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John Lackey: ‘If healthy, I’ll be just fine’ 02.14.13 at 3:04 pm ET
By Mike Petraglia

John Lackey opened up about his health and attitude Thursday in Fort Myers. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — He may not be ready to say he’s 100 percent ready for opening day but John Lackey on Thursday did the next best thing. The 32-year-old rebuilt right-hander pronounced himself ready to take on a full load of preparation this spring, in an effort to get ready for a rebound season in 2013 with the Red Sox.

After a miserable 2011 that saw him pitch with a blown out right elbow toward the end of the season, Lackey was 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA in 28 starts. That led to Tommy John surgery after the September collapse and a long 18 months leading to this spring in Fort Myers.

“Everything has [felt better],” Lackey said. “It’s nice for it not to hurt, to be honest with you. Definitely feels like I took a few years off [my career]. It’s been a while, probably a couple of years [since I’ve felt this good].

“I had a bad year that year but I also had a blown out elbow. The rest of my years in the big league have been okay. I feel like if healthy, I’ll be just fine.”

[Click here to listen to John Lackey speak out about his prospects for 2013]

“I had a bad year that year but I also had a blown out elbow. The rest of my years in the big league have been okay. I feel like if healthy, I’ll be just fine.”

“I’m not going to get into all that.”">Click here to listen to John Lackey speak out about his prospects for 2013]

Lackey was asked, point blank, if he blames former Red Sox medical staff for an erroneous or misleading diagnosis before suffering the torn ligament in his elbow.

“I’m not going to get into all that,” Lackey said.

Lackey said he’s not going to get ahead of himself in terms of projecting himself ready for opening day.

“We have a long way to opening day,” Lackey said. “I feel great right now. But things can happen sometimes. I think I put in the effort level and the work this offseason to give myself the best chance possible.”

Lackey has not thrown any breaking balls yet off a mound in camp.

“I thrown some breaking balls on flat ground just playing catch, that sort of thing, but I just haven’t thrown it down the hill [mound] yet,” he said. “I threw breaking balls at the end of the season last year when I did that little two-inning thing. I’m not concerned about that.”

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  • Tr

    Believe me, rebuilt elbow or not, he will still suck!

  • Bruinman86

    I’d be happy if he can keep his ERA under 5!

  • Mole

    the madia will screw him over   win or lose

  • ILoveHockey

    Madia- is that one of Tyler Perry’s characters??

  • Anonymous

    Who knows?  Anything can happen in baseball when one has the confidence and drive to will himself to succeed. Keep the ball down and throw strikes or throw to the batter’s weaknesses  and let your defense take it from there and win at least 15 games to justify and earn the paycheck you receive and you will be fine on the home front John. Don’t let the errors and mistakes bug you when they happen…The fans and media will jump all over you again the second they see you shaking your head after a slow roller gets through to blow a no hitter or shut out you may have going. we know how you feel when it happens….winning cures everything in New England…that is for  a little while…two managers fired in the last two years.

  • OY

    From his mouth to God’s ears….

  • Everyone

    What, is there a Gomer Pyle look a like contest going on somewhere here???

  • Troy

     NO HE WON”T!!!!!

  • Troy

    People need to understand that we haven’t seen a healthy John Lackey til now. 2010 he was hurt, maybe not as bad as 2011, but he has said his elbow has been hurting him for a few years now. My point is let’s see what he can do without being so f’n negative all the time.

  • Time to shine

    At least he got in shape not like Doubrount who looks like the Pillsbury dough boy which Lester allowed the last two years and was sweating after 6 pitches in the first inning. Some real fat guys were good pitchers so lets see what they have this year. Maybe Farrell has all the answers. Hope he can get 3mph back on Lesters fastball. Too bad Buchholz cannot put on 20LBS.

    Just maybe this combo of players are winners. Could not get worse than last year.  

  • Schwank

    I think in Lackey’s case the less weight will help.  But who knows, it’s about stamina and arm strength.  Might work against him.  Wait an see. I’m optimistic,

  • Uncle Buck

    He has been to the top, he has been to the bottom.  I trust we will see marked improvement.  

  • SunShineState

    Uncle Buck you slob!!!

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/ZVFM2HRNC5CTO2OUXD4XTX65O4 Dennis

     Advice to Lackey this year:  Watch what you say and keep expressions on the mound to a minimum. 

  • Guest

    Lackey is 34 years old, not 32 as the article states.

  • http://www.facebook.com/pete.lincoln.338 Pete Lincoln

    Can’t root for the guy.  I will avoid games he pitches.  Maybe there is a good reason to split up when your wife has cancer, but until I hear it, not a fan.

  • fictionwriter

    John Lackey, fiction writer.

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