http://www.yardbarker.com/users/John_Lackey Recent Yardbarker Articles: John_Lackey en-us I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't a little disappointed that I got hurt early in the season. If I had stayed healthy who knows maybe I'd be at the All Star Game with my teammates. There is no doubt that New York is a special environment. Every living Hall of Famer is there so there is no doubt the atmosphere is sweet. It is going to be a great experience. I told our guys, especially Joe and Ervin to just take it all in, get to all the parties and have fun. It's their first time and I'm sure they're enjoying it. I had a great time last year. San Francisco did a great job. It was funny because Frankie and I got booed when they introduced us because of the World Series stuff. There is a lot more to the All Star game than you think, especially when it is your first time. They had this entire room filled with stuff for all of us to sign for sponsors, for other players, for charity - it took two days to get through it all. They have you doing something all the time so there really isn't much time for yourself. They definitely keep you busy. The homerun derby was cool, but the best part is meeting guys from the other teams. You compete against these guys but you don't really know what they're like off the field. When I got there Manny came across the clubhouse and gave me a big hug like we'd been friends for ever. It really caught me off guard, but he was a cool guy. Getting to know all those guys was great. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:11:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290900 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290900 It seems like ever since I've been in the big leagues that the Angels and A's have been in 1st or 2nd in the division so there's definitely a little rivalry going on here. It's not like some of those football rivalries, like Texas-Oklahoma or USC-UCLA, but they are definitely a team we look at and always want to play well against because they're always in the race. For a few years there when they had guys like Tejada and Chavez and drums in the outfield it felt like a Friday night football game to me. But it's died down a little since then. There's definitely more red in the stands these days. The Halo fans are everywhere. As an opponent you do have to give the A's front office some credit. They have made deals that have been unpopular with fans but a lot of those deals have really worked out for them. They have brought in some young players that have been really productive. Someone asked me how the Rich Harden trade was going to impact the division. I don't know how big an impact it will have on them because he hasn't pitched much anyway. Everyone in the league thinks he's one of the best when he's healthy, but he hasn't been healthy. But if the trade works the way these other trades have worked for them then the A's will be in the race until the end. That's why we always want to play well against them. They got the first one. Hopefully we'll get the next two. Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:08:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/289574 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/289574 Wanted to wait to post this when I got some photos and finally did. One of our guys took a couple nice shots I'd thought I'd share. One of the days we were in DC, a few of us players (Reggie Willits, Justin Speier, Robb Quinlan) and staff got a tour of the White House, mostly the East Wing and some of the West Wing. I really had to pinch myself because it was surreal. I guess since 9/11 they don't do public tours so I definitely felt privileged to be there. We got a chance to see the Oval Office and the Rose Garden during our visit back in 2003 after we won the World Series but this time we spent about two hours there. Our tour guide was a former sniper with the secret service. This guy was great, knew all the ins and outs to the White House and gave us some great insight. He took us down to the basement where there is a bowling alley. I got to roll a ball and left three pins standing. You know I would have picked up the spare but we each threw just one. Parts of the White House were closed because the President was visiting with the Prime Minister from Vietnam. We saw all the formal rooms which were very regal looking, the red room, the blue room and the green room. We also saw the Oval Office and some of the other rooms in the White House. The whole time I kept thinking about how many famous people had stepped foot in this building and how many important and private discussions regarding our country took place. I had a sense of pride walking through there as an American citizen. It truly was an experience of a lifetime. Thanks for reading the blog y'all. Got the Rangers tonight. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:22:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286960 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/286960 What's happenin' Yard? Walked into the clubhouse today and the PR guys told me that I was named Pitcher of the Month. Pretty cool news to get when you first roll in. Then the rest of the guys congratulated me. Honestly, it means a lot because it shows we are winning as a team. For me to go 5-0 in a month, we must be playing pretty well. I know we haven't been scoring as many runs as we'd like, but we are still winning with our pitching. One major contributor to the success is that I have command of my pitches. I have been spotting the ball well in critical pitch counts and that usually leads to success. Getting ahead early in the strike zone and not allowing walks has been key as well. The guys behind the plate have been key too. Mathis or Nap, both of those guys are a great asset for this team. I did receive the same award in July of 2006 but I think this five-game win streak matches a career-high. There have been some stretches that were similar. This one is special because I just came back from the DL and I was chomping at the bit to help out the team while I was out. It feels great to come out and contribute. