Opposing hitters, along with most of the media and an audible portion of Boston Red Sox fans, aren't being too kind to him right now. Not that the complaints aren't warranted.
On Thursday afternoon, the Los Angeles Angels roughed up Lackey for eight runs in an 11-0 stomping of the Red Sox. Against his old club, Lackey put 14 runners on base in a four-inning stint. It earned him a game score of 8 (measured on a 100 scale).
Though he had allowed more runs in his first outing this season, it probably was Lackey's worst performance, given the timing. The night before, the Angels beat the Red Sox in a marathon 13-inning game that ended at 2:45 a.m. local time. About 10 hours later, they were at it again, only with depleted bullpens.
Hence the headline in the Providence Journal: "Lackey fails to deliver when Red Sox desperately needed him." Fenway fans let Lackey have it, too, booing in full throat as manager Terry Francona replaced him.
The reaction bothered Torii Hunter, a teammate of Lackey in 2009, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia was conciliatory toward his former pitcher.
Francona, as is his style, backed his player in public:
"The game didn't go the way we wanted to. That's an understatement. But I'll never be disappointed in his [Lackey's]�effort. He'd stand out there all day and pitch. That's not an issue."
That's what we'd expect Tito say ? it's probably what he should say ? but the Angels might have won 33-0 if Lackey had stood out there all day and pitched. Anyone expecting Lackey to be as good as, or better than his just-below-average 99 ERA+ in 2010 �ought to be disappointed. Even if it goes unsaid.
As ProJo's Brian McPherson writes, Lackey isn't even giving the Red Sox a chance for his $15.5 million salary.
Far more important than the money is the role the Red Sox expected Lackey to fill. The veteran righty didn't have to contend for a Cy Young Award ? something he hasn't done since 2007 ? but he did have to give the Red Sox a chance to win every time he pitched.
He did that a year ago. Only on five occasions last season did Lackey give up more than five earned runs. He's already given up more than five earned runs three times this season.
Lackey has a 7.16 ERA, and the Red Sox are 2-4 in his six starts. Lackey's peripheral and advanced stats aren't any better.
He puts 1.74 men on base per inning and his strikeouts (4.96 per nine innings) are way down from career norms. Checking with the Fangraphs wizards, Lackey's fielder independent pitching is 4.91 (read it as you would ERA) and his expected FIP is 5.26. So, even if his actual ERA is artificially high, he's still pitching lousy.
Yeah, it's only six starts for Lackey. If healthy, he has 26 or 27 or more to go. And, given that it's still May, there's a good chance the Red Sox are on their way over .500 and to something of a contending season in the AL East.
But it's also possible that their 14-17 start ? to which Lackey has greatly contributed ? already has cost them a playoff spot.
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