Was that
as awesome
as it gets
for Big John?
I can think of only two other games ...
... Game 7 of the World Series...
...and the Post-Kotsay Perfect Game in Oakland...
Thoset were as vintage John Lackey as last night.
If you TiVod Thursday's game, WIN 101, save it...
...it is something that you will be able to watch in ten years...
....and I will bet it feels more familiar then...
...than whatever Angels game you will watch before or after it live.
Phone central casting: "I would like the epitome of a great Lackey start..."
0 recs | 56 comments
If he ever admits to beaning Lopez on purpose
It becomes the best game he has ever pitched.
Quinlan's Goofy Swing - September 11, 2009
No way that was intentional
I was actually thinking right before the pitch as the crowd rose to its feet, wow Big John is so amped up he is going to let this one fly. It was no surprise he lost control of that pitch.
Brody - September 11, 2009
He lost control of ball 1 in that same AB.
We rose to our feet PRIOR to the at-bat. It was exciting.
Downing Rules - September 11, 2009
I thought he was going to have an "inverse outing" from his first start this year...
he got ejected after 2 pitches in that one. This one, he might have been ejected with two pitches left to go! ;)
Downing Rules - September 11, 2009
Agree. He made it look way too easy...
sothball - September 11, 2009
It was indeed a great game
And I’m lucky I obeyed the impulse to go last night and watch from a half-priced seat.
But in a way, for me, it kind of felt like watching Big Thunder say goodbye.
(please don’t think I’m trying to incite a post-season discussion – I’m just being wistful).
Zoe Necrosis - September 11, 2009
I felt that too...
it was like a strange end-of-his-career with the Angels “thank you”
It also felt like he’s trying to prove himself in a contract year.
BruinHalo - September 11, 2009
Actually
It is counter-intuitive, but I think that John is making it more likely that he will come back. Although the way he is pitching will cause his price tag to soar, it also is demonstrating his value to the team. The drop-off for our team from Lackey to our #6 starter is greater than the drop-off we would face due to the loss of any other free agent.
I have a feeling that we will make a serious run at Lackey, perhaps in the range of 5 years $75 million. I really hope we can sign him because a staff of Lackey, Kazmir, Weaver, Santana, and Saunders just makes me smile.
Brody - September 11, 2009
75 / 5
15 teams will match that. He is going to cost way more.
Rev Halofan - September 11, 2009
Big John
is making it AWFULLY hard on Arte to not open up the checkbook…
dmhead - September 11, 2009
shell out the money for lackey, say goodbye to figgins.
ok, im being irrational. but i don’t want to live in a world where john lackey and his weird face will pitch for another team.
clover_black - September 11, 2009
Forget the face
What about his VOICE? It’s like Gomer Pile and Kermit the Frog had a child with tourettes…
…Magical.
Zoe Necrosis - September 11, 2009
or his ever expanding waistline
he’s probably only a few triple cheeseburgers away from being where Fatolo was at his age.
Quad Fin Rider - September 11, 2009
yeah...
think of barry white and how smooth his voice is…now think of of the exact opposite, and you have john lackey.
clover_black - September 11, 2009
I'm with you
I think all signs point to Lackey staying and Figgy leaving.
Why? Two words: Brandon Wood
He needs a full season of experience and he’s more than ready for it. Although no one on our team will be as good a lead off runner as Figgy, we have a very speedy team who can pick up the slack. With our OFs all full and Vladdy likely staying (even if he didn’t stay, Naps would DH and that would keep the OFs full, plus we have Quinny), Figgy has nowhere to play.
Wood has a lot of upside and gives us a speedy guy with a lot of pop and has a great glove.. Keeping Lackey would help solidify an incredible 5-man rotation. And we may have some left over money (probably not much) to get another reliever arm.
Slyintine - September 11, 2009
Figgy has a place to play
The bigger point is that we need Lackey so much more than we need Figgy. Losing Figgy will not be easy. It’s never easy to let go of someone who has so much talent. But Brandon Wood is as ready as he will ever be to take over at third base. No one is ready to fill Big John’s shoes yet.
My offseason wish list: Big John plus either Abreu or Vladdy to a one or two-year deal.
Brody - September 11, 2009
Plus, as we've seen this year
you never know when one of your big starters goes down. Always good to have as many in tow as possible.
dmhead - September 11, 2009
That is 100% correct
Brody - September 11, 2009
Replay
Late at night (and sometimes the next day), FSN does a replay of the Angels game, but it’s compressed into a two hour slot (typically, after a commercial break, there will be a voiceover announcement to the effect that “due to time constraints, we pick up the action later in the contest”). Last night’s contest was over in 2:02, and so they showed the whole game I believe. They only edited out some of the time in between pitches.
jjackflash - September 11, 2009
And then there is the game in Texas where Lackey beaned the first two batters
and was tossed from the game before completing the first inning. Hysterical and historical, this game makes a perfect bookend to last night’s game.
44FAN - September 11, 2009
oops...
you beat me to this! How funny. Brilliant minds think alike? I was afraid he was going to be ejected last night, then it would have truly been the mirror image/bookend outing.
Downing Rules - September 11, 2009
I know, I was like did that really happen? Lackey HBP the last batter in a shutout?
