Lackey dominant, but hittable, down the stretch

Search

New member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
7,018
Tokens
Lackey dominant, but hittable, down the stretch

John Lackey<!-- begin table --> has been a reliable starter for the Angels, but he has been less consistent recently. After spending the first six weeks of the season on the disabled list, Lackey went 10-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 18 starts. He followed that strong run, though, by going 2-3 with a 6.17 ERA over his last six outings of the regular season. Lackey's control and dominance were strong throughout the regular season. He simply gave up more hits down the stretch. Opponents' batting average jumped from .239 to .357 after Aug. 31. Hitters got better swings on his fastball, because Lackey elevated more of them above the belt:
<table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="350"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="3">Lackey's high fastball</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>
</td> <td>Past six starts</td> <td>First 18 starts</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Pct. of fastballs located up</td> <td>35.5</td> <td>25.2</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>BA</td> <td>.483</td> <td>.181</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>SLG</td> <td>.724</td> <td>.361</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end table --> Lackey struggled recently to keep his heater down after falling behind in the count. He located 51 percent of fastballs in the lower third in his first 18 starts after falling behind hitters. Over his last six starts, Lackey has kept only 38 percent of fastballs down in hitters' counts. In those outings, hitters have slugged .742 with two home runs with the count in their favor. He hasn't had a feel for his curve, either, which is not fooling hitters in the zone:<!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="350"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="3">Lackey's curveball in strike zone</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>
</td> <td>Past six starts</td> <td>First 18 starts</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Miss percentage of swings</td> <td>5.0</td> <td>13.9</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>BA</td> <td>.318</td> <td>.184</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>SLG</td> <td>.591</td> <td>.289</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end table -->A strikeout pitcher like Lackey should have a postseason edge because he can keep the ball out of play when runners are on. If he gets two strikes on the hitter, Lackey usually finishes them off. Before two strikes, however, the Angels' ace has been about average recently with runners aboard:<!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="350"><tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="3">Runners on base, not two strikes</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>
</td> <td>In-play pct. of swings</td> <td>On-base percentage</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Lackey over past six starts</td> <td>43.2</td> <td>.421</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>League average</td> <td>42.1</td> <td>.417</td></tr></tbody></table>
 

New member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
7,018
Tokens
6953.jpg
<!-- begin playerStatCont --> John Lackey #41 SP
<!-- comp --> » Add Widget

<table class="tablehead statCont" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="gamehead"><td colspan="5">2008 STATS</td></tr> <tr class="colhead playerStatSub"><td>ERA</td><td>W-L</td><td>SO</td><td>WHIP</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow playerStats"><td>3.75</td><td>12-5</td><td>130</td><td>1.23</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!--fantasyString={percentOwned=84.7972027972028, percentChange=-0.27972027972028, draftRank=97.6, droppable=true}--> <table class="tablehead statCont" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="gamehead"><td colspan="3">2008 FANTASY STATS</td></tr> <tr class="colhead playerStatSub"><td>% OWN</td><td>WK +/-</td><td>AVG DRAFT</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow playerStats"><td>84.8%</td><td>-0.3%</td><td>97.6</td></tr> </tbody></table>
<!-- end playerStatCont --> <!-- begin o --> <table class="metaData" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top"> <!-- begin n --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top">Full Name</td><td valign="top">John Derran Lackey</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Birth Date</td><td valign="top">October 23, 1978</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Birth Place</td><td valign="top">Abilene, TX</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Age</td><td valign="top">29</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end n --> </td> <td valign="top"> <!-- begin n --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top">Weight</td><td valign="top">245 lbs.</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Height</td><td valign="top">6-6</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Bats</td><td valign="top">Right</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Throws</td><td valign="top">Right</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end n --> </td> <td valign="top"> <!-- begin n --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top">Experience</td><td valign="top">6 years</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Drafted</td><td valign="top">Second round draft pick</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Salary</td><td valign="top">2008: $7,333,333</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end n --> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end o -->
<!-- end player --> <!-- begin status info --> Next Start:
Red Sox at Angels
Wednesday 10/1, 10:00 PM ET


<!-- end status info --> <!-- begin buttons --> ProfileStatsSplitsGame LogBat vs. PitchNewsScoutingPhotosFantasy

