John Lackey, Red Sox Agree To Five-Year Contract
by Randy Booth on Dec 14, 2009 4:45 PM EST
in News
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PrintJohn Lackey and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a five-year contract worth roughly $82 million, according to ESPN:
The Boston Red Sox have reached a tentative deal with right-handed pitcher John Lackey, pending a physical, worth slightly more than the $82.5 million, five-year contract A.J. Burnett signed with the New York Yankees last year, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
Lackey traveled to Boston for a physical exam Monday, fueling speculation that an agreement was close at hand.
All I can say to this news is: "wow." Can you say "Theo Epstein is a sneaky man"? At the beginning of the offseason, if you had told me John Lackey would be a Red Sox, I would have told you to exit immediately and leave the chowder. There was no way, in my mind at least, the Sox would a) want Lackey or b) pay Lackey. However, it looks like they did both things and fooled everyone in the process.
Lackey is the No. 1 on any baseball team in the major league. With the Red Sox, he'll be a No. 2 or No. 3. We don't know yet. All I know for sure is the Red Sox's rotation has to be regarded as the best in baseball with Lackey coming on board. Here are the projected starters:
Josh Beckett
Jon Lester
John Lackey
Clay Buchholz
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Tim Wakefield
One extra man, of course, but I'm sure Theo and Terry Francona will figure out how to work that arrangement.
OTM will have more on this signing in the coming days.
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Stealthy is a better word
A “mastermind” because he was able to be so “stealthy.”
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Edited
I like your word better.
SB Nation's Boston Red Sox community:
OverTheMonster.com
Follow Randy on Twitter: @RCBooth
Would it be appropriate to call him a "ninja?"
As in “Hey Rev! Our Ninja just out ninja-ed your Ninja in ninja-ness.” Then, I dunno, whip some poisoned shuriken at him…
I mean, sure, it’s retarded -but you gotta speak at your audience’s level…
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Dec 14, 2009 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Haha!!!!
I rec for the last comment alone!
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions
Touche' sir
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Dec 14, 2009 10:18 PM EST up reply actions
Theo, Keep Buchholz please!
"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur
Please don't.
A-Gonz here we come!
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
Buch stays!
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
He's expendable now.
If we are gonna resign Beckett, Lackey just signed 5 years, and Lester just resigned, why are you going to have a 3 ace rotation and then make it a 4 ace rotation? Thats just a waste. He has a good value right now, and now that we don’t need him and know that Jed Hoyer has him on the radar, I think it’s time to unload him and Casey Kelly + 2-3 mid levels for A-Gonz.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
a young pitcher
with high upside and under cheap team control for 5 years is never expendable per se.
That would block Rizzo and Lars.
A-Gon is also selling high for Jed Hoyer….he is good, but not even the elite of the NL power first basemen (Pujol, Prince, Ryan Howard) I like A-Gon, but not for the prospects or money he’d cost. Also wouldn’t do it until this Lowell crap is cleaned up.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions
I agree about Lowell
I wouldn’t touch this till he is fully gone, but A-Gonz is much better than Prince and Ryan Howard. He is well rounded. Not in the Albert Pujols sense, but he is still very good. If he can mash at Petco, he can mash anywhere.
And I am pretty sure one of Rizzo/Lars would be in that deal aswell.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
No they wouldn't
SD has a good 1B prospect already….Blanks is his name I think??
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Even then, they could still DH
Papi won’t be around after next year. DH and play a couple games at first.
The A-Gonz deal is something that NEEDS to happen at this point. We can’t spend a whole lot more and by picking up the low amount left on his 2 years, we would get the power bat we need at a cheap price. We would still have enough to go after Mauer next year if we were to get him, where as if we sign Holliday/Beltre, it will make that much less likely.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
I honestly think Mauer will get an extension and stay in the Twin cities.
Just my prediction, but I think both Boston and NY can chill until he actually becomes a FA.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions
Regardless of if he gets extended or not
Next years class is stacked. We need to set some of that money aside and get a player next year. What better way to kill two birds with one stone then by paying a little less than 10 million for two years of one of the bigger power bats in the league?
