Lackey's postgame comments Options

[DJnVa]

Some of these are completely understandable, but we have a few days off, so I thought some people might want to comment on these:

"It's way different than last year. We are way better than they are. We lost to a team not as good as us."

Then Lackey was asked to describe the feeling in the clubhouse, and without hesitation and with clear irritation, he shot back, "like I want to throw somebody through a wall."

"[On Sunday]they scored on a pop fly they called a hit, which is a joke," said Lackey, referring to a popup that was misplayed into three runs. "[On Monday], they score on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball anywhere else in America [except in Fenway Park]. And [Pedroia's] fist-pumping on second like he did something great."

I understand the whole "we lost to a team not as good as us" thing, but there's no reason to bust on Pedroia. It's not like he hit a 37 hopper that the SS booted and then was pumping his fist.

[Drocca]

I think these comments are understandable. They lost a tough series.

That said; John Lackey clearly is not a fan of the laser show and that is his loss.

[NomarRS05]

He said this right after losing a tough series, following a 100-win season and another ALDS loss to the same team that beat them last season. This was a devestating series loss for the Angels. He's pissed and not being politically correct. Taking the circumstances into context, these comments are understandable and I can't really drum up any hate for Lackey based on them.

[JimD]

Meh. If Lackey doesn't understand the difference between playing in the cupcake AL West and the meatgrinder that is the AL East, I don't know what to say. If this Angels team had to play in our division, they may not have even made the playoffs and would likely have been battling it out for the wild card.

[Caspir]

This whole, "If it wasn't Fenway it would be an out/double/foul ball," stuff from opposing pitchers is just being a sore loser. Sure if they played the game at Comerica, Pedroia would have flown out to left. But they were playing against the Boston Red Sox, who play their home games at Fenway Park. Adjust. The poor sport stuff is childish, and I don't see any Sox players bitching about Torii Hunter throwing himself a party on first base every time he got a hit in the series. I guess that's why they're still playing baseball while LAA heads home for the winter. And bitching about the official scorer? Fine, call the plays errors. The result is the same.

Edit- As JimD said, I don't see him making comments about being the only team in his division to finish above .500. This is a fourth place team in the East.

This post has been edited by Caspir: Oct 7 2008, 07:44 AM

[Smiling Joe Hesk...]

I remember last year Lackey got hammered in a regular season game at Fenway, and the camera clearly caught him mouthing the words "Fuck this place!"

He's only human, and frustration is a natural reaction to what just happened to them, but he's coming across as an enormous sore loser here. To claim that the team that you just lost to in 4 games is not as good as you is the epitome of post-loss whining.

[BrooklynDog45]

I'd like to hear Lackey's teammate’s comments on his theatrics after they've made a miscue in the field. Ron Darling called it bush twice last night when Lackey showed too much emotion, one after Kendrick failed to turn two on Ellsbury's ground ball that led to the first run and second when Aybar let a Bay single get under his glove.

This post has been edited by BrooklynDog45: Oct 7 2008, 07:51 AM

[Average Reds]

Watching the way Lackey was acting out on the mound last night, these comments do not surprise me in the least. This is clearly a guy with the emotional maturity of a 15 year old. (To be fair, this is probably just below average for an MLB player.)

Having said that, Lackey's whining only increases my enjoyment of the series win, so it doesn't bother me in the least.

This post has been edited by Average Reds: Oct 7 2008, 08:09 AM

[TheoShmeo]

Lackey's frustration is understandable. He pitched very well two times out and got a grand total of one run in support from his teammates while he was on the mound and some bad defense to boot. And he's been on three Angels teams that lost to the Sox in the ALDS. And he has had a tough time at Fenway generally, the near no hitter notwithstanding.

At the same time, the fact that his comments were immediately after an incredibly frustrating loss doesn't change the fact that he's an adult and should have appreciated how poorly what he was saying would reflect on him.

This post has been edited by TheoShmeo: Oct 7 2008, 07:59 AM

[DosEquisMatsuzak...]

LA was a very good team but their run differential was +68 which was good for 5th in the AL. Boston's run differential was +151 which was the second best in baseball behind the hardluck Cubs. The reason that the Angels won 100 games was a lot of luck and playing in the worst division in baseball (although their win % against the east was very good largely because they played Boston insanely tough in the regular season), a good bullpen all year long (Boston's was terrible in the first half and turned it on in the second half). The Angels pythag win percentage of 54.6% puts them at an expected 89 win season. Boston's pythag win percentage of 60.8% puts them at an expected 98 win season.

