Updated: May 10, 2012, 5:31 PM ET
By Gordon Edes | ESPNBoston.comBOSTON -- Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz said Thursday he didn't understand why people were making such a fuss over Josh Beckett playing golf a day after it was announced he would be scratched from a start because of a sort lat muscle.
"I don't think it was a big deal at all," said Buchholz, who golfed with Beckett last Thursday, an off day for the team. "People feel differently than I do, I guess.
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"Just like last year, the whole beer and chicken thing wouldn't have been a story if we would have won and went to playoffs. There's always got to be something to talk about."
Buchholz was referring to reports that surfaced at the end of last season that the starting pitchers -- including he and Beckett -- occasionally would drink beer and eat fried chicken in the clubhouse during games.
Beckett is starting Thursday night against the Indians at Fenway and traditionally does not talk to reporters before the games he pitches.
Buchholz, though, came to his rotation-mate's defense, saying Beckett would not have golfed if he thought it would hurt the team. He called Beckett a "professional" and added "he's not going to do anything to make him not be ready to do his job."
"That was an off day," Buchholz said. "I believe an off day is a day guys can get away from the field. (There are) only a couple of 'em throughout the season."
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