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
I think it means we are not gonna be extending Beckett.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
They are still in talks with him about an extension
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
Could be.
But I do not see Theo carrying two $17M+ pitchers into their mid 30’s.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
True
If Buch is still around mid-season and doing well and Beckett is doing decent, he will be on the block.
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
i don't think we'll trade beckett
we’re trying to win this year. if we don’t resign him we’ll let him walk and take the picks.
Hence the mouth-puke in prior post...
Beckett = Lackey, but more badass…
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Dec 14, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions
hm
I still don’t like it, but we’ll see if this precipitates any other moves before I judge too much.
If this doesn’t lead to something like Gonzalez coming, then he better have some pretty impressive options for LF and 3B or I’m gonna be complaining for a long time about how much money he spent on Lackey.
Agree - Kinda would like to keep Buchholz
’Screw adding a big bat. Go cheap and do defense (i.e. Ells to LF, get Cameron for CF).
This rotation would have Buchholz and Dice-K facing #3-5 starters from other teams…
15+ wins each?
We would have hands down the best rotation in baseball.
We can win the division this way, and definately focus on Postseason play with a rotation as stacked as this.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
How important is a #5 in the playoffs?
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
Can't we stretch out the series? Long vs. Short
I think Dice-K is the #5 But it definitely clears any bullpen issues then.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions
not so important in the playoffs, but
critical to win regular season games.
And the fact is – the Red Sox are stuck in a division that includes the Yankees. We plain and simple have to win reg season games in order to win the division, otherwise we compete with the rest of the league to get into the playoffs as a wildcard again, with no home-field advantage.
The Red Sox (and the rest of the AL East) are the most screwed by the lack of a salary cap because they have to spend the most just to compete for second place in their division.
But how big is the difference between Wakefield and Buchholz, really?
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
Buchholz in the #4 or 5 slot?
should be VERY good – especially since he should give you a whole season without breaking down (knock on wood). I just can’t envision Wake surviving long enough to give us even 10 wins anymore.
My question
is what do we do in the first week of the season, before anyone is injued, ineffective, etc.? Six-man rotation? Wakefield to the pen? Buchholz to Pawtucket?
Depends on ST.
Wake and Dice-K have to show that they are healthy/productive.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
looks like Sandy will not be wearing a dress.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
How was that going to work?
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions
Sandy was to wear a dress if Lackey got $100 million plus
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
by BoldandBrash on Dec 14, 2009 4:55 PM EST up reply actions
He gets to choose my profile pic if Buch isn't in our 2010 rotation.....
….I thought I had it made until this.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
I think Buch will be in the rotation.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
by BoldandBrash on Dec 14, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions
Poll attached
Vote, gents. And ladies…
SB Nation's Boston Red Sox community:
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Follow Randy on Twitter: @RCBooth
Pitching wasn't exactly an issue in the Playoffs, need to use Buch or someone for Bats
As good of a signing as this is, this is simply added strength to one of the stronger portions of the team.
Major offensive Q’s still out there, especially with the Lowell deal in flux
My Point Exactly
95 wins in a season where they patched together a pretty dramatic list of starters to get to that level.
Certainly having an elite 3 is great, I’ll just be more excited when a bat or two balance out the off season.
And putting $80+ into pitching, not sure what’s left in the bank for a bat.
I'm still undecided about the deal,
but, as I wrote a few weeks ago, it is definitely better than giving up Buch (and paying out the ass in dollars) for Halladay. So in that respect, I am happy, I guess.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
So much for bridge period and not competing next year
Theo is not fucking around. This certainly is preceding something because we don’t have a 3B or LF. i still want beltre over A-Gon. No prospects, keep Buch, cheaper, keeps youk at first.
BTW
HOLY SHIT. Was not expecting this. Lackey was the one FA that i was sure would not be a Red Sox.
This
I expected Harder or Sheets, but Theo went all in
I didn't like the old one very much. I didn't see the ball there very well. - Julio Lugo on the old Yankees Stadium.
We'll see just how all in he was at this point
In a few weeks. I’d guess Payroll is taking a bump this year…
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah....understatement to close out the year.....
