John Lackey News

"The Yankees had a 3-1 lead and runners on second and third with one out in the seventh inning Saturday when Angels Manager Mike Scioscia came to the mound for a chat with John Lackey. "He wanted to look me in the eyes to see if I was ready to go," Lackey said. "When a manager leaves you in the game in a tough situation like that, it gives you confidence. You want to make him look good." Lackey did just that, getting Bobby Abreu to ground to second baseman Howie Kendrick, who threw out Melky Cabrera at home, and striking out Alex Rodriguez to end the inning. Rodriguez and Jason Giambi had homered off Lackey in the sixth. The Angels tied the score in the bottom of the seventh and won it with ..."

"Marathoners have 'the wall.' Pitchers have the 'dead-arm' phase. "I think most guys go through it," Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said. "Even position players. ... Even coaches. Some times it lasts six or nine months for us. "Basically, your velocity is going to be there. It might be off a tick or two but your command isn't as good. It's a feel thing and that feel just isn't there. Your arm kind of feels like a wet noodle. ... You just kind of grind it out. Most guys have an idea when they're going to get it." John Lackey has an idea - now. "It usually happens for me around the 100-inning mark," Lackey said. "It's just my 100 innings happened a little later than usual." Since spending ..."

"Ah, mortality. It calls to us all. Neither the young, nor the superstars, are invulnerable forever. Guess bullets had bounced off John Lackey's chest only so long. There are only so many tall buildings, and cleanup hitters, to leap in a single bound. Lackey had been sort of otherworldly unbelievable anyway, looking more like he'd just come in from Krypton rather than the disabled list. He spent the first six weeks of the season out with a strained triceps, and the next six weeks making hitters look feeble. Making it look easy."

"Don't go hoisting any pennants or organizing any parades just yet, but the Angels' six-week-long offensive drought may be nearing an end.Either that or the New York Mets' pitching is really bad -- which is a distinct possibility since the team fired its manager and pitching coach before Tuesday's game.But no matter who gets the credit -- or blame -- the fact remains that with Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Mets and Johan Santana, the Angels have suddenly scored at least six runs in consecutive games for the first time since May 1."