#11 JOHN LACKEY - STARTING PITCHER (2002-Present)
The numbers compiled by John Lackey (thru the completion of the 2008 campaign) match up well to those of Angel great Frank Tanana's. While Tanana's 1600+ Innings pitched as an Angel is about 300 more IP than John's, Tanana was throwing the era of the Complete Game. Meanwhile, Lackey's numbers have to be construed as having been brushing up at least part of the Big Steroid Era (leaving John with a 3.81 ERA compared to Frank's 3.08 ERA).
Tanana and Lackey are within 10 Wins of each other, ranking 4th and 5th (Lackey with 91, Frank with 102). Lackey's W-L % of .591 is the franchise standard, but shouldn't mike Scioscia get some ofthe credit. Meanwhile a struggling Angels team gave Frank a .567 mark, good for 5th place. Lackey's K/9 is 7th place all time, ahead of Tanana's 10th place rate. Lackey is one of 6 Angel pitchers with over 1,000 strikeouts and is less than 200 away from Frank's hold on 4th place.
But we will never know how Frank Tanana would have performed as the starting pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series a few weeks shy of his 24th birthday. He would have been great no doubt, but we do know that one of the ten guttiest performances by an Angel ever assured the once-cursed franchise on the banks of the 57 Freeway would finally get a ring.
And that is why John Lackey ranks ahead of Frank Tanana on the countdown of the Top 100 Angels, illustrating that poignant aphorism: The saddest truth that can be spoken is that many are called but few are chosen.
0 recs | 4 comments
He pitched Game 7 on short rest
Got to love that
hauldog - March 23, 2009
Gotta have Percival ahead of Lackey
When Troy Percival came in to pitch the top of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series against the Giants he was the first Angel pitcher in that game that was on the opening day (the Indians’ Bartolo Colon shut us out) roster. John Lackey, Brendan (Born on the Fourth of July) Donnelly, and Francisco Rodriguez were all called up as the season progressed. Lackey has had six post season starts since Game 7 in 2002 and has failed to win any of them.
Just going through the pitchers I would put Troy Percival, Frank Tanana, Frankie Rodriguez and Dean Chance ahead of John Lackey. I’ll throw Troy Glaus in for good measure. That bumps John Lackey down to #16 on my Top 100 list. John, don’t feel bad. If you are on the Top 25 list you are on the first string roster. Everybody else is taxi squad.
John, thanks for my favorite dream headline—“Lackey Turns Giants into Peons.” That is what I use to get the last word with Gene Ammirati at the grocery store in Castella, California south of Mount Shasta. Gene is a long time Giants fan who also owns “Ammo’s Bar” next to the grocery store. Gene would try to bait me by arguing that the San Francisco Chronicle was a better newspaper than the Los Angeles Times. I would favor the L.A. Times between those two but would truthfully answer the Sacramento Bee was better as I bought a copy of the Bee.
Yetijuice - March 23, 2009
2002 World Series
I remember when Lackey came up for that wonderful season. That game 7 was amazing. And I can’t believe he hasn’t won a postseason game since then!
But he has definitely gotten the Angels to the Postseason just as much as any other player.
To Yetijuice, how could Troy Glaus go anywhere above #16, he was ridiculous…
but its interesting that he had double digit stolen bases for the angels!
Anywho! im excited for the top 10!
www.baseballtalktv.com
baseballtalktv.com - March 24, 2009
I think "IF" Lack resigns and stays a few more years......He'll not only be top 10....
but he could move up to top 6 or 7
norcaliangelsfan - March 24, 2009
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