The Fifteen Million Dollar Man

Last night John Lackey went six and two-thirds innings, and did not give up any runs. It was only the second time all season that Lackey had held the opposition scoreless; and the first time that happened since April. It was an especially welcome performance, coming after he gave up seven runs in less than three innings, putting the Sox in a hole out from which they could not climb, even when they scored seven late runs. So last night, by keeping the Orioles off the board, he allowed Boston to win without having to put up double figures on the scoreboard.

Not that they haven’t been able to do that. They put up ten runs against Baltimore two nights in a row, to start this series. And they’ve managed to score ten or more runs in nine games since the first of June. With all that run production, the Sox have masked the fact that their pitching staff is all banged up right now. Dice-K gone for the season; Lester and Buckholz on the DL. Lackey had his own injury troubles earlier in the year, and Beckett, who has been this year’s ace, tweaked his knee the other night, although everyone seems to insist that he’s fine. So I guess, looking on the bright side, it’s an accomplishment that the Sox are leading the AL East, without a full rotation. And for the most part, notwithstanding Lackey’s nice performance last night, that’s a result of the bats coming alive, and not the pitching.

But this Lackey thing makes me wonder: Is Theo really as smart as everyone says, or could any one of Boston’s knowledgeable fans have done just as well in the free agent market? What’s Theo’s batting average? JD Drew -- five years for fourteen million a year -- that’s a strikeout. Gagne, Jencks, Matt Clement -- out, out, out. Dice-K? Maybe a single or a sac fly, but certainly not a big hit. Since he got Beckett from the Marlins, had Theo picked up a really good pitcher, either on the free agent market, or by way of trade? I mean, he could have hung onto Bronson and Derrick Lowe for a lot less money than he has shelled out, and got just as good a result. Better results I think. Right now Theo looks like a genius again, because Gonzalez is having a monster year, and Crawford had turned his season around, after a cold April. But unless Lackey suddenly turns things around, and keeps shutting down the opposition like he did last night, I’m not convinced.

But on the other hand, so what? Despite the makeshift lineup, Boston is twenty games ahead of five hundred at the All-Star break. If they keep that pace up, they will definitely be playing in October. And if their starters are healthy in October, I think they have a decent chance to play for much of the month. And if their starters are healthy, and Lackey pitches like he did last night...well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, let’s leave it at this: Go Sox.