By handing the ball to John Lackey for the second game of the season, Francona bypasses 17-game winner Clay Buchholz and the rotation’s stalwart, Josh Beckett. They will go in games three and four, respectively.
But Lackey’s smooth spring has only increased the Red Sox’ confidence in the veteran right-hander, who led the team in innings and starts last season and has more experience than any of Boston’s starters.
“He’s such a good veteran and he really knows how to get himself ready,” Francona said after Lackey allowed just a run in 5 1/3 innings of an 8-5 win over the New York Mets on Thursday. “His first two outings he didn’t throw hard, but he would just locate the ball. I thought today he turned it up a notch.”
That increase in intensity is some of what has made this spring vastly different from the last one for Lackey, even though he produced a lot of zeroes in March of 2010 as well.
In his first spring training with the Red Sox, the 32-year-old was attempting to build slowly toward the regular season in an effort to avoid a repeat of his last two spring trainings with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2008 and 2009, Lackey left Cactus League play injured and didn’t make his season debuts until well into March. That did not happen in 2010, but he paid a price.
Because of his desire to be a bit more careful last March, Lackey took longer to build up the requisite arm strength, which showed in some inconsistent results once the regular season began. Now for the first time since 2007, when Lackey went 19-9 with a 3.01 ERA for the Angels, the righty is on the right course.
“I’m pitching a lot different this spring training than I did last year,” said Lackey, who improved to 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA.
The way the rotation is configured, Lackey will start the home opener against the New York Yankees on April 8. He said he had not thought that far ahead and didn’t even know the opponent when asked, but lit up a bit once he found out he was slated to go that Friday afternoon.
“Fenway’s a special place and to be the first guy to pitch there this year with a lot of high expectations around town, it’ll be a fun thing,” Lackey said.
What endears Lackey to Francona and others on the staff is his consistency, not necessarily in results but in his attitude, his preparation and his mindset on the mound. That same mindset has Lackey focused on his job, regardless of whether he follows Lester or not.
“The Opening Day thing is a big deal and Jonny deserves that, absolutely,” Lackey said. “I think all of us would say that, but after that, we’re just going to fall in line and hopefully not drop the baton.”
Based on a picture-perfect spring that has him on target for the first time in years, Lackey figures to run with it.
