Boston's historic Fenway Park. ...

Props to Youk and Big Papi, of course, but, oooh, that Beckett!

Papel-blog: Can Josh Beckett just pitch all the games? I hear he likes pitching on short rest.

Jeff Louderbeck: Post-season still agrees with Josh Beckett.

Teddy Kokoros: Beckett was amazing tonight:

As for the Sox batters, it was a good night, but they left a few too many runners on base for my liking. In their defense, some of those called strike 3 calls especially to Youk and Manny where bullshit. ...

Beth: Josh Beckett has succeeded in momentarily rendering me speechless:

... One of the things I've been most relishing when I've looked forward to this postseason is the chance to see the kind of f-bombing, fist-pumping freakout awesomeness I could only imagine would come along with October Josh. Instead, he actually looked like he was reining himself in a little. Which is a scary thought when you think about the wicked heat he was unleashing on the Angels all night long. ...

Kristen: Josh Beckett would like you to know that those 20 games were no fluke:

That was, without a doubt, the most mellow, least stressful playoff game I've ever witnessed. ...

Jere: That game went just like I hoped and thought it would. How often can you say that?

Game photos.

Ben Ostrander seems to have had enough of Dane Cook:

As I watch the first game of the ALDS, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Dane Cook for reminding me that there is only one October. Thank you, Dane Cook.

Way more Sox comments.

Sox Nest: Now THAT'S what we’re talking about!

Red Sox Chick: THIS is how the game should be played!

Red Sox Soul: Beckett's the ace.

Zach Hayes: The response of Josh Beckett following one of the biggest collapsing, stunning losses of the season cannot be underestimated.

Amy: How much do I hate Fox sports?

Wayne Braverman: If the Sox can win on Sunday night, then the race for the Eastern Division championship will pretty much be over.

More reaction.