While questions regarding Tim Wakefield's age and Daisuke Matsuzaka's durability continue to swirl around the Boston Red Sox during the middle stages of spring training, new acquisition John Lackey has quietly gone about his business.
Putting up goose eggs.
Lackey arrived to much fanfare but has managed to slide into the background during a spring training where the hot topics have included a perceived lack of punch on the offensive side and the battle for the back end of the rotation.
But Lackey's effort, though quiet, is certainly significant—for in Lackey the Red Sox have a third hurler to join Josh Beckett and Jon Lester to form a trio of pitchers atop the rotation that nobody in baseball can top.
Thus far he's certainly answered the call.
Obviously spring training numbers are meaningless when the real deal begins in April, but that doesn't mean the fact that the righty has been absolutely lights out has no impact. If he can get himself into a rhythm to open the year, the Red Sox could be in for an outstanding campaign.
Lackey's performance could go a long way toward quieting the crows about the lack of a big bopper in the middle. If Beckett, Lester, and Lackey are all on their games, it won't take much more than three or four runs to pile up three wins a week.
Lackey's performance is also noteworthy because he's the new guy on the block, in a new and unusual situation. The ace of the Angels' staff has come to a bigger market to play a slightly smaller role, slotting in behind at least Beckett and perhaps Lester in the hierarchy of Sox hurlers.
But Lackey doesn't appear concerned with labels or numbers—just forcing the opposing hitters to take a seat in the dugout.
Here's the thing: He could easily lead the Red Sox in victories. With Beckett and Lester doing battle against the No. 1s and No. 2s on the other side, Lackey should clean up against No. 3s. This will mean little by midseason, when rotations are shaken up by injuries and schedules, but it could allow Lackey to pile up some critical victories in April and May.
Either way, the returns thus far have been excellent. Lackey has quietly worked his way into the clubhouse and silenced opposing bats, giving up the same number of earned runs thus far—zero—as game-innings Matsuzaka has accumulated.
So while questions continue to swirl around the bottom of the Sox rotation, with Wakefield fighting for a spot and Daisuke trying to find his way back to the mound, the front end of the pitching order looks just fine.
No matter which one of the first three spots you slide Lackey into.
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