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:05:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285369 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/285369 How big has Joe Saunders been? 11 wins, tops in the Majors. I remember last year when he was sent down and I told him he'd be back soon and he'd be back for good. Well, he's here and he's been huge. He has more experience under his belt and has really settled into his role. He was up and down from the minors in the past because of our pitching depth, not for a lack of talent by any means. With Escobar and myself our early this year, he knew he could relax and go out every fifth day and do his job. He has learned how to be a professional and he's got ice water in his veins, never gets rattled. He prepares well for each start and his command has been spot on. He watches video, studies hitters and asks a lot of questions. Mostly, he has learned what is takes to be successful at this level. He keeps us in every game and has figured out how to be efficient with his pitches to last deeper into the game. He's been amazing and so has Santana. They have both stepped up big time. It's no secret that pitching has been the foundation for the Angels' success. In order for this team to get where we want, the pitching has to be up to par. Guys definitely feed off each other when there is success. Its been cool to see these guys match each other start after start. Santana goes again tonight - let's keep it rollin' Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:50:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282373 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/282373 First of all, this ballpark is awesome…I enjoyed coming into the ballpark on the team bus today and seeing the monuments on our way in and then getting to the beautiful new Nationals Ballpark. The clubhouse here has all the bells and whistles from flat screens all over to a full kitchen. It is top of the line for sure. I also like the ballpark because it is pitcher-friendly and plays to the pitcher's advantage. About tonight's game, I almost ruined it for us with the dumb throw I made to allow the go-ahead run to score in the 7th inning. But you know what, just like always, our guys got my back and made up for it by responding with two runs in the 8th. These guys picked me up big time tonight. We don't care how we win, just as long as we get it done. We just need to keep these thing going and stay healthy and the Halos will be where we should when it's all said and done. Looking forward to my next start which will come against the Dodgers on Sunday in LA. Thanks for visiting "The Yard" and I will talk at you guys soon. Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:50:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/281548 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/281548 Happy Father's day to everyone in the Yard. Cool thing for me is that my dad's out here staying with me right now so I got to see him today and wish him a happy fathers day in person. He's had such an impact on my life, in baseball and beyond. He was my baseball coach growing up in Abilene so I learned right away how to play the game from him. Most of what I know in this game, I learned from him. I just fined tuned a lot of things when I became a professional. He always challenged me, made me realize the cerebral side of the game. He wanted me to play other sports as well to learn about competition in other aspects of athletics. He always emphasized competition. He also showed me what it means to work hard and work towards a goal. He inspired me when I was young and it has stayed with me today. I'm grateful for that. He was and is an intense dude. I think I get my intensity from him. He was never afraid to get on me or my teammates if we messed up. He was always trying to make us better and I respect that. Most of all he taught me how to be a man and go about my business as a professional. How to be a good teammate and a friend to others. We talk about once a start or once a week. Really don't get into detail about baseball or pitching, he is there for encouragement. Hope you all enjoyed your father's day today Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:05:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278262 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278262 In the Yard with an Angel update. Our offense did a great job today and helped us finish the series against Tampa with a W. Kazmir has been hot and he threw a great game today. To get four runs off a guy pitching that well is a pretty good job and we needed all of them today. Izzy came up with the big hit in the 8th to get us in front. He's been on fire and his hit today was exactly what we needed. He really goes about his business like a pro. Never complains about a thing and no matter where he is in the lineup or what position he plays, he shows up each day. He is a key component to our club. When you're going against a guy who's as hot as Kazmir has been and going as good as he's been you definitely don't want to give in to those guys. They got a run early and there were some spots I could have given in and thrown a fastball, but threw breaking balls instead just because one run may be the difference. I think the way I pitch, velocity doesn't mean a whole lot. I've learned to move the ball both ways these days and throw breaking pitches for strikes, so it doesn't mean as much as it would for some guys. I've been going pretty good. I've been keeping us in games and we've been able to win some of them. It's too early to get too excited, just got to keep it going. Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:58:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276999 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/276999 These wins on the road against division rivals are really big. We took three in Seattle and taking the first one here in Oakland is huge. My guys backed me up all game. It felt really good out there tonight. Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:54:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275504 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/275504 What is up y'all? Hope things have been good on your end... Well we are about 1/3 of the way done with the regular season and we are pretty much where I expected us to be - first place in the AL West. With a big road trip in front of us. It was good to finish the series with Toronto strong, now we head to Seattle. I know that the offense isn't where all the fans and critics want it to be but it will come. Trust me. We have too many guys that know how to swing it to be in an offensive rut for too long. The pitching has been outstanding, can't say enough about the guys who have stepped up their games this year. As for myself, I feel good out there, no problems at all with the tricep. I notice the life on my fastball is there and my stamina is getting to where I need it to be for the long haul. Not sure if you were paying attention last week, but we'll be hosting the All Star game in 2010. I attended the press conference the other day at Angel Stadium and I have to say I hope I'm there with a jersey and glove on instead of in the stands with a hot dog. The press conference was a cool event, there were former Angel studs like Chuck Finley, Doug DeCinces and Clyde Wright. I was honored to represent the Angels at the All-Star game in SF last season. There is nothing like being in the clubhouse with so many superstars. I was in awe the whole time. Being able to do it again at home would be extra special. Meantime, I plan on answering as many questions as I can on this road trip so send them in and I will try my best to get back to you. Let's get on a roll Yardbarkers. