John Lackey Talks after the game.

[JSD]

"It's frustrating," Lackey said. "It's way different, this year from last year. They were better than us last year. They were not better than us this year. It's 100, 180 degrees different." "We lost to a team that's not better than us," "We are a better team than they are. The last two days, we shouldn't have given up anything."  "[Sunday] night they scored three runs on a pop fly that was called a hit, which was a joke," "[Monday] night they scored on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball that anywhere else in America is an out, and he's fist-pumping on second base like he did something great." Asked to describe his feelings, Lackey said, "Like I want to throw somebody through a wall." (From LA Times and MLB.com)

 

[jpd985]

 

[CelticsWhat35]

"It's frustrating," Lackey said. "It's way different, this year from last year. They were better than us last year. They were not better than us this year. It's 100, 180 degrees different." "We lost to a team that's not better than us," "We are a better team than they are. The last two days, we shouldn't have given up anything."  "[Sunday] night they scored three runs on a pop fly that was called a hit, which was a joke," "[Monday] night they scored on a broken-bat ground ball and a fly ball that anywhere else in America is an out, and he's fist-pumping on second base like he did something great." Asked to describe his feelings, Lackey said, "Like I want to throw somebody through a wall." (From LA Times and MLB.com)

 

It's stuff like that that makes the win even more gratifying.  What a moron.  I also liked how the announcers were pointing out how much he was whining about his defense, and how pitchers like him only remember the errors, but don't remember the spectacular plays that save runs.

[ma11l]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.  However that means squat.  Sure it was a close series that could've gone either way.  Each game was tight and could've been won by either team.  The bottom line is the Sox made all the plays defensively that the Angels couldn't which cost them big time.  The Sox also got a lot more big hits late in games from Drew, Bay, Lowrie, etc.  That's what makes them the better playoff team, which is why we have continually beat this team.


Definite low blow on Pedroia.  Should he not be excited for an RBI double after breaking out of an 0-fer series slump.  Who cares if it's an out anywhere else in America, it's not at Fenway.  We know that, and take advantage of it.  If he doesn't like it maybe he shouldn't thrown that awful fastball to Bay in LA that cost them the home field advantage.

[libermaniac]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.

I don't necessarily agree.   They won 5 more games than Boston, despite playing in a pitiful division.  How much better do you thinks the Sox would've fared if, instead of 18 vs. TB, NY and Tor, we got 18 vs. Oak, Sea and Texas?

[CelticsWhat35]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.  However that means squat.  Sure it was a close series that could've gone either way.  Each game was tight and could've been won by either team.  The bottom line is the Sox made all the plays defensively that the Angels couldn't which cost them big time.  The Sox also got a lot more big hits late in games from Drew, Bay, Lowrie, etc.  That's what makes them the better playoff team, which is why we have continually beat this team.


Definite low blow on Pedroia.  Should he not be excited for an RBI double after breaking out of an 0-fer series slump.  Who cares if it's an out anywhere else in America, it's not at Fenway.  We know that, and take advantage of it.  If he doesn't like it maybe he shouldn't thrown that awful fastball to Bay in LA that cost them the home field advantage.

Maybe he's still bitter about Pedroia breaking up his no-hit bid.  

[CelticsWhat35]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.

I don't necessarily agree.   They won 5 more games than Boston, despite playing in a pitiful division.  How much better do you thinks the Sox would've fared if, instead of 18 vs. TB, NY and Tor, we got 18 vs. Oak, Sea and Texas?

Good point.  And anyway, Lackey didn't say they were the better "regular season" team.  He said they were the better team, which he can try to justify all he wants while he's cleaning out his locker.

[jgod213]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.  However that means squat.  Sure it was a close series that could've gone either way.  Each game was tight and could've been won by either team.  The bottom line is the Sox made all the plays defensively that the Angels couldn't which cost them big time.  The Sox also got a lot more big hits late in games from Drew, Bay, Lowrie, etc.  That's what makes them the better playoff team, which is why we have continually beat this team.


Definite low blow on Pedroia.  Should he not be excited for an RBI double after breaking out of an 0-fer series slump.  Who cares if it's an out anywhere else in America, it's not at Fenway.  We know that, and take advantage of it.  If he doesn't like it maybe he shouldn't thrown that awful fastball to Bay in LA that cost them the home field advantage.

Yea agreed, he was right for the most part, except he missed on one big issue...

