"This place sure beats Philly for Josh Beckett.

When Beckett came back from a bad case of the flu to start in Philadelphia last Tuesday, the Phillies and Cliff Lee were on hand to give him both a rude welcome and a loss. This afternoon in Houston, Beckett will find himself in an entirely more welcoming environment.

Beckett, who grew up in nearby Spring, Texas, will have a suite full of family and friends to cheer for him. Besides a lingering cough and a froggy voice, Beckett is also feeling like his old self, the one who has been at the top of his game and most of the league's statistical categories for much of the season.

Before noon local time, he will likely learn that he will be pitching in the All-Star Game. An hour later, he will get to pitch against an Astros lineup that is one of the weakest in the majors. This could be a pretty good day.

"It's nice to just be able to be doing what I'm supposed to be doing instead of what I can do. If I can get rid of this cough, that's the only thing that's lingering right now," said Beckett. "It's nice to pitch in front of people, every once in a while. It's nice to have a full-on cheering section, too.""