“We’ve done some things in the winter, maybe more aggressively than he’s done in the past, with his shoulder and elbow because we are aware of how he’s come out of camp the last two years,’’ manager Terry Francona said.
The Sox call it preventative maintenance; they wanted to get Lackey into their program as quickly as possible. The pitcher agreed and left the warm sun of Southern California for a week.
“He volunteered to come to Boston, which was great,’’ Francona said. “We just wanted to get him acclimated to what we do. There’s a reason guys survive this league, and not only survive but are good. We wanted to make sure we were on the same page. Getting a head start seemed like a better idea.’’
That work appears to have paid off. Lackey arrived in camp Wednesday and yesterday climbed atop a bullpen mound to throw 40 fastballs, 30 from the windup and the rest from the stretch. He looked strong and worked efficiently.
Farrell, who was in a staff meeting, came out to keep track of his new starter and the two spoke for several minutes afterward.
“It felt good,’’ said Lackey, who had thrown off a mound twice this winter. “Obviously [it’s] pretty early, but I feel like I’m right where I should be at this time.’’
Lackey was eager to get started. After spending the first 11 years of his professional career with the Angels, everything is new again. But new relationships are already being formed and others rekindled.
Farrell tried to recruit Lackey to Oklahoma State when he was pitching coach for the Cowboys and Lackey a raw junior college pitcher. Lackey also is eager to get to know fellow Texan Josh Beckett, whom he met at the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco.
Kelli Pedroia, the wife of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, did her part by welcoming Krista Lackey to Boston and suggesting places to live. Now the pitcher is swapping regular text messages with the second baseman.
“Everybody has been great,’’ Lackey said. “First class.’’
Beyond the money and security, one of the reasons Lackey signed with the Red Sox was to be part of such a strong rotation.