Basically what I am saying is John is just upset because the Angels have sucked against Boston in the post season and it's just sour grapes. Boo Hoo Hoo.

[NickEsasky]

Lackey complaining about the 3 run "single" makes me laugh. Who cares if it was a single or an error if your team was any good they would have caught the ball.

This post has been edited by NickEsasky: Oct 7 2008, 08:04 AM

[RSN Diaspora]

I'd like to hear Lackey's teammate’s comments on his theatrics after they've made a miscue in the field. Ron Darling called it bush twice last night when Lackey showed too much emotion, one after Kendrick failed to turn two on Ellsbury's ground ball that led to the first run and second when Aybar let a Bay single get under his glove.

What surprised me most about that one was that had Kendrick fielded the ball cleanly and gone to second, I doubt they still would have turned the DP. Ellsbury damn near beat that one out as it was, and a toss to second base and then back to first on a cleanly fielded ball probably would have taken two seconds longer, and Ellsbury would have been safe at first.

[Todd Benzinger]

Basically what I am saying is John is just upset because the Angels have sucked against Boston in the post season and it's just sour grapes. Boo Hoo Hoo.

I'd say LOL BOO HOO.

If your team is so great, John, why were you constantly calling them out when they screwed up behind you?

I can see why he is very frustrated. If this were a neutral series, I would even empathize a bit. But in this case, I like it. Lackey has finally pitched well against the Sox at Fenway the last two times; I think it is good for the Sox if he is blaming Fenway and underestimating the strength of the Sox club. It only keeps us in his head, and suggests that he may revert to struggling more in Fenway.

[smastroyin]

He was frustrated and some of his comments I'm sure reflect the actual attitude of the team. I'm sure the media in this case took advantage of his attitude to get some juicy quotes. Frankly, a lot of what was said sounds like something Schilling might say after a tough loss. I'm sure the Red Sox are not going to dwell on it.

That said, I'm sure we will hear about this when the Angels come to town next year and the fans will let Lackey know what they think of his ill-formed opinion.

[djhb20]

Lackey's frustration is understandable. He pitched very well two times out and got a grand total of one run in support from his teammates while he was on the mound and some bad defense to boot. And he's been on three Angels teams that lost to the Sox in the ALDS. And he has had a tough time at Fenway generally, the near no hitter notwithstanding.

At the same time, the fact that his comments were immediately after an incredibly frustrating loss doesn't change the fact that he's an adult and should have appreciated how poorly what he was saying would reflect on him.

What does he expect? He's their #1 starter. In the first play-off series, he's going to matched up against.... a #1 starter. Was he expecting a 10-1 victory?

And, as I said in P&G, he should look in the mirror, too. He pitched well in game 1, but that pitch to Bay was one of the worst pitches of the off-season.

[OttoC]

Meh. If Lackey doesn't understand the difference between playing in the cupcake AL West and the meatgrinder that is the AL East, I don't know what to say. If this Angels team had to play in our division, they may not have even made the playoffs and would likely have been battling it out for the wild card.

This may be a reason Lackey felt the Angels were a better team:

CODE

Red Sox vs. Angels, 2008 regular season
Date      OPP    Score
22-Apr   v LAA   7-6
23-Apr   v LAA   4-6
24-Apr   v LAA   5-7
18-Jul   @ LAA   3-11
19-Jul   @ LAA   2-4
20-Jul   @ LAA   3-5
28-Jul   v LAA   5-7
29-Jul   v LAA   2-6
30-Jul   v LAA   2-9

They beat Boston 8 in a row and outscored them 61 to 33. Overall, they were 30 and 16 against the AL East, which is a .652 winning percentage. Even taken out the results against Boston, they compiled a .595 winning percentage against the East.

[BoSox24]

Lackey should, and probably will eventually, direct some of his anger to the shoddy defense behind him and the fact that only 3-4 players in the Angels lineup can hit.

[Razor Shines]

Lackey complaining about the 3 run "single" makes me laugh. Who cares if it was a single or an error if your team was any good they would have caught the ball.

He also is forgetting another minor detail: his team won that game. This would be the equivalent of Bill Lee blaming the 1975 World Series loss on something that happened in Game 6.

[Gator's '88 MVP]

He's a sore loser, but I would feel the same way as he if I had just been shown the door in the manor in which the Angels have been the last 2 years. Games 3 and 4 were competitive, but we could have pretty easily won game three with a couple breaks going our way too.

It must really suck to be John Lackey and any of the Angels this morning. Fortunatley, it does not suck to be us.

[PedroKsBambino]

You're a terrific pitcher, John. Enjoy your winter.

Meanwhile, amongst teams still playing for the championship...