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John Lackey News & Rumors

Could Sabathia be lured to Red Sox? Lackey injury creates a need for Boston
October 27
New York Daily News
 
"While they would never admit it, you have to think the Yankees got a shiver when they heard Tuesday that Boston's John Lackey will miss all of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery, news that could make the winter as sticky as a humid summer for the Yankees. After all, increasing the Red Sox's need for pitching does not dovetail well with the Yankees' desire to improve their own rotation, especially in what is a limited free-agent market. The Yankees certainly don't want another deep-pocketed competitor bidding for scarce talent."
John Lackey to have Tommy John surgery
October 26
Boston Globe
 
"New Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said today that pitcher John Lackey will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2012 season. Lackey had elbow soreness during the season, and recently saw a specialist, Dr. Lewis Yocum. "John Lackey will go ahead and have Tommy John surgery," Cherington said during the news conference at which he was introduced as the successor to Theo Epstein, who has left to become president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs."
Lackey injury blessing in disguise
October 26
Boston Herald
 columnist John Tomase
"If the Red Sox fall apart in 2012, fans won't have one of their favorite targets to blame. New general manager Ben Cherington dropped a bombshell during his introductory press conference yesterday, disclosing that right-hander John Lackey will undergo Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow and probably miss the season. No one ever wants to see a player hurt or cut open, but this could be a win-win for all involved."
Most loved teammate: Yup, John Lackey
October 21
Boston Herald
 columnist John Tomase
"A few random Red Sox observations as we await the transition from Theo Epstein to Ben Cherington, which will signal the actual start of the offseason: • Here's one that will come as a shock to Red Sox fans. If you were to poll the clubhouse over who's the best teammate among beleaguered starting pitchers Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey, the runaway winner would be .?.?. Lackey? Yup, Lackey. The guy may be prickly with the media, and he may appear to show up his teammates every time he throws his arms up in disgust at a missed play in the field. But to a man, Sox players swear by him."
Lackey sends, gets message
September 26
Boston Herald
 
"Given the circumstances, it was arguably the best start of the season for John Lackey. But he had no interest in discussing it. After Jacoby Ellsbury's three-run homer gave the Red Sox a had-to-have-it, 7-4, 14-inning victory in the finale of a doubleheader last night at Yankee Stadium, Lackey snapped at a team official, then lashed out at the media for an off-field incident that occurred before the game. "Let me tell you the truth," Lackey said after being asked a question about his performance, "Thirty minutes before the game, I got a text message on my cellphone from somebody in the media talking about personal stuff. I shouldn't even be standing here having to deal with this. I'm"
New ailments for Youk, Bedard, Lackey
September 10
Boston Herald
 
"The Red Sox [team stats]' injury list continues to pile up. Yesterday, both Kevin Youkilis [stats] and Erik Bedard were in Boston receiving treatment on their new injuries, and then John Lackey was knocked out of his start early last night. Youkilis received an injection to alleviate discomfort from a case of bursitis he is experiencing in his left hip, a problem that flared up in Thursday night's series finale in Toronto. Depending on how Youkilis responds to the shot, he could wind up flying here before first pitch tonight if he and the Sox feel he could help the team, even if that's in a pinch-hitting role. Bedard was expected back here late last night, after he was examined for a"
Tough sixth inning dooms this Lackey mission
September 5
Boston Globe
 
"John Lackey hasn't justified his $82.5 million contract, a mission that probably never will be accomplished. But for seven weeks this summer, his pitching helped stabilize the Red Sox rotation. The righthander had won seven games, compiling a 4.11 ERA, just slightly above the league average. Lackey had even heard cheers from the fans at Fenway Park who wanted him run out of town in the spring. That ended yesterday against the Texas Rangers. Lackey couldn't get an out in the sixth inning as the Red Sox were slammed, 11-4. He gave up six runs on eight hits with three walks and a strikeout. Lackey also hit a batter, giving him 18 on the season. He leads the majors in that category and is two"
Lackey, Red Sox insist they weren't throwing at Francisco Cervelli, but didn't mind hitting him
August 31
New York Daily News
 
