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John Lackey on his spring debut: ‘I missed playing baseball’ 02.23.13 at 3:29 pm ET
By Mike Petraglia

A relaxed and happy John Lackey after Saturday's spring debut. (Mike Petraglia/WEEI.com)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — John Lackey is a changed man.

After allowing one run on one hit, one strikeout, one walk and one hit batter in his spring debut Saturday, the 34-year-old right-hander admitted to being his age, laughed about his 20-pitch outing and expressed appreciation for feeling no pain in his elbow for the first time since signing with the Red Sox before the 2010 season.

“I’ve lied, for sure, about that,” Lackey said when asked if he hid arm pain from the Red Sox in the first three seasons with the team. “There’s definitely some pain. There were a few times when I said there wasn’t but it’s been a few years, for sure.”

Despite loading the bases with none out on the first 10 pitches he threw, he was enjoying the experience all the while on the JetBlue mound.

“I did,” he said. “I kind of took a second before I went out on the mound and reflected on the bench on the past year and a half. It’s been a lot of work and have to thank a lot of trainers, a lot of people that helped me get back to this point. I was excited to be back out there.

“[I was] excited. It was fun. I missed playing baseball for sure. It was good to be back out there. The arm felt fine. I didn’t feel any pain in the elbow. Just keep moving forward.”

Lackey allowed one run, one hit, one walk, struck out a batter and hit a batter in a 20-pitch first inning of work, his only inning of the day.

“Results stuff I really wasn’t real concerned about today,” he said. “Just glad to be back out there and get things going in that direction. Next time out we’ll get to working on a few other things.”

What did his manager think?

“The ball got out of his hand as we expected today,” John Farrell said. “It’s a big step, and it’s one over the last 16 months, he was on his program, and at times, he probably felt like he was the only one going through it. And today was the first step for his building block for spring training and getting back to being a regular member of this rotation.

“I think there was a lot of anticipation on a number of people’s part, and mostly John’s. But now, he’s able to get into his five-day rotation, normal sides, normal turns through the schedule. But a good first step for him.”

Farrell said the plan is to increase to two innings for his next outing, likely in five days against the Pirates in Bradenton, and increase by one inning in each subsequent start.

“That’s the plan,” Farrell said. “He’ll build with each consecutive outing, an inning at a time.”

Lackey admitted he had some nerves taking the mound.

“There’s definitely some for sure,” Lackey said. “It got better as I got a little bit more tired. The ball started coming down a little bit but first couple of hitters, I was up in the zone. I was just going to throw all fastballs today just trying to build arm strength. I think I tried one changeup, that’s it. The rest of them were all fastballs. It’s a little different than throwing on the side for sure.”

Lackey said he wasn’t worried about velocity in the first game of the spring, a game in which he threw no breaking balls.

“The first game after Tommy John? No. I was just trying to hit the glove in the air today. The plan was one inning all along. I look forward to the next time for sure,” Lackey said.

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  • Coach

    go back to little league you overpaid loser.

  • Richard in Canton

    Good luck to Lackey.   He has a lot to prove.

  • Fab4ever

    Awesome post…probably took you quite awile to come up with that gem…whew. Bob Costas has nothing on you…

  • Theodore

    Lackey is definitely down 25-30 lbs. 

  • Crime & Punishment

    Give the guy a chance. He clearly worked hard during the offseason to get in shape, and he should be commended for that. I don’t care for the person Lackey is, but then again, I don’t really know the guy either, so it’s probably not fair for me to comment on that. Quite simply, he’s in better shape, he’s healthy, so there’s no reason not to think he can’t have a good year.

  • lackey+salty=disaster

    Lackey, you picked up right where you left off. You suck. Loved that 89 mph heat you brought.

  • Coach

    this is why i’m the coach – to teach the rest of you losers that the dead sox will finish last. vegas has them pegged @ 82 wins – i’m betting the under that’s why i’m a millionaire and you’re all peons.

  • Fab4ever

    Thanks Krusty

  • Ty

    Is it the same reason you’re commenting on a sports website along with us “peons”? Really, a millionaire like yourself feels the need to talk down to people because you’re supposedly a good gambler? Please. If you have such disdain for everyone here, why even bother trying to help? Don’t worry, I’ll answer that for you: you’re a delusional @sshole.
      
    Oh my… I’m sorry, where are my manners? What I meant to say was thanks for the life lesson, coach! I shudder to think what my chances of having success in life would be without having read your comment. I feel so enlightened, truly…

  • Uncle Buck

    New ID, same punk and same schtick.  

  • Dano50

    I’ll bet YOU were awful in little league too.  ”Coach”  Ha.

  • Dano50

    We often admire “macho” guys who will play hurt.  Right up to the point where that makes their playing poor on the field.  Mainly, Lackey was simply guilty of trying too hard to live up to expectations.  JD Drew was always slammed for not playing hurt.  But is that always desirable?  It’s often a “no win” for the player.  Drew and Ellsbury get criticized for being hurt.  Lackey catches hell for pitching (albeit poorly) while hurting.  I don’t expect he’ll contend for a Cy Young this year…but if he can get that ERA to around four, this staff ought to be much improved.

  • Mystreba

    I didn’t realize Tommy John also fixed personality issues.  Was that the same person who sneered at every question asked in every post-game interview he’s ever given?

  • San Diego Dreamer

    I was all over this guy  too.We need to give him a chance. He has made a serious effort in getting in shape and he now appreciates the ability to play more than before. We just might be pleasantly surprised.

  • otis

    just sad

  • H Bouley

    The really disturbing thing is, according to Lackey, his elbow was hurting when he signed with the Sox 3 years ago. Didnt the Sox have his arm examined beforehand?? I get the feeling the Angels knew of his elbow problems which is why they refused to re-sign Lackey. Way to go Sox!! Its teams that make those type  of decisions who are destined for loserville.

  • Boston G

    so the color of the mound is jet blue..like blue angel blue? In other news hope the arm holds, if I read right you have a brand new bionic arm..so awesome you can throw with your left now. omg all the optimism in this town sux!

  • Coach

    DUH

  • FireGuyFrank

    Apparently, Lackey is STILL missing baseball.

  • FireGuyFrank

    Apparently, Lackey is STILL missing baseball.

  • FireGuyFrank

    Apparently, Lackey is STILL missing baseball.

  • FireGuyFrank

    Apparently, Lackey is STILL missing baseball.

  • FireGuyFrank

    Apparently, Lackey is STILL missing baseball.

  • Molly

    Lackey is going to be the reason why we reach the playoffs this year.

  • Molly

    Lackey is going to be the reason why we reach the playoffs this year.

  • Molly

    Lackey is going to be the reason why we reach the playoffs this year.

  • Molly

    Lackey is going to be the reason why we reach the playoffs this year.

  • Molly

    Lackey is going to be the reason why we reach the playoffs this year.

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