John Lackey's Adjustments

[Cocos Disciples]

I posted this in the GT but it will get more views here.

 

I've been noticing that Lackey's delivery seems different since he got back from the DL. Thanks to MLB.tv I went back to the Home Opener and compared it to Friday night:

 

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk212/Krams706/Screenshot2011-06-22at22003PM.png

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk212/Krams706/Screenshot2011-06-22at22155PM1.png

 

Don't really know how to describe it, but it is visibly different. He is holding the ball lower, and his left leg is out a bit more. And it's helping.

 

[table]Time|IP|ERA|WHIP|K/9|H/9|BB/9|HR/9|STR%|BABIP

Pre-DL|39 1/3|8.01|1.81|4.35|12.13|4.12|1.14|59%|.331

Post-DL|19 2/3|5.03|1.07|6.86|7.77|1.83|.915|65%|.273

[/table]

 

Everything is clearly a lot better, especially the WHIP. However his BABIP went from too high to too low. I can't decide if I expect him to improve or not. Thoughts?

[Will617]

What was Lackey's injury? Was it something that would affect his delivery in some way?

His dip in BABIP is also possibly a result of different outcomes (i.e. fewer line drives), or better movement and location, or luck. .270 isn't a ridiculously low number, I think that it's possibly sustainable.

[Station 13]

His delivery is a lot simplier. He use to go in a long wind up with hands over his head. He shortens it now.

[RSF04]

Yeah I remember his delivery was more closed and explosive before than after he came off the DL. Personally I like the delivery he used before the DL but hey whatever floats his boat. It seems like the lower ball position and the outer leg kick seems to be helping.

[Dojji]

He needs to be adjusted to the National League. Get rid of him. He is a bust.

[a700hitter]

I have a good adjustment for this horsefaced piece of garbage. Cut off your right arm. He'll get paid and the Sox can collect on the insurance. Win Win!

[Dojji]

Waive Lakcey, call up Doubront. Now. Please.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Stop throwing meat right down the middle of the plate.

[SCM33]

Waive Lakcey' date=' call up Doubront. Now. Please.[/quote']

 

Hahahaha.

 

Not going to happen.

 

This is the Redsox's version of the Mike Hampton/Denny Neagle/Chan Ho Park/Darren Dreifort contracts. Hes here to stay....and Im afraid this will be even uglier in the next few years.

[BostonSouth]

Lackey's delivery problem is simple...he has his head so far up his ass that he can't even see home plate.....and, yes, guys are allowed to struggle, but watch his body language, he is the biggest whiner / complainer in baseball....if any fielder doesn't make a spectacular play behind him, he starts to pout.....someone need to push him down the dugout steps....quickly!

[iortiz]

It's not about mechanics anymore, you brought and made a huge contract to this guy in order to perform like a 1-3 starter(3-4 ERA), and now, he can't even deliver a decent 6 IPs game. He is on the edge to become a sub-par pitcher since he signed with Boston, he has a 4.96 ERA and growing (BOS 2Y so far) and a 7.3 ERA these days. Definitely, his mind is somewhere else, he can't take that spot anymore, they should send him to BP and take out pressure from him by now.

[SCM33]

It's not about mechanics anymore' date=' you brought and made a huge contract to this guy in order to perform like a 1-3 starter(3-4 ERA), and now, he can't even deliver a decent 6 IPs game. [b']He is on the edge to become a sub-par pitcher since he signed with Boston, he has a 4.96 ERA and growing (BOS 2Y so far) and a 7.3 ERA these days[/b]. Definitely, his mind is somewhere else, he can't take that spot anymore, they should send him to BP and take out pressure from him by now.

 

 

On the edge of becoming a sub-par pitcher? Wake up my friend, he was a disappointing at best last year. This year, train wreck.....hes already gone over the edge of sub-par, he sucks.

[Dojji]

Meh at least last year you could point to 15 years... but this year he's been totally wretched.

[SoxSport]

His problem is he has lost a ton off his fastball since his Angels days--and he is getting hit.

 

He needs to go to the Yankees, and get an injection of the serum they give to retread pitchers.