"The Red Sox insist they were not trying to hit Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli with the first pitch of the seventh inning, a play that brought both teams out of their dugouts and bullpens. But after the way he celebrated his fifth-inning home run, they weren't all that disappointed it happened. Cervelli took Boston starter John Lackey over the Green Monster in the fifth inning, and after stepping on home plate at the end of his trot, emphatically clapped his hands right in front of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Lackey didn't like it, but with the score so close he wasn't trying to drill Cervelli in the back as retaliation with the next pitch he threw to him. It's believable because"
Erik Bedard, John Lackey bolstering Sox rotation
August 29
Boston Herald
 
"From a distance, Texas Rangers infielder Michael Young had a two-word reaction last month when he heard the Red Sox [team stats] traded for left-hander Erik Bedard. Great move. Everyone knows solid pitching is paramount to a long postseason run, and the way Young sees it, the trade-deadline addition of Bedard and John Lackey's improved health have made the Red Sox stronger in the middle of a rotation fronted by the lefty-righty punch of Jon Lester [stats] and Josh Beckett [stats]. Young is somewhat of an expert, too. During a 12-year career spent entirely in Texas, he hasn't faced any pitcher more often than Lackey (98 plate appearances), a longtime member of the Los Angeles Angels. And"
John Lackey finding playoff form
August 24
Boston Herald
 columnist John Tomase
"Ladies and gentlemen, your Game 3 starter — John Lackey. Words that once sounded borderline vomitous are becoming mildly palatable. Lackey may never be the guy the Red Sox [team stats] thought they were getting when they signed him to an $82.5 million free agent contract two winters ago. But neither is he the hopeless mess he was for most of the first half of this season when he literally owned the worst ERA of any full-time starter in the big leagues. Last night provided the latest glimpse into his relative resurgence during an 11-5 victory over the Rangers in Lackey's personal house of horrors. He wasn't great, but he was more than good enough. He protected a lead, limited the damage,"
Red Sox have Lackey's back
August 16
Boston Globe
 
"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.''"
Red Sox, Lackey grind out a victory
August 13
Boston Globe
 
"Terry Francona said that for the first few innings tonight, it looked the Red Sox were still enjoying their day off. Seattle took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and led 4-2 after four innings. But despite a lineup that had to be changed when Kevin Youkilis and Marco Scutaro were scratched with stiff backs, the Sox scored the final four runs and came away with a 6-4 victory. Mike Aviles, who replaced Scutaro, had a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Jed Lowrie, subbing for Youkilis, homered in the fifth. "Just because you're coming off the bench doesn't mean you're not a winning player," Lowrie said. "The expectations are still there. We all know that." Josh Reddick had the big hit, a"
Lackey is shipshape for Seattle
August 13
Boston Globe
 
"The Red Sox will send one of their hottest starters to the mound against the Mariners tonight. Believe it or not, it's John Lackey. The righthander is 5-0 with a 3.58 ERA in his last six starts and is facing a team he historically has pitched well against. Lackey is 14-10 with a 3.53 ERA in 29 starts against the Mariners and this season has held them to three earned runs in 13 innings. As the Sox move closer to the postseason, Lackey and Erik Bedard may be competing to see who starts Game 3 of the first series after Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. Bedard has made two starts since being acquired from Seattle July 31, giving up five earned runs in 10 innings. Along with how they pitch over the"
Finally, John Lackey proving his worth
August 12
Boston Herald
 
"There's been no fanfare at all, but John Lackey has emerged as a force for the Red Sox. Just in time, too. The Red Sox are such obvious locks to make the playoffs, the focus on them is beginning to soften. The air conditioning does not need to be on all the time, the Patriots are getting started, the Celtics and Bruins can't be far behind — and the Red Sox seem to be on pause. They're staying out of the news, playing out the schedule, keeping things nice and easy until the playoffs start. But you'd miss a remarkable turn of events if you took your eyes off the Red Sox right now — especially tonight. You'd miss a Lackey start — an event that, for a big change, deserves everyone's attention"
Lackey met his 'mismatch'
August 7
Boston Globe
 
