MLB Player Profile: John Lackey
John Lackey has not enjoyed success this season so far but he has had an excellent career in Major League Baseball. Born on October 23, 1978, Lackey is a right-handed starting pitcher and stands 6ft 6in. He has enjoyed nine eminent years in MLB and is in
his tenth professional season.
Lackey started his professional career with the Los Angeles Angels in 2002 and made history when he started and won Game 7 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants. He was the second rookie in the history of baseball to accomplish this feat,
the other being Babe Adams of Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909. This was Angels’ first trip to the World Series.
The lanky starter had an excellent rookie year with a 9-4 win-loss record and 69 strike-outs in 18 starts at an ERA of 3.66. However, Lackey could not replicate this performance in his second year and had a relatively rough season. He started 33 games for
the Angels and managed 151 strike-outs but his earned run average of 4.63 was a mark higher than it should have been. Although he managed to pitch two complete-game shut-outs, his win-loss record at 10-16 did not impress.
Lackey was quick to learn from his mistakes and came back in 2004 with an improved performance, not on ERA though. He continued striking-out batters at will and finished the season with 144 strike-outs with a 14-13 win-loss record. Although just a whisker
more than .500, this winning percentage was a much-needed confidence booster for Lackey, who reached the pinnacle of his career in 2005.
The change of name from Anaheim Angels to Los Angeles Angels came out good with Lackey who produced a career-best performance in 2005. His ERA improved dramatically, coming down to 3.44 and his winning percentage inflated to .737. In 33 starts that season,
Lackey bagged just one short of 200 strike-outs which have been the highest for him in his entire career. His win-loss record stood at 14-5, another career-best and Lackey officially stamped his authority on the mound. He has since dictated terms to the batters
and scoring runs against him has been a huge task.
July 18, 2008 can be rated as Lackey’s most memorable day in his professional career. Pitching against Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox, Lackey completed his 1000
career strike-outs and became only the sixth pitcher from the Angels to accomplish the feat.
He finally moved to the Boston Red Sox for the 2010 season after eight glorious years with the Angels. He won 59 percent of his starts with the Angels and completed 1201 strike-outs at an ERA of 3.81.
Lackey did not take time in adjusting to the Red Sox outfit and became a hero in his very first season. He managed 156 strike-outs in his debut season with Boston and finished with a win-loss record of 14-11. His fitness became his trademark as it was seldom
that he missed his scheduled start.
This year, however, his form has seen a dip. With a 6-8 win-loss record pre All-Star break, Lackey has come back strongly to win all three of his previous starts but his ERA still remains a question mark. He has an ERA of 6.15 which is absolutely unacceptable
at this level and he needs a serious revival of form and concentration to eradicate this problem.
Lackey has been short on strike-outs as well this season with only 69 in 18 starts. He is approaching 1500 career strike-outs and the pressure of reaching the landmark should not hamper his performance.
Lackey’s career has been resolute and a slight dip in form is natural. However, he should prove himself to be a strong player with a strong resurgence in this season to help the Red Sox to the World Series.
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