44FAN - September 11, 2009
this staff is coming together
it’s very comforting to know every game now we have more than a better chance to win. Lackey was awesome last night, here’s to duplicating that in his next start.
hope the hitting joins this superb starting pitching soon. :)
SCHalo - September 11, 2009
The staff...
each guy goes out trying to top the last guy. When they are dealin’ like this, nobody wants to be the guy that gives up a big number of runs. This is a great “competition” that is a delight for us fans to watch. I sure hope it can continue, hopefully in Fenway in early October.
Downing Rules - September 11, 2009
Probably the last time I'll see wearing a Halos uniform in person
Amazing game last night. The last 2 games I’ve attended have been Complete Game shutouts by our pitchers (Lackey last night and Ervin vs. Tampa last month)
Salmonella - September 11, 2009
It all comes down to how much he loves being an Angel...
SenorChuckles - September 11, 2009
My Hope
In the past year or so, he has gotten married and bought a new home in Newport Beach. Let’s hope that his wife can work a Mrs. Teixeira and tell Big John that she wants to stay here, so he does.
jjackflash - September 11, 2009
Pretty sure she'll tell Big John she wants the money.
AlanFalcon - September 11, 2009
I have to say that the Newport Beach thing is not a good sign, actually.
matthiasstephan - September 11, 2009
why?
jjackflash - September 11, 2009
Refering to above.
Newport has always struck me as a bastion for those that concentrate on acquiring wealth (at least the parts I imagine Lackey moved into).
matthiasstephan - September 11, 2009
No it doesn't
it comes down to money. This is pro sports and it always comes down to money.
HaloDutch - September 11, 2009
hometown discount is what im saying...
SenorChuckles - September 11, 2009
refering to above
there will be no such hometown discount by lackey esepciall and same with figgy. with it was so but it isn’t
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
great game by lackey BUT.......
to bad i see almost no chance in him returning next year unless he backs down on his arrogance of how great he thinks he is which is good and especially how much he should be making cause ill tell u he doesn’t desirve over 15 mill a year no matter how well he did tonight or this season
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
wow kid...
slow down a bit and use a period or a comma every now and then. Breathe buddy, breathe.
Lackey is going to get big money no doubt. And even if Lacks got a fat ego, it never has caused issues with the chemistry of the team. The guy is a bulldog and wants to win. Who doesnt want a pitcher like that?
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - September 11, 2009
If Lackey does leave...look at the good side...
We signed a young, experienced starter in Kazmir.
Lackey has started the last two years on the DL…which could be a sign of absolutely nothing but it certainly isnt comforting either.
And…
uh…
We save some money? Im lost…
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - September 11, 2009
Trevor Bell!
he said he was going to develop a out pitch, a 2 seam fastball in the offseason. So that’s something to look forward to if we do indeed lose Lackey.
SenorChuckles - September 11, 2009
This made me laugh.
clover_black - September 11, 2009
hah ;)
SenorChuckles - September 11, 2009
mabye
yes he is an option but as i said i think it will be palmer if they stay in house for the starter. the reason is i think at this point that palmer is more prepared and a better pitcher. i think trevor needs one more year of work. i do still think they will get a pitcher in FA after the issure we ran into this year with starters and for insureance in case palmer and the others are not ready to step in there and fill the role
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
nono got a point
true we got kaz which i think was great to me we don’t lose as much as lackey thinks we lose by him leaving. we still got four great starters and at least two who are ready in my eyes to step into the #1 spot in kaz and saunders
also we can go get another player with that money and also even a starter that can fill the 5 spot and give us what a number 5 should. we may not have the type we have now which is not a real 5 and is only there cause of how many good pitchers we have but someone like doug davis or even our own palmer i think would fill the role well.
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
true but i dont see the angels spending that money and if u say for instance they have the same payroll last year they would not be able to afford him. now that said if they expand there payroll some they can but obviously vlad is gone but remember they are going to have to sign a free agent or two also. after signing the arbitration eligable and abreu, figgy, oliver, they will only have around 20 mill to spend. so i dont see him signing but mabye they will suprize us they have before lol
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
Ouch.
My brain hurts.
KeyserSoze13 - September 11, 2009
wow
there aren’t even that many numbers lol
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
Would you like some Excedrin?
I know I need some now.
halofan4life - September 11, 2009
What is going on here.
And who is “nono”?
clover_black - September 11, 2009
you took my stapler
dmhead - September 11, 2009
???
what are u talking about dmhead?
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
Uh
I’m going to have to ask you to move your desk.
Funke5ive - September 11, 2009 via mobile
Might set the building on fire
He warned us.
KeyserSoze13 - September 11, 2009
I was told I could play my radio at a moderate volume from the hours of nine to nine-thirty.
Downing Rules - September 11, 2009
see thats the problem it wasn’t hours it was a half an hour.
TheAngelsColts - September 11, 2009
I told Bill that if Sandra is going to listen to her headphones while she's filing then I should be able to listen to the radio while I'm collating so I don't see why I should have to turn down the radio because I enjoy listening at a reasonable volume fr
HaloDutch - September 11, 2009
Dang, dood…that’s some sick memory…
Downing Rules - September 11, 2009
Did you receive a slice of birthday cake?
red floyd - September 12, 2009
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