"Red Sox fans probably have found it easy to forget that John Lackey once won the deciding game of a World Series, made the All-Star Game, and led the American League in earned run average. Some of the games he pitched earlier this season may not indicate it, but the Sox did not sign him to a lucrative free agent contract on a whim. So while many may have viewed yesterday's game pitting Lackey against Yankees ace CC Sabathia as a mismatch, he certainly did not. "I've won some pretty big games,'' Lackey said. The righthander proved his point, going six effective innings in a 10-4 victory. Lackey (10-8) allowed three runs on six hits, keeping the Yankees down enough for the Red Sox to go to"
John Lackey comes through
August 7
Boston Herald
 
"Give John Lackey all the due in the world for the way he pitched yesterday at Fenway Park. With every sign pointing in favor of the Yankees and CC Sabathia, Lackey delivered the type of start that was good enough to make his many doubters admit they were wrong. Lackey came up big, and even though he could have delivered a stronger message for the disbelievers, he took the high road. "I've been around for a while. I've won a few big games in my life," said Lackey, who understood as well as anyone how high the stakes were before yesterday's 10-4 trouncing of the Yankees evened this weekend series. Lackey allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. And while he fell prey like virtually any"
Despite ups and down, Red Sox pitcher John Lackey gets key double play when needed vs Yankees
August 7
New York Daily News
 
"In the middle of Saturday's game, the Yankees and Red Sox seemed headed for one of their marathon slugfests in which liners thwack off the Green Monster all afternoon and runners sprint around the Fenway bases. Turns out, only the Red Sox got to double digits in runs in their 10-4 victory. The Yanks had their opportunities, big ones, in the fourth and fifth innings, but could not take full advantage. In fact, failing with their 3-4-5 hitters due up and runners on first and second in the fifth was the game's turning point, according to Joe Girardi . "We had a chance to get back in the game and we didn't," the manager said. Going into the fourth inning, the Yankees trailed, 2-0, but"
Mistakes cost John Lackey
August 2
Boston Herald
 
"John Lackey came out of the gate last night and pitched like an ace for three innings. But by the time he walked off the mound in the middle of the seventh, he had reverted back to the same old Lackey who too often has given up too many hits and too many runs. The turnaround was as abrupt as it was frustrating. "I felt really strong. I started off well, my arm felt good, locating well, really established 'in' well on some left-handers," said Lackey, who wound up giving up five runs on eight hits in the Red Sox' 9-6 loss to the Indians. "Then I made a couple of mistakes later on that cost me. I felt like I had better stuff and felt better than to give up that many runs, for sure." Lackey"
Sox offense takes burden off Lackey
July 28
Boston Globe
 
"John Lackey doesn't mind sitting on the bench - not when he's watching the Red Sox' explosive offense go to work on his behalf. Some of the Sox' half-innings have lasted quite a while. Last night, Royals lefthander Bruce Chen threw 34 pitches in the bottom of the first, 33 in the second, and 35 in the fourth. Long at-bats, lots of hits, plenty of visits by coaches - it all adds up, and it's all good for the Red Sox. "I don't think anybody will complain about hanging around watching guys score runs,'' Lackey said with a laugh. "We've got some guys that can really swing. It's fun to watch for sure."
Red Sox get even with Rays
July 17
Boston Globe
 
"John Lackey is guilty of not having pitched well for much of the season. But you can't accuse him of not caring. The righthander was as emotional as a linebacker during his start against the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday, flinging his arms in the air in disgust when his defense failed him and reacting angrily when manager Terry Francona removed him from the game in the sixth inning. But Lackey made no apologies. For him, every start is worth fighting for."
Lackey 'O' so good
July 10
Boston Herald
 
"By every conceivable measure, from his unsightly ERA to the decibel level of the boos he often hears at Fenway Park, John Lackey has had a miserable first half of the season. Surely, one last start before the All-Star break wouldn't erase that. But what Lackey accomplished last night, with 62/3 scoreless innings in the Red Sox' 4-0 victory against the last-place Orioles, can't be overstated either. For the second time in three starts, the beleaguered right-hander was superb, restoring some confidence that he still can be an effective member of a rotation that needs him more than ever. "He's had it rough, definitely a rough year," catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said after the Sox won their"
Powerless to impeach
July 5
Boston Herald
 
