"That John Lackey is waiting for him in the clubhouse every day to go outside and play catch still amazes Josh Beckett, even all these months later.

Because there were so many days he expected that wouldn't be the case.

"I tell the guy every day that he's my hero for sticking it out and being here,'' Beckett said. "Because you know what? I couldn't do it. I'd have been long gone.''"