Re: Lackey says he WILL pitch well this year!
posted at 2/7/2013 9:51 AM EST
In response to Beantowne's comment:
It's not Lackey's fault that the Red Sox threw a ton of dough at him, dispite his having a suspect elbow...an ailment that gave the Angels pause in offering him an new deal and one that compelled the Red Sox to insert an injury clause into his contract protecting themselves against his needing surgery. A clause that in hindsight proved profetic and one that will now allow the Red Sox to recoup his lost season of 2012...
Lost in all of the noise surronding the team and Lackey himself is the guy, dispite trying to pitch through pain with diminished stuff for the better part of two seasons. Which was confirmed when he finally succumbed to the pain and was shut down...The inevitable TJ /diagnosis/surgery. For the better part of two seasons he still took the ball every 5 days and gave it his all, but was clearly not the Lackey we thought we were gettin"for sure".
In the end one can probably question his motive for trying to pitch through the pain, likely he was trying to aviod triggering the injury clause but it also speaks to his being accountable. His detractors will look for every opportunity to bury the guy, while his supporters will gleen through the stats trying present a case for renewed support for him. Time will tell if he can indeed rediscover his stuff and return to the top of the rotation talent we thought we were getting...This much I know to be true, the guy wants to win and will in the interest of competition take the ball every 5 days and leave it on the field "for sure"...
Love em or hate em, if your a Red Sox fan you gotta in full throat support the guy. Because it's in the best interest of all parties that he pitches well. Those that hate him, if he pitches well and is healthy his value on the trade market would then allow the Sox to move him. If you love em, his return to form bodes well for the team in the near term...
All true, & well said. I'm certainly rooting for him to pitch well!!!! He's our bumb, & therefor I will pray he can do the unlikely, & pitch well from the get go.
I still have major reservations about his de facto leadership role as a "well liked and respected team member." I have long contended, since day one, that his personality is a drag on his teammates. I personally believe he drags guys toward apathy, based solely on reading between the lines. It seems clear to me that he had a profoundly negative effect on Beckett, Lester, & Buc, with respect to their mental game! If he comes out of the box, between the lines, ALL BUSINESS! All about redemption, & busting his tail to find his form! In great shape! I'm behind him 100%!!! No doubt I'll be behind him 100% no matter what, every time he takes the mound. I just pray he has done a little bit of soul searching with respect to his part in bringing down this pitching staff over the past 3 years!!!!
If he comes back s hitting the bed, no doubt I will rip him to sheds! Sorry!!! I don't have much patience with the guy at this point! Just get it done, & don't talk to me about finding your form & TRYING to hit your spots! Just get it done! No excuses! Any BS with respect to leading guys astray, dump him ASAP!