THE ANGELS (outside of Teixiera and Hunter) PLAYED SCARED

Lackey had a great series, but Kendrick, Aybar, and Figgins were all affraid of the moment.  Kendrick blew the 3-run pop-up and screwed Lackey last night when he muffed a potential double play on the first run of the game.  Aybar straight up WHIFFED on a bunt - it was a fastball!! how does a "good bunter" whiff on a sac bunt when he's thrown a fastball down the middle? That has CHOKE written all over it.

I understand why Lackey is p---ed, but the bottom line is the Sox played consistent, relaxed baseball while the Angels played as if they were affraid to screw up - which they ultimately did.  The Sox weren't lucky...when you've won championships and know how to win, you don't let the moment overwhelm you.

[Vermont Green]

The Angels are a very good team.  They lost because of defense.  We made a number of gritty, timely defensive gems and they bothched a number of plays.  Even if the error doesn't lead directly to a run, even the extra pitches that result can make a difference with two evenly matched teams.

Lackey should know better than to shoot off his mouth but I don't have a real problem with it overall; it is totally understandable that he was frustrated.  I don't see a need to single out Pedroia, a young player who just made a big play in a big game for pumping his fist though.  Look at how football players celebrate when they make a simple tackle for crying out loud.  But overall I am not upset, I am not going to hold this against him; I will give him a mulligan.  He is a competitor and a pretty good pitcher.  I would be happy to have him on our staff.

[QuinielaBox]

That was a great baseball series. Turns out that the Red Sox made a couple of more plays than the Angels did. Not so sure why the Angels are so bitter. They would not have won 100 if they played in the AL East.

Lestah has become Cy Young (or George Herman Ruth when he was a pitchah and not a HR hitter).

Looking forward to the ALCS with Tampa Rays.

[Redz]

The Angels did their very best to hand that series to the Sox.  They made a bunch of mistakes that you just can't make in a playoff series and get away with.  Kendrick was terrible at 2nd.  They ran into a bunch of outs. 

They choked.

Way to give the opponent some credit.

Any chance Pedroia was little pumped because it was a big hit, and his first/only of the series after a tremendous season?

Happy fishing, Lackey.  You got outpitched, TWICE.  Loser!

[crownsy]

"and then he pumps his fist like he did something standing on second"

uh...he did do something john. he came through with a clutch hit and drove in the go ahead run. something that everyone not named napoli struggled with on your team.

[LB3533]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.

I don't necessarily agree.   They won 5 more games than Boston, despite playing in a pitiful division.  How much better do you thinks the Sox would've fared if, instead of 18 vs. TB, NY and Tor, we got 18 vs. Oak, Sea and Texas?

It wouldn't be much different because the Angles faired well against the AL East and the AL West...both better records than the Sox had. The Angels would have won more games than the Sox, regardless of division placement. (Angles would have crushed the AL West teams [save for Oakland] if Boston were there, 9-4 against Boston).

[CelticsWhat35]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.

I don't necessarily agree.   They won 5 more games than Boston, despite playing in a pitiful division.  How much better do you thinks the Sox would've fared if, instead of 18 vs. TB, NY and Tor, we got 18 vs. Oak, Sea and Texas?

It wouldn't be much different because the Angles faired well against the AL East and the AL West...both better records than the Sox had. The Angels would have won more games than the Sox, regardless of division placement. (Angles would have crushed the AL West teams [save for Oakland] if Boston were there, 9-4 against Boston).

That's just a hypothetical.  The only thing we know for sure is that the Red Sox are better than the Angels, because they just proved it when it mattered most.

[crownsy]

He made some decent points.  The Angels were absolutely the better regular season team this year.

I don't necessarily agree.   They won 5 more games than Boston, despite playing in a pitiful division.  How much better do you thinks the Sox would've fared if, instead of 18 vs. TB, NY and Tor, we got 18 vs. Oak, Sea and Texas?

It wouldn't be much different because the Angles faired well against the AL East and the AL West...both better records than the Sox had. The Angels would have won more games than the Sox, regardless of division placement. (Angles would have crushed the AL West teams [save for Oakland] if Boston were there, 9-4 against Boston).

That's just a hypothetical.  The only thing we know for sure is that the Red Sox are better than the Angels, because they just proved it when it mattered most.

yep yep.

move along braves in training, cya next year!