"If you're a Democrat, recall the feeling of emptiness when George W. Bush somehow won a second term in 2004. If you're a Republican, transport yourself back to that bleak day in 2008 when Barack Obama defeated John McCain. Now stand united, because no matter your political persuasion, your operative phrase of despair applies to Red Sox starter John Lackey: Four more long years. The free agent signing that seemed like a good idea in the winter of 2009 now looks like an unmitigated disaster. Lackey's latest meltdown came yesterday against the Blue Jays, who rocked him for nine hits and seven runs in just 21/3 innings of a 9-7 defeat. He fell to 5-8, while his ERA climbed to 7.47. That's the"
Righty's effort a good sign
June 30
Boston Herald
 
"Seeking an explanation for John Lackey's nightmarish season? Try this: He hasn't been healthy. By now, it's well-known that the Red Sox right-hander received a cortisone shot last month to soothe his strained elbow, then spent the next three weeks on the disabled list. But because he lugged a 7.36 ERA, worst among all pitchers in the majors with at least 50 innings, into last night's start against the Phillies, it was worth wondering if his elbow remains a problem. "I don't know," Lackey said. "What'd it look like?" Just fine, that's what. Lackey allowed a leadoff homer to longtime nemesis Raul Ibanez in the seventh inning and absorbed a hard-luck 2-1 loss due primarily to the Sox'"
Lackey has tenuous grip
June 23
Boston Globe
 
"What a rough season for John Lackey. When it looks as if it is getting better — with three straight wins after coming off the disabled list June 5, including an eight-inning effort against Milwaukee last weekend — he comes up with a stinker yesterday. All we can go by are the results on the field and the way he explains them."
John Lackey left at a loss to explain poor start
June 23
Boston Herald
 
"Red Sox starter John Lackey did not get the run support he's grown dependent on. Lackey entered yesterday's interleague series finale against the San Diego Padres riding a three-game win streak, during which the Red Sox outscored the opposition 32-11 overall and 28-10 at the time the right-hander exited the game. The combination of four rain delays, Lackey's wildness and a rare stellar start by San Diego southpaw Clayton Richard led to a weather-shortened 5-1 setback at Fenway Park. The game was called in the eighth inning. Lackey dropped to 5-6 in 11 starts while his ERA rose to 7.36. In 31/3 innings he allowed five runs on four hits with four strikeouts, four walks, two hit batters and a"
John Lackey, Red Sox all wet
June 23
Boston Herald
 
"Manager Terry Francona was talking about the weather yesterday when he said, "it got sloppy" and "it finally just got to the point where it was getting out of control." He could just as easily have been talking about John Lackey's start, which pointed out for the second consecutive day that the back end of a rotation can look pretty bad, even on a very good baseball team. Lackey delivered the second decisively bad start in a row for the Red Sox, bringing into sharp focus the startling fact that they lost two out of three games at home to the last-place San Diego Padres. The way-too-wet weather — there were four rain delays totaling 2:24, almost as long as the actual 2:49 time of game —"
Breaking out a new strategy
June 12
Boston Globe
 
"Since joining the Red Sox last year, John Lackey was 1-3 with a 9.40 earned run average in five starts against the Blue Jays. In his first start against the Jays this season, May 11, he allowed nine runs over 6 2/3 innings and went on the disabled list five days later. He returned to the Rogers Centre mound yesterday armed with some new ideas about how to pitch to the Toronto hitters. After watching video of his previous starts, Lackey noticed he had fallen into predictable patterns with how he sequenced pitches."
Something to build on
June 12
Boston Herald
 
"John Lackey still feels as if he is building arm strength. If that is the case, then giving up four runs in six innings was a building block for better things to come. On a day when his offense gave him breathing room the size of Michael Phelps' lungs in a 16-4 Red Sox victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Lackey (4-5) could look on the bright side after posting back-to-back wins for the first time this season. "I felt good, I felt like it was a step forward," Lackey said. "I'm still building arm strength. Guys swung the bats pretty good, made it pretty easy on me." The last time Lackey pitched at Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays, on May 11, he wound up on the disabled list afterward. The"
Lackey return good stuff
June 6
Boston Globe
 