[iortiz]

On the edge of becoming a sub-par pitcher? Wake up my friend' date=' he was a disappointing at best last year. This year, train wreck.....hes already gone over the edge of sub-par, he sucks.[/quote']

 

hehehe, well, technically he is on the edge to become a sub-par pitcher considering only the accumulative since 2010 when he signed with Boston (4.96), and definitely he has been performing s***/horrendous/very poor/terrible/deplorable this year (7.36 ERA).

 

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6192/screenshot20110623at108.png

:harhar:

[jacksonianmarch]

I posted this in the GT but it will get more views here.

 

I've been noticing that Lackey's delivery seems different since he got back from the DL. Thanks to MLB.tv I went back to the Home Opener and compared it to Friday night:

 

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk212/Krams706/Screenshot2011-06-22at22003PM.png

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk212/Krams706/Screenshot2011-06-22at22155PM1.png

 

Don't really know how to describe it, but it is visibly different. He is holding the ball lower, and his left leg is out a bit more. And it's helping.

 

[table]Time|IP|ERA|WHIP|K/9|H/9|BB/9|HR/9|STR%|BABIP

Pre-DL|39 1/3|8.01|1.81|4.35|12.13|4.12|1.14|59%|.331

Post-DL|19 2/3|5.03|1.07|6.86|7.77|1.83|.915|65%|.273

[/table]

 

Everything is clearly a lot better, especially the WHIP. However his BABIP went from too high to too low. I can't decide if I expect him to improve or not. Thoughts?

 

That snapshot looks to have caught him at 2 different spots in his delivery. He looks almost exactly the same

[a700hitter]

A pitcher with a 7.36 ERA on June 23rd sucks. There's no way to analyze it that would allow you to come to a different conclusion. He needs to pitch like an All Star the rest of the way just avoid having an embarrassing season. He has zero shot of turning this around to be a respectable season. It's like he has assumed Dice K's role as the rotation flop. He makes me yearn for the days of Vaughn Eshelman.

[Cocos Disciples]

That snapshot looks to have caught him at 2 different spots in his delivery. He looks almost exactly the same

 

If you watch the video he is definitely not exactly the same.

 

And guys, I'm not saying he doesn't suck. I'm wondering why he sucks.

[Will617]

His problem is he has lost a ton off his fastball since his Angels days--and he is getting hit.

 

He needs to go to the Yankees, and get an injection of the serum they give to retread pitchers.

 

This is only true of this year, and was definitely not true last year.

Lowest fastball velocity was 90.7 MPH in 2008, when he had a decent season (3.75 ERA and 3.83 xFIP). This season his velocity is 90.8 MPH on his fastball.

Last season his fastball velocity was 91.5 MPH. His career average was 91.1. So it's more than just fastball velocity.

[Dojji]

An NL team isn't going to take this guy cheap? The Cubs aren't going to take this guy cheap? You can get him off the roster in a freaking heartbeat.

 

Some guys just can't handle the AL East. This is a flyball pitcher used to pitching in Western ballparks, there were a billion warning signs. Don't tell me there wasn't contingency plans to get him out of here.

[ORS]

I think the only adjustment that would bode well for the Sox is if they adjusted which team he plays for.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Give Lackey 2 more starts to see if he can turn it around. If he can't, you put him in the bullpen as a long relief pitcher. You make your rotation Beckett - Lester - Buchholz - Miller - Wakefield, with Weiland, Doubront, and Millwood as your depth options.

 

I hate the argument that "you're paying him 17.5mm to be a long reliever". I don't care. That's a sunk cost. Just because Miller is paid $17mm less than Lackey doesn't mean he's less talented. Put the most talented team on the field. Not the most expensive.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Interesting on ESPN -

 

 

Slip Sliding Away

John Lackey Slider Since 2009

 

% Thrown - 2009: 11.6%, 2010-2011: 16.5%

Swing and Miss % - 2009: 41.4%, 10-11: 30.7%

K Rate - 2009: 32.9%, 10-11: 24.4%

 

Looks like Lackey has feel in love with his slider since coming up here. He needs to pitch off of his fastball. Apparently hitters just aren't respecting his fastball anymore, and they're sitting, and crushing, his offspeed stuff.