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
Of note: Putting Lackey at 17 million puts the Red Sox at about $125 million payroll.
Any more additions will mean going noticeably above the 2009 $121mm payroll.
Of course, if we’re going for broke, we may as well hit $150 and sign Holliday and Beltre.
USG
With ortiz, Lugo, Lowell and Tek coming off the books next year, ownership could be willing to accept a temporary bump in payroll.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
And we could have our next wave of cheap prospects the year after that.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 5:12 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah Scutaro is done in 2 years (if option is declined)
That’s one….Drew may be wrapping up too.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 5:14 PM EST up reply actions
I'm beginning to think Tek will be on the team for life.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Dec 14, 2009 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
Also of note: This does not include arbitration eligible players, I don't think.
I’m speaking from Cot’s. That would be a BIG bump.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
Adding in fairly arbitrary pay increases...
I put as at around $150 million
Including Lugo
Including Lowell @ 12
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions
OOps!
Sorry looking at the spreadsheet that has not been update with Beckett option and Scutaro…still only puts us at about 95 mil right?
OK, finally
Cots needs to update its links!!! Hitting the 2010-2014 obligations link shows updated without Lackey and ARB at 108+ mil…..Figure we were 121 mil last year and maybe a bump to the 130 mil range (we were 133 mil year before last).
no it doesn't
it doesn’t even include last years salaries for arb players- so papelbon alone is probably around an extra $10 mill, plus Oki, Kotchman (though he’s pretty much gotta get traded somewhere at this point), ramram, and MDC. BIG payroll already. Kinda worried.
Personally, I would rather them sign
Beltre and Cameron. Why? We could move Ellsbury to LF, Cameron to CF and improved the OF D and 3rd base D on the cheap. Could give Cameron a 1 year deal and test the market next year. I wouldn’t mind signing Bay but not for the money/years he wants. And I am not sure Holliday would be a good fit especially since he struggled in Oakland.
And didn’t St. Louis offer Holliday a 7year 100mill contract and he declined?
That's only $14 million a year.
Assuming a 5/80 contract as the bare minimum, he’d only have to garner $10 million a year at 35 to match it. 5/90 being more likely, it goes down to $5. Inflation being what it is, 5 million should be an easy get unless he falls apart.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions
Signing Cameron and Beltre might still be possible.
The payroll is getting up there though.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
by BoldandBrash on Dec 14, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions
One thing is for sure
The Sox FO has no expectation of signing Joe Mauer in 2010
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
well we need someone
Cameron seems to be becoming ever more likely, since Holliday and Bay are pretty much out now- either Cameron or Hermida, which seems unlikely to me. Beltre maybe, but I really think this looks more like the sign of a corner IF deal.
Just think how mad Toronto is right now about the Scutaro pick.....Haha!
We should sign someone higher than Lackey (Holliday) to put insult to injury regarding the #29 pick of the draft and the LAAA Angels.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
This deal is really going to screw us
in year 4 and 5. I just know it.
Introducing the new 2008 Big 12 Football Champions: OU, UT*, TT*, and MU*!
Now Introducing the new 2009 Big 12 Baseball Tournament Champions: UT, KSU*, BU*, and MU*!
possibly.
hell, probably.
But if they can pull off a WS appearance next year, it will be worth it.
You gotta pay to play.
True
But I’m not a fan of the “pay to play” theory when some of the players we’re paying aren’t playing for us (i.e. Lowell and probably Lackey in 2014..)
Introducing the new 2008 Big 12 Football Champions: OU, UT*, TT*, and MU*!
Now Introducing the new 2009 Big 12 Baseball Tournament Champions: UT, KSU*, BU*, and MU*!
Rev at Halos Heaven
SB Nation's Boston Red Sox community:
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Follow Randy on Twitter: @RCBooth
You know what? Movies are made in LA for a reason.....Nothing put drama and overeactions......
What a bunch of fans, I don’t Dream of Californication.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 14, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
That was funny.
I tried to join HH to beg them to take him back, but they have a 24 hour hold…I guess to do a background check on you or something.