"The crowd of 37,796 at Fenway Park stood and cheered when John Lackey walked off the mound in the sixth inning yesterday afternoon, having pitched effectively against the Athletics in his return from the disabled list. Lackey kept his head down as he approached the dugout, not acknowledging the tribute with a wave or tip of his cap. After the Red Sox finished off a three-game sweep with a 6-3 victory, Lackey was told that he hadn't heard cheers like that very often at Fenway."
Effort by John Lackey earns 'A'
June 6
Boston Herald
 
"As John Lackey walked off the mound yesterday, having thrown 93 pitches through 52/3 innings against the Oakland Athletics, he received a standing ovation. Fans at Fenway Park haven't always been so kind. "That might be an understatement," Lackey said. This time, though, they appreciated the big right-hander's return from the disabled list. In his first start since May 11, Lackey got credit for his first win since April 24 in a 6-3 Red Sox victory that completed a three-game sweep of the A's. "Really professional game," manager Terry Francona said of the performance by Lackey, who yielded three runs on three hits, walked two batters and hit two others. "I thought he had some depth on his"
Lackey has solid rehab outing
June 1
Boston Globe
 
"If John Lackey could pitch against American League batters as effectively as he pitched last night against the International League's Norfolk Tides, one major concern about Boston's starting rotation would be left in the rear-view mirror. Lackey went on the disabled list May 12 with a right elbow strain soon after he was lit up by Toronto for nine earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. But in last night's rehab start for Pawtucket, he rendered Norfolk's bats as useless as toothpicks. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed one run on three hits with zero walks and four strikeouts as the PawSox beat Norfolk, 5-4, in 11 innings. Lackey threw 46 of 63 pitches for strikes and topped out at 94 miles per hour on"
Work in pen a start for Lackey
May 25
Boston Globe
 
"John Lackey threw 40 pitches in the bullpen at Progressive Field yesterday, starting a process the Red Sox hope to will lead to his coming off the disabled list June 5. Lackey will throw another side session Friday, then four innings in a minor league rehabilitation game Tuesday. A start against the Athletics at Fenway Park would follow. The righthander has not pitched in a game since May 11 because of a strained elbow."
Returns good on Lackey
May 25
Boston Herald
 
"The Red Sox have been looking for good news on the John Lackey front for most of the season, especially since he went on the disabled list nine days ago. Yesterday they found some. Lackey threw 40 fastballs in a side session that left both him and the club optimistic he has put the right elbow strain behind him. After a four-inning rehab start in the minors next Tuesday, Lackey is penciled in to be activated to start Sunday, June 5 against the Oakland A's at Fenway. "I was happy with the way I was finishing stuff. I didn't have to think about anything," Lackey said of his bullpen session before last night's 4-2 win. "I was able to let it go. I wasn't feeling the same kind of bite that I"
Lackey put on disabled list
May 17
Boston Globe
 
"Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke at length about John Lackey during his media briefing at 4 p.m. yesterday, discussing the changes to his mechanics made with pitching coach Curt Young and the productive bullpen session the righthander had in New York on Sunday. "I think Lack felt really good about himself after his side the other day,'' Francona said. "They've been working on some delivery things that all pitching coaches do. It's always a constant work in progress.'' A few minutes later, Lackey ventured into the rain and played catch with teammate Jon Lester."
John Lackey can't hide from issues
May 17
Boston Herald
 columnist Gerry Callahan
"He said last week everything in his life sucks, but he did not want to elaborate. We all just assumed he was talking about his personal life because he didn't have to tell us about his professional life. We could see for ourselves every five days. On the mound this season, John Lackey was a bigger mess than bin Laden's bedroom, and to say he sucked would be to sugarcoat things. When Lackey signed an $82.5 million deal with the Sox before last season, he was supposed to be one of the best pitchers in the American League. Instead he turned out to be the worst. Not one of the worst. Not among the worst. The worst, according to the numbers. George Carlin had a joke that went something like"
Lackey starts DL stint
May 17
Boston Herald
 