[Palodios]

Interesting on ESPN -

 

 

Slip Sliding Away

John Lackey Slider Since 2009

 

% Thrown - 2009: 11.6%, 2010-2011: 16.5%

Swing and Miss % - 2009: 41.4%, 10-11: 30.7%

K Rate - 2009: 32.9%, 10-11: 24.4%

 

Looks like Lackey has feel in love with his slider since coming up here. He needs to pitch off of his fastball. Apparently hitters just aren't respecting his fastball anymore, and they're sitting, and crushing, his offspeed stuff.

 

I'm curious what the differences between 2010 and 2011 are. I feel like his strikeout rate must be significantly lower this year than last year, and I don't know what to make of this data.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Wow. Check these numbers out.

 

John Lackey K/9, Contact % (Against)

 

2005: 8.57, 76.5%

2006: 7.86, 79.4%

2007: 7.19, 80.3%

2008: 7.16, 81.5%

2009: 7.09, 80.3%

2010: 6.53, 83.7%

2011: 5.49, 85.0%

 

Lackey's BB/9 with the Angels: 2.6

Lackey's BB/9 with the Red Sox: 3.2

 

So, his K/9 has regressed, he's not fooling anyone with his pitches, as hitters are making contact with 85% of their swings, and he's afraid of the strike zone.

 

Awesome.

[SoxSport]

K/9 tells the story. No more pep in his fastball. Epstein should have seen that coming.

Lackey is a FA mistake of Mets proportions.

[alphilip77]

While I am not defending Lackey's poor play, I think everyone should remember that the man's wife has cancer. Having lost a loved one to this disease several years ago, I can tell you firsthand that it clouds your mind and doesn't go away until it is fully treated. I think the reason Lackey is still pitching is due to a combination of Tito's devotion to vet. players (giving him a chance to figure it out) and Lackey wanting to play to take his mind off of the matter (which to this point has not worked). Unless Lackey turns it around his next few starts, I think it would best for both parties if he were placed on the bereavement list until he is mentally and emotionally stable. If he needs the rest of the year off, so be it. But I would rather have a 100% focused and healthy John Lackey (which still isn't saying much since he's a 3.5-4.0 ERA pitcher, but better than Dice-K nonetheless) than the wreck that was on the mound Wednesday. Either way, I hope he figures this thing out. And show a little compassion people. He is human afterall.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Interesting on ESPN -

 

 

Slip Sliding Away

John Lackey Slider Since 2009

 

% Thrown - 2009: 11.6%, 2010-2011: 16.5%

Swing and Miss % - 2009: 41.4%, 10-11: 30.7%

K Rate - 2009: 32.9%, 10-11: 24.4%

 

Looks like Lackey has feel in love with his slider since coming up here. He needs to pitch off of his fastball. Apparently hitters just aren't respecting his fastball anymore, and they're sitting, and crushing, his offspeed stuff.

 

His fastball sucks. No movement at all and hitters are teeing off on it. I don't see any hope in this guy.

[iortiz]

His fastball sucks. No movement at all and hitters are teeing off on it. I don't see any hope in this guy.

 

+1, and tomo he will pitch, when finally TF will move A-God to RF and Papi 1st, dammit!

[jacksonianmarch]

While I am not defending Lackey's poor play' date=' I think everyone should remember that the man's wife has cancer. Having lost a loved one to this disease several years ago, I can tell you firsthand that it clouds your mind and doesn't go away until it is fully treated. I think the reason Lackey is still pitching is due to a combination of Tito's devotion to vet. players (giving him a chance to figure it out) and Lackey wanting to play to take his mind off of the matter (which to this point has not worked). Unless Lackey turns it around his next few starts, I think it would best for both parties if he were placed on the bereavement list until he is mentally and emotionally stable. If he needs the rest of the year off, so be it. But I would rather have a 100% focused and healthy John Lackey (which still isn't saying much since he's a 3.5-4.0 ERA pitcher, but better than Dice-K nonetheless) than the wreck that was on the mound Wednesday. Either way, I hope he figures this thing out. And show a little compassion people. He is human afterall.[/quote']

 

I dont think this has anything to do with his wife's cancer. I know it is a popular topic, but his wife having cancer doesnt take the life and heat off his FB. He used to sit low to mid 90s with the occasional 95mph fb with a lot of late sink. This yr's FB is straight and sits around 90. He's going to need to make the adjustment that all aging pitchers need to make when their fastball starts to go. Locate it better and improve the location of his offspeed stuff.