When Josh Beckettt and Kenny Lofton had words in the fifth inning Thursday night, Beckett said the incident "goes back before today."

In fact, when Lofton was with the Phillies in 2005, he drew a walk from Beckett, who was pitching for the Marlins. Lofton flipped his bat after ball four. Beckett said something to Lofton then and, like Thursday night, the benches emptied.

On Thursday, when Lofton went 3-0 on Beckett and then flipped his bat on the fourth pitch (which was a strike), it apparently brought back the memory to Beckett.

Beckett has a temper. He also can be funny and foul. Usually athletes and managers clean their language when talking in front of cameras. Not Beckett. In the post-game interview, when someone asked Beckett if he was bothered that his ex-girlfriend, Danielle Peck, sang the National Anthem before the game, Beckett replied:

"I don't paid to make those (expletive) decisions. She's a friend of mine. That doesn't bother me at all. Thanks for flying one of my friends to the game so she could watch it for free."

For more on Beckett, his temper and the 2005 Lofton incident, see the New York Times story

E-mail this entry to a friend