<!-- end buttons --><!-- begin gp-body --> <!-- begin content --> <table class="tablehead" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="stathead" bgcolor="#dc2024"><td colspan="19">John Lackey pitching vs. Boston Red Sox</td></tr><tr class="oddrow"><td colspan="20"><table class="tablesm" border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><form>Angels Pitchers
<select id="url1" name="url" onchange="gotosite(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value)" class="tablesm"> <option value="bvsp?playerId=29113&teamId=2">Jose Arredondo</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=6230&teamId=2">Jason Bulger</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=3680&teamId=2">Kelvim Escobar</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=4235&teamId=2">Jon Garland</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=29265&teamId=2">Kevin Jepsen</option> <option selected="selected" value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=2">John Lackey</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=5342&teamId=2">Shane Loux</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=6214&teamId=2">Dustin Moseley</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=29081&teamId=2">Darren O'Day</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=2969&teamId=2">Darren Oliver</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=5357&teamId=2">Francisco Rodriguez</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=6280&teamId=2">Ervin Santana</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=6383&teamId=2">Joe Saunders</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=4722&teamId=2">Scot Shields</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=3854&teamId=2">Justin Speier</option> <option value="bvsp?playerId=6479&teamId=2">Jered Weaver</option> </select><noscript><INPUT type=submit value=GO onsubmit="gotosite(document.forms[0].url.options[document.forms[0].url.selectedIndex].value);return false"></noscript></form></td><td> vs. </td><td><form>Teams
<select id="url2" name="url" onchange="gotosite(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value)" class="tablesm"> <option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=29">Arizona </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=15">Atlanta </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=1">Baltimore </option><option selected="selected" value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=2">Boston </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=16">Chicago Cubs </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=4">Chicago Sox </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=17">Cincinnati </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=5">Cleveland </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=27">Colorado </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=6">Detroit </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=28">Florida </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=18">Houston </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=7">Kansas City </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=3">LA Angels </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=19">LA Dodgers </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=8">Milwaukee </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=9">Minnesota </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=21">NY Mets </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=10">NY Yankees </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=11">Oakland </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=22">Philadelphia </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=23">Pittsburgh </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=25">San Diego </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=26">San Francisco </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=12">Seattle </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=24">St. Louis </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=30">Tampa Bay </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=13">Texas </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=14">Toronto </option><option value="bvsp?playerId=5203&teamId=20">Washington</option></select><noscript><INPUT type=submit value=GO onsubmit="gotosite(document.forms[0].url.options[document.forms[0].url.selectedIndex].value);return false"></noscript></form> </td><td width="2"><spacer type="block" width="2"></td><td> Angels batters vs. Red Sox pitchers </td><td width="2"><spacer type="block" width="2"></td><td> Red Sox pitchers vs. Angels batters </td><td width="2"><spacer type="block" width="2"></td><td><form><others vs.="" bos="">
<select id="url3" name="url" onchange="gotosite(this.options[this.selectedIndex].value)" class="tablesm"> <option selected="selected">Select Team </option><option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=29&teamId=2">Arizona</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=15&teamId=2">Atlanta</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=1&teamId=2">Baltimore</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=2&teamId=2">Boston</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=16&teamId=2">Chicago Cubs</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=4&teamId=2">Chicago Sox</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=17&teamId=2">Cincinnati</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=5&teamId=2">Cleveland</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=27&teamId=2">Colorado</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=6&teamId=2">Detroit</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=28&teamId=2">Florida</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=18&teamId=2">Houston</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=7&teamId=2">Kansas City</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=3&teamId=2">LA Angels</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=19&teamId=2">LA Dodgers</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=8&teamId=2">Milwaukee</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=9&teamId=2">Minnesota</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=21&teamId=2">NY Mets</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=10&teamId=2">NY Yankees</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=11&teamId=2">Oakland</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=22&teamId=2">Philadelphia</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=23&teamId=2">Pittsburgh</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=25&teamId=2">San Diego</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=26&teamId=2">San Francisco</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=12&teamId=2">Seattle</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=24&teamId=2">St. Louis</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=30&teamId=2">Tampa Bay</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=13&teamId=2">Texas</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=14&teamId=2">Toronto</option> <option value="bvsp?pitchTeam=20&teamId=2">Washington</option></select><noscript><INPUT type=submit value=GO onsubmit="gotosite(document.forms[0].url.options[document.forms[0].url.selectedIndex].value);return false"></noscript> </others></form></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr> <tr class="colhead" align="right"><td align="left" width="130">OPPOSING HITTER</td><td width="35">AB</td><td width="35">H</td><td width="35">2B</td><td width="35">3B</td><td width="35">HR</td><td width="35">RBI</td><td width="35">BB</td><td width="35">SO</td><td width="50">BA</td><td width="50">OBP</td><td width="50">SLG</td><td width="50">OPS</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Mark Kotsay</td> <td class="sortcell">34</td> <td>9</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td>7</td> <td>.265</td> <td>.286</td> <td>.353</td> <td>.639</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left">David Ortiz</td> <td class="sortcell">30</td> <td>10</td> <td>3</td> <td>1</td> <td>2</td> <td>9</td> <td>4</td> <td>6</td> <td>.333</td> <td>.412</td> <td>.700</td> <td>1.112</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Jason Varitek</td> <td class="sortcell">24</td> <td>5</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2</td> <td>3</td> <td>10</td> <td>.208</td> <td>.296</td> <td>.333</td> <td>.630</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Coco Crisp</td> <td class="sortcell">22</td> <td>4</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2</td> <td>2</td> <td>2</td> <td>3</td> <td>.182</td> <td>.250</td> <td>.455</td> <td>.705</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Alex Cora</td> <td class="sortcell">19</td> <td>5</td> <td>2</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>2</td> <td>.263</td> <td>.300</td> <td>.368</td> <td>.668</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Mike Lowell</td> <td class="sortcell">19</td> <td>3</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>5</td> <td>.158</td> <td>.158</td> <td>.158</td> <td>.316</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Julio Lugo</td> <td class="sortcell">18</td> <td>4</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2</td> <td>4</td> <td>.222</td> <td>.300</td> <td>.278</td> <td>.578</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Kevin Youkilis</td> <td class="sortcell">17</td> <td>5</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2</td> <td>4</td> <td>0</td> <td>4</td> <td>.294</td> <td>.294</td> <td>.647</td> <td>.941</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">J.D. Drew</td> <td class="sortcell">16</td> <td>5</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td>3</td> <td>.313</td> <td>.389</td> <td>.500</td> <td>.889</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Dustin Pedroia</td> <td class="sortcell">12</td> <td>5</td> <td>2</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>.417</td> <td>.462</td> <td>.583</td> <td>1.045</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Jacoby Ellsbury</td> <td class="sortcell">6</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>2</td> <td>.000</td> <td>.000</td> <td>.000</td> <td>.000</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left">Sean Casey</td> <td class="sortcell">4</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>1</td> <td>2</td> <td>.000</td> <td>.200</td> <td>.000</td> <td>.200</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">David Ross</td> <td class="sortcell">3</td> <td>1</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>0</td> <td>.333</td> <td>.333</td> <td>.333</td> <td>.667</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" align="right"> <td align="left">Totals</td><td>224</td><td>56</td><td>15</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>20</td><td>16</td><td>48</td><td>.250</td><td>.303</td><td>.415</td><td>.718</td></tr></tbody></table>
 

