Well there have been many posts on this board talking about the age when players start to head toward the back nine. However there is no reason to suggest that Vic is suddenly heading there faster. The tone in some of these posts suggests that guys are just crumbling to dust before our very eyes. You don't even have to be professional athlete for your spine to start to show some signs of aging once you get into your thirties. Vic does not appear to be going through anything truly alarming at this point.
As for Lackey, all the evidence has been that he has worked really hard to get back to where he is. He was not rushed back and appears to have used the time to good purpose. Hey if he pitches the way he has for whatever time he gets this season, he will end up being a big plus even if he is on some sort of starts count or innings count or what have you.