So now I’ve joined Halos @#$%ing Heaven and I don’t wanna.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
I think we overpaid
At least that last year and probably a few million per year. But c’est la vie, it should improve our rotation in the short term, let’s hope he doesn’t completely fall apart.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 14, 2009 5:37 PM EST reply actions
In two or three years this deal will be considered average.
Burnett got a similar deal last season and with how pitching contracts are rising nobody will care about this deal.
Plus, the Red Sox will just eat a year at the end and dump him if he falls in the last two years. Money is not a problem for the Sox.
If the Sox can resign Beckett and keep Buchholz, there rotation is #1 for the next 3 years.
Remember when everyone thought the Red Sox were crazy to trade and sign Pedro for the prospects and money? How did that turn out?
Well, i'd hardly equate Lackey with Pedro
but we didn’t give up any prospects here, so i’m less stressed about it than some others.
Yeah, the cash hurts and yeah I’m fully expecting Lackey to decline in years 3+, but he should be solid for at least the next two years, which means we should have a solid chance at competing for a WS title for the next two years. That will pay for the deal, imho.
We should never get comfortable with the idea that we can just eat contract money
This whole “Who cares if it’s an overpay, we’ll just eat the last year” is leading down the wrong path.
I think he’ll be a fine #3 for a few years, but I feel Burnett was overpaid and Lackey is the same. I also see this as a sign that Buchholz is gone, because I see both Wake and Dice-K staying in the rotation next year.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 14, 2009 6:21 PM EST up reply actions
I see why people think Buch is gone,
but I’m not convinced. Dice-K did not do anything to earn confidense last year and Wake is only getting older. Theo should not rely on these two guys.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
Dice-K did
his pitching at the end of the year was phenomenal. His year was atrocious, but he’s determined to not do that again- he’s currently in API training.
But still,
you wanna bet the season on Dice-K? or Wake?
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
No way
If they just invested more $ in a starter, and still want to sign Beckett, they need Buchholz and his cheap salary more than ever. They’ve passed up a lot of deals involving him already. Why move him now???
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 14, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
Sox have consistently eaten money on contracts
I see no reason why this will change in 3 or 4 years.
I dont know if I agree with everyone who is saying Buchholz is gone. Its possible, but unlikely to me. But i could be wrong on that one.
+1
5/85 is the going rate for a #1 starter of the sub-HOF variety. [Elite #1s go for CC money]. I suspect if/when this deal is announced much attention will be paid by Sox brass to Lackey’s consistency (which is remarkable). W/o knowing, I think they see him as a relatively safe investment for this reason. Safer than Burnett was, no?
I’m fine with it. I was never a fan, he doesn’t inspire me, but as our #3 he’s very, very tough.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Dec 14, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
Can we nickname him
“Awesome O’Clock”?
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Dec 14, 2009 6:47 PM EST up reply actions
It could sincere...
…or it could be ironic. It all depends…
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Dec 14, 2009 7:04 PM EST up reply actions
This needs to be rec'd to the stars, by the way.
Good ol’ Fitzy. It’s easy to forget he’s actually funny sometimes…..
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
I HATE THIS DEAL
Theo’s makin’ the same mistake he did with the Lugo signing: Payin’ for past performance!
A deeper look into his numbers are showing that he’s on decline! Jeff from Fangraphs on Lackey:
More of his pitches have been resulting in balls lately and dropping rates in finding the strike zone and in starting hitters off with a strike portend a rise in the amount of walks that he allows, long his strong suit. More worrisome to me is this: 10.2%, 9.7%, 8.8%, 8.5%, 8.3%. Those are Lackey’s swinging strike rates from 2005 to 2009 in chronological order. That is a downward trend and not a subtle one either. In other words, projecting Lackey, I’d expect slightly more walks and considerably fewer strikeouts.
"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur
by radiohix on Dec 14, 2009 6:02 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
well 2005 was definitely a career year
but his WHIP has been improving, his BB/9 is significantly better than it was then, and apart from 2005-2006, his k/9 haven’t changed a ton.
I don’t like the deal either though.
+1
I totally agree. This is an awful deal going forward.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Dec 14, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
I agree.