New member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
7,018
Tokens
You are signed into Insider
in.gif
and have access to this premium feature.
Inside Edge
in.gif

<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr class="stathead" style="background: rgb(220, 32, 36) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td colspan="9">Stats</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" align="right"> <td> </td><td>G</td><td>GS</td><td>W</td><td>L</td><td>ERA</td><td>IP</td><td>BB</td><td>SO</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left">2008</td><td>24</td><td>24</td><td>12</td><td>5</td><td>3.75</td><td>163.1</td><td>40</td><td>130</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left">2008 vs. BOS</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2.81</td><td>16.0</td><td>4</td><td>10</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table style="width: 100%;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="width: 50%;"> <table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr class="stathead" style="background: rgb(220, 32, 36) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <td colspan="10">Inside Edge </td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" align="right"> <td> </td><td>ALL</td><td>FIRST PITCH</td><td>EARLY</td><td>TWO STRIKES</td><td>AHEAD</td><td>BEHIND</td><td>VS RHB</td><td>VS LHB</td><td>OPP BA</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">Fastballs</td><td>62%</td><td>69%</td><td>64%</td><td>52%</td><td>54%</td><td>70%</td><td>64%</td><td>60%</td><td>.287</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Curves</td><td>21%</td><td>19%</td><td>19%</td><td>27%</td><td>24%</td><td>16%</td><td>19%</td><td>24%</td><td>.212</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">Sliders</td><td>13%</td><td>9%</td><td>12%</td><td>18%</td><td>19%</td><td>9%</td><td>16%</td><td>9%</td><td>.145</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Change Ups</td><td>4%</td><td>3%</td><td>5%</td><td>2%</td><td>3%</td><td>5%</td><td>1%</td><td>7%</td><td>.413</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">Other</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>0%</td><td>--</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">Totals</td><td>3692</td><td>1024</td><td>2298</td><td>1021</td><td>1411</td><td>714</td><td>1967</td><td>1725</td><td>.258</td></tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td style="width: 50%;"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var SOB=new flashObj(); SOB.flashFile="http://static.espn.go.com/swf/insideedge/xmlpitch_005.swf"; SOB.flashVars = "&datafile=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/xml/insideEdgeXML?playerId=5203"; SOB.width = "300"; SOB.height = "225"; SOB.DenyIEdl = "TRUE"; SOB.quality = "best"; SOB.FlashVer = 6; SOB.cabVersion = "6,0,0,0"; document.write(SOB.render()); //]]> </script><embed src="http://static.espn.go.com/swf/insideedge/xmlpitch_005.swf" swliveconnect="FALSE" quality="best" scale="exactfit" flashvars="&datafile=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/xml/insideEdgeXML?playerId=5203" wmode="opaque" id="flash2" name="flash2" menu="false" devicefont="false" salign="lt" allowscriptaccess="Always" allownetworking="All" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="225" width="300"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> -- means there is no data for this category at this time.
 

New member
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
3,672
Tokens
I hate betting on teams that clinch so early, Sox played meaningful baseball right to the end, thinking they had chance to take DIvisonal from Tampa. Experience factor obviously goes to SOX. I think pressure is on Halos too, Sox probably more relaxed here. Halos still have the monkey on their back(pun intended) with all their recent playoff losses to the Sox in the past.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,119,900
Messages
13,574,895
Members
100,882
Latest member
topbettor24
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com