"Turns out, John Lackey won't make his next start after all. Lackey had been slated to pitch tonight against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Instead, the team announced moments before last night's game began that the embattled right-hander was bound for the disabled list with a strained right elbow. Tim Wakefield will start in Lackey's absence. Reliever Scott Atchison was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket and allowed one run in 12/3 innings during last night's 8-7 come-from-behind win. "There has been some tugging on that elbow," manager Terry Francona said of Lackey, who played catch before yesterday's game with fellow starter Jon Lester before a decision was made to shut him down."
Sounding out Lackey
May 14
Boston Globe
 
"The Red Sox met with righthander John Lackey yesterday, trying to determine how best to help him through the problems that have led to his poor start. Lackey is 2-5 with an 8.01 earned run average. He gave up 17 earned runs on 19 hits and eight walks over 10 2/3 innings in his last two starts. "Everything in my life [stinks] right now, to be honest with you,'' he said Wednesday after giving up nine runs against Toronto. That performance and his comments led to a meeting at Yankee Stadium that included general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona. Head athletic trainer Mike Reinold also participated. "We've talked to Lack. We try to talk to everybody. I do think some of the"
Problem area: Sox' Lackey rocked again
May 12
Boston Globe
 
"John Lackey had just suffered his third defeat in as many starts, allowing nine runs on nine hits and five walks, in last night's hideous 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays before a Rogers Centre crowd of 19,163. The postgame inquisition in front of his locker was drawing to a close when a clearly frustrated and agitated Lackey, who had dropped to 2-5 (8.01 ERA), concluded his terse remarks rather awkwardly, blurting, "Everything in my life [expletive] right now, to be honest with you.'' The statement hung in the air like the last of the 118 pitches he threw, an 82-mile-per-hour slider John McDonald smacked down the line in left for a two-run double. It was the crowning blow of Lackey's meltdown in"
John Lackey unable to deliver
May 12
Boston Herald
 
"The Red Sox needed two things from John Lackey last night: many innings and many quality innings. Lackey delivered the quantity but not the quality, and the Sox lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-3. The Sox' mounting frustration showed both on the field in the second loss in as many nights at Rogers Centre and in the clubhouse as they packed up for the trip to New York for a weekend series against the Yankees that opens up tomorrow night. Few teams could use today's day off as much as the 17-20 Red Sox. Lackey, who allowed eight runs in his previous start, allowed all nine runs this time around, with five coming in the seventh inning. The Blue Jays led 4-3 entering the home half of the"
Everything messed up for John Lackey
May 12
Boston Herald
 
"This is not an easy time to be John Lackey. Last night against the Blue Jays, he submitted his fourth horrible start in seven tries, allowing nine runs on nine hits in 62/3 innings. His ERA rose to 8.01 and his record dropped to 2-5. The first question of his postgame press conference was meant as an easy entree into the defeat: How did you feel about your performance? "Come on, man," he snapped. "Ask a damn question." It went downhill from there, with Lackey seemingly as frustrated as he's ever been in his Red Sox career. "Everything went wrong that could go wrong," he said. "It's pretty much the story of the whole damn year." That frustration again showed itself on the field, where"
No call for backup
May 1
Boston Globe
 
"If he could have, John Lackey probably would have loved the chance to go over to the bat rack in the Red Sox dugout, select a nice piece of lumber, and shove aside whoever was in the batter's box at the time to take a whack at it himself. Given the way he pitched in last night's 2-0 loss to the Mariners, Lackey was certainly owed the opportunity to hit after the Sox went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position against a trio of pitchers. "I'm not going to comment on all that,'' said Lackey, who dropped to 2-3 despite holding the Mariners to two runs on seven hits over six innings. He allowed four walks and struck out three while throwing 113 pitches, 63 for strikes."
Lackey helps Sox stay on a nice roll
April 25
Boston Globe
 
"As you would expect, Red Sox manager Terry Francona is an avid sports fan. He follows the Celtics closely, has a fantasy football team, and is conversant in college football and basketball. But when the Sox started the season with 10 losses in 12 games, Francona clicked his television over to The History Channel. Better to learn something about the ancient Greeks than be reminded of how historically bad his team was. Those days are over. The resurgent Red Sox completed a four-game sweep of the Angels yesterday with a 7-0 victory. It was their eighth victory in nine games."
Arms key to Sox' revival
April 25
Boston Herald
 
