Thoracic outlet syndrome. And it was Bard who pressured the FO into letting him become a starter, and whether people want to believe it or not, players do have some leverage. An unhappy player is not likely to perform up to his abilities. Elktonnick, like many here however, will not let facts get in the way of a good argument. Also, the idea that Cherington built, on paper, the worst pitching staff in the Majors is laughable. That's not saying he didn't fail though. Lackey would certainly look good in this rotation.
As for your assertion that the FO only wants to create the illusion of winning, I see two main flaws in that argument: 1) The more you win, the more money you make. 2) You are assuming that, because ownership is trying to make money, they have no emotional attachment to this team. I understand your stance, but I don't share it. No one wants to be a loser, and the owners/FO are not robots.