John Lackey, the Sox's biggest acquisition in the off-season, gets his turn today. He will start a split-squad game against the Twins.
Lackey is a pitcher whose bulldog determination is similar to Josh Beckett's. He never wants to come out of a game &, for the first time, pitched well in the playoffs last year against the Sox & Yankees. The trick is to keep him healthy & on the field, taking his turn every 5th day. Lackey, Beckett & Lester give the Sox a big 3 at the front of their rotation.
A new team & a big contract can sometimes make a player try to do too much to prove he's worth it & he belongs. It's just human nature. The Sox staff, though, is very good about keeping expectations in check & reeling in over-zealousness this early in the season.
Lackey has flown under the radar so far this Spring. It will be nice to finally see him performing in a Red Sox uniform.
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