Well, here we are. The Red Sox are a game away from their third World Series title in 9 years. The man entrusted with the ball in game 6 is none other than John Lackey.
Remember a year ago at this time? Lackey was coming off Tommy John surgery after two underachieving seasons, the second with a 6.41 ERA. There had been negative stories about beer and chicken, as well as some about his personal life. At the start of the year, John Farrell penciled him in as his number 5 starter. There was talk that if rainouts occurred during the first week, Lackey might have to start the Sox' home opener. If this happened, how would the Fenway fans receive him?
In the beginning it looked like the Lack-man might not even have a season. Facing the Jays in Toronto, he released a pitch in the fifth inning that failed to even reach the plate. Immediately the righthander clutched his arm, doubling over in pain. For a man coming off TJ, another ligament tear would require more surgery and possible end his career. But it was only a bicep sprain. After a stint on the DL, Lackey started against the lowly Astros at Fenway in late April. The results were encouraging. He went a strong 6 innings in a 6-1 win that gave the suprising Bosox an 18-7 record, by far the best in baseball.
The team's strong start took some pressure off Lackey. Three of the men ahead of him in the rotation- Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and Felix Doubront were a combined11-0. The Sox' ERA was an excellent 3,39. "A healthy, productive Lackey," wrote Nick Cafardo, "protects the Sox in case they have issues with Lester, Buchholz, Doubront and Ryan Dempster down the road." Cafardo was prophetic. Bucky would miss three months with shoulder problems, Lester and Doubront would go through deep slumps, and Dempster was average at best. Though his season mark was 10-13, his 3.52 ERA was second on the team and among the top 20 in the AL. His strikeout to walk ratio was 4.03, the best in his career. It was Lackey that won the contest that clinched the division title in late September.
A playoff veteran, Lackey has also shone in the postseason. After a somewhat shaky win over Tampa Bay in the ALDS, he has come back with two strong outings. In ALCS game 3, he shut out the hard-hitting Tigers for 6 2/3 frames with 8 strikeouts in a 1-0 victory over Justin Verlander. In game 2 of the World Series, he went 6 1/3, allowing 5 hits to the Cardinals. He left leading 2-1, though Craig Breslow blew the save in a 4-2 defeat.
Farrell has not been afraid to use Lackey in pressure situations, calling on him to pitch the eighth in game 4. It was his first relief appearance since 04, but he came through as the setup man to reach Koji Uehara as the Sox tied the series.
Though Lackey has been one of the many Sox heroes of 2013, there is still pressure on him as he starts game 6, paired with rookie sensation Michael Wacha. A loss would again tie the series with the prospect of struggling Jake Peavy in game 7. Whatever happens, however, his contribution to this magical season has been huge.
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