"Two weeks ago, when a rainout and a scheduled day off left the Red Sox idle for 48 hours, manager Terry Francona decided to skip John Lackey's turn in the rotation in order to avoid messing up the routines of the other four starting pitchers. To the big right-hander, though, Francona's good intentions mattered little. "It (ticked) me off," Lackey said yesterday. Lackey, a 10-year veteran, is intensely proud. As a rookie, he started and won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series, and his former manager, Mike Scioscia, often talks about the "imprint" he left after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Being leapfrogged in the rotation, regardless of the reason, felt like more than merely a"
Anderson silences Sox
April 20
Boston Globe
 
"The Red Sox received a sterling performance from their starting pitcher for the fourth game in a row last night. But their modest three-game win streak did not continue. John Lackey was good, but Brett Anderson was outstanding as the Athletics came away with a 5-0 victory that included some moments of controversy. Anderson (1-1) held the Sox to four hits over eight innings. The lefthander walked one and struck out eight. That more than negated a solid start by Lackey, who gave up one run over six innings but fell to 1-2."
John Lackey back after break
April 20
Boston Herald
 
"Three hours before the Red Sox faced the A's last night, starter John Lackey sat at his locker with what looked like murder in his eyes. Lackey was wearing his game face, and it turns out it wasn't for show. Though Lackey took the 5-0 loss, he by no means deserved it. The A's touched him for a soft run in the first on a leadoff single by Coco Crisp, a steal and two groundouts, then managed nothing until reliever Hideki Okajima went up in flames in the eighth. It was an encouraging performance by the most maligned Red Sox starter this side of Daisuke Matsuzaka. Lackey allowed four hits and one run in six innings, striking out three and walking one while lowering his ERA to 9.82. "Lackey"
Numbers are Lack-ing
April 15
Boston Herald
 
"If it's in your nature to look for Red Sox scapegoats after their horrific 2-9 start, then you've already settled on John Lackey and Carl Crawford. As for which of the two has the furthest to go before he can stop stressing out you and the team, it's no contest: Lackey's your guy. That's not to say Crawford is a lock to get out of his own private Idaho, but when you compare his performance at the plate this year to how he has produced in the past, the numbers point to a victim more of poor luck than poor execution. He will come around. With Lackey, it's impossible to speak with that kind of authority. The Red Sox' decision to skip the right-hander's turn — and not Daisuke Matsuzaka"
Lackey's turn will be skipped
April 14
Boston Globe
 
"Last night's rainout and today's scheduled day off gave the Red Sox a chance to reconfigure their starting rotation. The man overboard is John Lackey. Lackey, who was scheduled to start last night against the Rays, will not pitch until Tuesday in Oakland. That will give him 10 days between starts. Lackey is 1-1 with a 15.58 ERA in two starts. He has allowed 15 earned runs on 17 hits over only 8 2/3 innings. The righthander has walked four, struck out five, and given up three home runs."
Red Sox to skip on John Lackey
April 14
Boston Herald
 
"Curt Young became Oakland's pitching coach in 2004, two seasons after John Lackey broke in with the Los Angeles Angels. And for years, he had an up-close view as Lackey dominated Athletics hitters, particularly at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. Thus, with a chance to manipulate the Red Sox' starting rotation, Young figures the best way to get Lackey back on track is by matching him up with Oakland. Lackey had been scheduled to start last night at Fenway Park, but rain washed out the finale of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox are idle today, and rather than have the big right-hander start tomorrow night against the Toronto Blue Jays, they have decided to push"
A staff with lots of stuff — going on
April 10
Boston Globe
 
"It's alarming to watch Clay Buchholz get whacked around. That can't happen if the Red Sox are to get out of this 1-7 malaise to start the 2011 season. Because John Lackey, Josh Beckett, and Daisuke Matsuzaka have become the proverbial box of chocolates, it's imperative that Jon Lester and Buchholz give the Sox what they gave them last season — 36 wins or thereabouts."