I have to say this deal really worries me. Don’t get me wrong, out of the context of money/contracts I would rather have Lackey than not (by a longshot), this is a bad deal. We made fun of the Yankees for the Burnett deal. A good case can be made that Burnett is a slightly better pitcher than Lackey. If not, it is a wash. We just handed out a MFY contract. If we were going to do that, why not just go whole hog for CC last year. He is far far better, younger, and has no recent injury history.
Agree.
I’m also much more willing to shell out for a position player. Big free agent contracts for starting pitchers have a very poor track record. Its hard to think of more than a few that have worked out well for the team. To tell you the truth I can’t think of any off the top of my head. Gil Meche maybe?
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
pedro
formally a trade but then signed a FA like contract. There are several of these.
Yeah, but few FA's.
Tons of extensions have been good, but few FA signings. DLowe in LA was a good one, too. But really, hard to think of many FA pitcher signings that have worked out.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
I think it's "shore up," not "sure up" - could be wrong...
Rock me, sexy Jesus...
by nuthinboutnuthin on Dec 14, 2009 6:36 PM EST reply actions
This is exactly right.
I’m fixing it as we speak.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
I'm going home now.
I’m going home and I’m going to pour myself a huge glass of Jamesons.
And I’m hoping that that will scrub the image of some tool sitting in Fenway with a John @#$%ing Lackey jersey from my mind.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
can you say...
john smoltz red sox fans cringe that rotation is quite impressive up top but 4 and 5 are big question marks 4 u guys lackey may be over the hill in my opinion but only time will tell.. yanks rotation AS OF NOW is not quite as good ill admit but with the starters we’re putting out we have a chance to win every game but i wouldnt bank on anything with buchholz dicek or wakefield.. sabathia burnett pettitte joba hughes is the current projected starters for the yankees and you can say that sabathia and pettitte are the only legitimately great pitchers in the lineup but hey the yanks lineup is still #1
I know you have a period key on your keyboard.
I see periods in there.
It just seems like you are nervous about it. Like you’re not sure if you should use one, but then you get nervous so you accidentally fire off two.
Hey, man. It’s cool.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
by Bloggy on Dec 14, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The difference between Smoltz and Lackey is almost a DECADE.
As for the Yanks
Lester > CC
Lackey > AJ
Beckett > Pettitte
Daisuke/Buchholz > Joba/Hughes
We win every damn slot.
As for the Yanks’ lineup, we’ll see with that outfield.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions
Lester > CC?
The rest I can understand, but I’m not so sure about that first one. Yet.
One possible problem. I’m afraid we won’t have Buchholz come April 4, 2010.
2009
FIP: 3.15 vs. 3.39
K/9: 9.96 vs. 7.71
K/BB: 3.52 vs. 2.94
xFIP: 3.13 vs. 3.82
tRA: 3.59 vs 3.95
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 14, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
Can you tell me
how Lackey is better than AJ? Averaged over the last 3 years, AJ has pitched more innings with clearly better peripherals. That is what galls me about this contract. Lackey will suffer to a degee by moving to a hitter’s park (as AJ did) and playing in the east with 3 small parks and a bunch of good lineups. His number will only look worse, and they already look worse than AJs. And we just gave him AJs contract, which I was convinced only the Yankees would ever for a pitcher of that ilk.
here's a good stat though
Innings pitched:
CC- 2008 253 2009 230
Lester- 2008 210.1 2009 203.1
I think over time Lester will be better than CC, but certainly not yet.
Those aren't necessarily a result of performance though.
It could just be a managing choice. The point is that Lester outperformed CC in similar IP.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 16, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
just wait til he throws his first temper tantrum
and intentionally beans a batter at a crucial moment. He’s ejected and the the game is downhill from there.
been there, seen that. Have fun with the Texan!
Dear John Lackey
I am sorry I made fun of your name.
I am sorry that I made fun of the fact that you appear to breathe through your mouth.
Finally, I am sorry I called you a “sucka”.
Please do a good job for the Sox. Thanks.
Signed, a devoted Red Sox fan who is not happy with this deal.
"You know," Girardi said, shrugging his shoulders, "it didn't work."
( Joe Girardi on pitching to Manny Ramirez with first base open)
+2
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Dec 15, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
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