John Lackey has been amazing

[Dojji]

Never thought I'd type that sentence.

 

Credit where it's due, the man is back to his old self. Solid performance through his first 7 starts with a higher K rate, and a lower WHIP, than he ever managed over a season even in his prime. This is the guy Theo thought he was signing 3 years ago.

 

I figured this was worth breaking out o the main pitching discussion to get some thoughts on how he's done so far.

 

Don't make the mistake of counting on this to continue, but it's worth enjoying while it lasts.

[Thunder]

I completely agree with you. Right now, he's throwing strikes with every pitch hen he needs to. That is a big key to his success. The ERA also helps.

[Bellhorn04]

Very encouraging so far to say the least.

 

We now have two guys on our staff, Lackey and Tazawa, doing superbly in the wake of TJ surgery.

[SoxSport]

Earning his pay--finally. Can't believe they gave this guy a big contract knowing he had elbow issues. They must be swimming in money.

 

If the Lack is back, he, Lester and Buchholz give them a formidable big 3 in the rotation.

As good as any in the league.

[Bellhorn04]

Earning his pay--finally. Can't believe they gave this guy a big contract knowing he had elbow issues.

They must be swimming in money.

 

They are swimming in money, but it's safe to say they didn't know how bad his elbow was. He seemed healthy at the end of 2009.

[SoxSport]

They are swimming in money, but it's safe to say they didn't know how bad his elbow was. He seemed healthy at the end of 2009.

 

I read the medicals on him suggested elbow issues. Maybe down the line? don't recall.

It made a long term deal risky, but teams do funny things in the free agent scramble.

[jung]

Jeez for all the talk of aging Red Sox ballplayers on this board it appears to be us doing the aging....brain cell counts must be down.

 

The Sox got protection on Lackey's contract because of elbow concerns. So the signs where there and the Sox tried to do something about it. Not sure what they did was the best remedy but there is every chance that is is finally going to work out for both the Sox and Lackey.

 

The thing I have liked is watching Lackey pitch with command of his pitches. Clearly now that we are able to see him pitch the way he wants to pitch and the way he can pitch, he was really struggling through 2011. He was not able to set up hitters the way he can now. It is fun watching him pitch now. He is obviously a very professional pitcher.

[italstallianion]

There are a lot of things our other pitchers can learn from him.

 

And fwiw Dempster wasn't bad until a few starts ago.

[Whiteandnerdy42]

I agree! He's pitching very solidly so far this season.

[Standing Room]

Stop ruining it! He feeds on our negativity!

 

[Behindenemylines]

Its still early. Lets see where he is at in July at mid-season. If he is still giving us quality starts then maybe the Sox could be in this for the long haul.