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:55:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273111 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273111 What is up everyone? Glad to be back in the Yard. Weird to be doing this blog in mid-May and I just made my first start in the Majors this year... Trust me, I have been chomping at the bit to get back and it feels real good to be on the field with my guys. This was the first time in my career that I missed time for an injury so I listened to all the trainers and took their advice in not rushing the injury to get back too soon. It really is a frustrating process when you are rehabbing an injury, especially when you have to watch your guys on TV. That was different. I'm back though and ready to get after it. About the start... I felt fine out there, no pain in the triceps at all which was great. I didn't have the life on my fastball that I usually would at this point in the season but it will be there after a few starts. I'm just glad that I am contributing now and not a spectator. I take pride in getting the ball each fifth day and now I can be there for our team. Coming back and seeing our team in first place speaks to the depth of this team. I mean, how about the start by Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana? Those guys have stepped up big time and really have matured as big league pitchers. Anyway, I will be talking with you guys soon. Tue, 20 May 2008 11:49:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268980 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268980 I'm back to blogging in the yard....wish I had some good news to talk about but as you may have heard, I am out for a few weeks with a strain in my right triceps...I'm going to do everything I can to get back as soon as possible, but I've got to be a little cautious. The trainers are wanting me to go a little slower than I want to go. I'm going to trust them. They've been here before, and I haven't. I have never missed a start in my professional career. I always want to answer the bell that fifth day but injuries are part of it and this is my first experience with being sidelined for a while. I'll tell you what, we will be fine with whoever fills in the first month for Escobar and I. If it's Moseley, Adenhart or whomever, those guys can handle the situation. Spring Training has been fun, Torii Hunter has had this clubhouse laughing daily. He is a class act and a true pro. There seems to be something special going on with our lineup. Torii has come out on fire and Gary Matthews and Howie Kendrick have been knocking the ball all over the place. Of course Vlad has been doing his thing and our shortstops have been solid. I really like what I have been seeing out there, this is going to be a fun team to watch. For now, I'm going to do what I have to do to get back and help the team. I am getting anxious to get back home, it seems like forever ago since we arrived in Tempe for Spring Training. Talk to you all later. Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:15:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214548 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/214548 Getting back home with a "W" from Fenway would have been nice but we can't worry about that now. We know what we are up against and there is not one guy in this clubhouse who doesn't think we can get the job done. Getting back home is going to help, we have responded at home all season and led the league in home wins for a reason. Beyond that, we need to play our game. You saw us play our style of ball in Boston in Game 2 but we just couldn't finish the deal. I think you will see this team come out strong today and hopefully carry some momentum through the series. We need to get pressure on Schilling today. A polished guy like him is going to be prepared for each of our hitters. We need to recognize what he is trying to do out there and capitalize on any mistakes. Getting baserunners early and applying the pressure with our speed is how we do that. That's our game and that's how we are successful. As I said before, getting home helps. The fans here have been great all season, actually they have been great as long as I can remember. We need to feed off the energy from the home crowd and perform on the field. Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:20:03 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/30127 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/30127 Heard about Chad Billingsley's Masquarade Party story, about dressing up like Robin Hood on one of their road trips. Well, it's time for our guys to break out their best dresses too. Each year we make the rookies dress up on one of the last road trips - last year there was a Hooters Girl, one year Superman. Jered Weaver had to dress up like a chick. He was hamming it up pretty good. I think he enjoyed it a little too much. One of the guys buys the costumes, last year Vlad did it, then we take their clothes out of their bags and put the costumes in. They have to wear them from the time they leave the clubhouse to the time we get to the hotel. They'll walk to the bus, past all the fans, they'll go to the edge of the parking lot to sign autographs. They also have to carry all the drinks from the clubhouse to the buses and then the buses to the plane. It's nothing too serious but it's pretty funny stuff. Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:49:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/28248 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/28248 Fantasy football is big in our clubhouse. I'm actually in two leagues - one with some buddies in Newport and one with the team - so I'll be busy with that. Everyone is glued to the TV right now watching New Orleans-Indy. I've got a big marquee matchup in week one against our bullpen catcher Steve Soliz. He's won the league last two years and I won the year before that. He has Marvin Harrison who caught a touchdown already so he's talking some serious noise. I like my team. I actually had the seventh pick in both my leagues and ended up with Shaun Alexander in both. I have McGahee as one of my running backs so I'm hoping he can do some things now that he's in Baltimore. We had our team draft when we arrived in Seattle, the night before we started that series. We rented a conference room brought in all the drinks, beers and sodas and order a bunch of pizzas. We had one of the rookies running the board, writing all the picks. We set it up like an NFL war room with everyone sitting around a big table. Shields and Soliz are the most serious but there's some pretty good trash talking. Now that the NFL season has started our clubhouse will be pretty busy with fantasy football. Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:40:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26216 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/26216