Lackey on loss against Reds: "I'm pissed." |
Chicago Cubs pitcher John Lackey experienced his third straight losing start on Sunday, giving up seven runs in six innings on the hill. Lackey is now 1-3 on the year and boasts a dismal 4.88 ERA.
Lackey has suffered early-inning woes in each of his three losses this year, struggling out of the gate and setting a negative tone for the Cubs. Clearly peeved by these uncharacteristic struggles, veteran ace Lackey, who went 11-8 in his first season with the Cubs last year, was visibly frustrated following today's 7-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. "I don't care about (winning) the series right now," Lackey told reporters. "I'm pissed." Lackey has definitely been the weak link of the Cubs' starting rotation thus far this season, and his woes cannot help but make one wonder if Cubs executives Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are regretting holding on to him while letting fellow veteran starter Jason Hammel walk in the offseason. Regardless, the Cubs need Lackey to right the ship if they are to remain one of baseball's dominant pitching teams. Lackey will look to get back on the winning track this coming Saturday when his next scheduled start takes place in an interleague duel against the Boston Red Sox.
