Lackey Is Lacking

I was surprised when the Red Sox signed John Lackey during the off-season. After all, the team’s weakness last year was their lack of power in the lineup. Plus, this is the same pitcher that hated playing at Fenway and had the numbers to prove it. I didn’t understand the move at first, but as the days went by I started getting excited. The Red Sox had three pitchers who could each be a potential number one starter on any staff in the league. To top that off, Lackey was coming off a good season and a respectable post-season performance in 2009. It looked like the signing of Lackey was a good move after all; however, looks can be deceiving.

Photo by Angela Rowlings

Lackey has been lacking in everything this year. In his last three starts Lackey has a 5.19 ERA, he has walked more batters (11) than he has struck out (8), and his opponents had a .338 batting average against him. And these numbers are nothing compared to his overall numbers this season. Lackey leads the team in walks with 32 and both left-handed and right-handed hitters are hitting .300 off the $85 million dollar man. His struggles at Fenway haven’t changed either, where Lackey’s ERA is a whopping 5.60 ERA. When the team’s on the road, Lackey’s ERA is 4.22, and with runners in scoring position batters are hitting .260 against him.

I have more ugly numbers I could throw at you, but I think you get the point. Lackey is having a poor season so far for the Red Sox. What’s the issue? Well, like most pitchers he doesn’t mix his pitches and his location is off. Lackey has a good curveball, but throwing it over and over again doesn’t confuse a hitter. Francona and Lackey’s battery mate Victor Martinez might talk about what a competitor Lackey is, but being competitive doesn’t cover up the ugly numbers. The Red Sox might believe in Lackey, but my confidence in him is, well, lacking. With the A.L. East being as tough as it is, Lackey has to turn his season around if the Red Sox want to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Check out more of John’s mildly biased Red Sox commentary at The Lansdowne Lowdowne. Follow him on Twitter @lansdownelow