this from baseballprospectus in March 2002:
"Although he's the Angels' best young pitcher at the moment, John Lackey wasn't really in the hunt for a rotation spot this spring, so his demotion isn't really a surprise. As is, Matt Wise is already crowded out of the picture, so the Angels are in the happy situation where they won't have to push Lackey up as the sixth starter once something happens to one of the front five. "
from LA Times:
ANGEL REPORT
Lackey Will Help in Doubleheader
By Steve Springer
MILWAUKEE -- Faced with a doubleheader on Monday against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, and in the middle of a schedule that calls for 14 games in 13 days, the Angels will call up right-hander John Lackey from triple-A Salt Lake to pitch Monday's second game.
Lackey is 8-2 with a 2.57 earned-run average for Salt Lake.
"There are a lot of things I like about him," Manager Mike Scioscia said of Lackey. "He has such an upside potential and he's starting to realize it." The arrival of Lackey will necessitate a roster move. That's why he's pitching in the second game. The Angels can make the move between games, keeping whomever he replaces available for the first game.
......................................................................................................................
off USA Today:
Angels 2002 prospect report
By Matt Santillo, SportsTicker
....John Lackey -- RHP -- Swing Man: The organization's Minor League Pitcher
of the Year in 2000, Lackey excelled in Class AA, finished his season in
Class AAA and was awarded a spot on the organization's 40-man roster.
A second-round pick in the 1999 draft, Lackey went a combined 12-11 with
a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts. The 6-6, 200-pounder showed improved durability,
working into the seventh inning 15 times, and ranked among the minors' Top
10 in both complete games (4) and innings pitched (185).
A star first baseman who earned All-American status while leading Grayson
County Community College to a national title, the 23-year-old Lackey was
raw when drafted but has blossomed into a steady starter. He throws a
94-mph fastball with good movement and is starting to establish a good
changeup.
from topprospectalert.com:
3- John Lackey, RHP
Age: 22 Bats/Throws:
R/R Height: 6-6 Weight:
210
Acquired: Angels-Drafted
2nd Round 1999, (Grayson
County CC, TX)
Key Stats: (A-Cedar
Rapids/Lake Elsinore,
AA-Erie) 15-9 W-L, 3.15
ERA, 138 SO, 188 IP
The Angels top pick in the
1999 draft, Lackey, was
signed as a
two-way-player out of a
Texas community college.
His mid-90s fastball was
tough to pass by even
though most scouts
believed he had more
success as a hitter.
Lackey has two excellent
pitches in his fastball and
downer curveball. He
should develop an
above-average change up
in a year or so. Lackey
came to the professional
leagues with terrible
control, but by the end of
2000 when he had
reached double-A in his
first professional league
experience, Lackey
seemed to have terrific
control. Look for him to
return to double-A to start
out 2001, but he won't
spend a lot of time there
and will likely reach
triple-A by the end of the
season.
this from Mike Vogel at usastats.com (Dec 2001):
"RHP John Lackey's control improved in 2001 and he finished the
season with 58 Triple-A innings. At Double-A and Triple-A
combined, Lackey was 12-11 with a 4.48 ERA and 136 whiffs
versus 45 walks in 185 IP. He is a big guy who throws in the low- to
mid-90s and projects as a number two or three starter ...."
........................................................................................................................
from Nov 2001 mlbprospect.com:
5. RHP John Lackey
Age 23. 6'6'', 215. Bats R, Throws R.
2001 in Review: Lackey, only a day older and an inch taller than Bootcheck, followed a similar
pattern at a higher level in 2001. Starting at AA Arkansas, Lackey went 9-7 with a 3.46 ERA,
earning a promotion to AAA Salt Lake in late July. He fell off considerably at the AAA level,
allowing 75 hits in 57.2 IP and sporting a 6.71 ERA. A good sign for the Angels: his 16/42 BB/K
ratio at Salt Lake, a sign his control and strikeout ability did not vanish when he started getting hit.
Pitching: When you look at his past two seasons and compare him to the pitcher he was in 1999 and
in his college days, the reason for his emergence is control. Once a wild pitcher, Lackey now has
better control than most prospects. His stuff has always been there, highlighted by a sharp-breaking
curve and a 92-95 MPH fastball. His change-up is an average pitch, and could use some
improvement.
2002 in Preview: There's no shortage of arms for the Angels in the high-minors. Lackey may be the
closest one to the Majors. He'll return to Salt Lake to start 2002, but with some success, should be
called up by the All-Star Break. He projects as a solid middle of the rotation starter, and with his
stuff and control should give the Angels rotation a boost when he arrives. He's pitched 373 innings
the past two years, so he's at a heightened risk for an arm injury.
"Although he's the Angels' best young pitcher at the moment, John Lackey wasn't really in the hunt for a rotation spot this spring, so his demotion isn't really a surprise. As is, Matt Wise is already crowded out of the picture, so the Angels are in the happy situation where they won't have to push Lackey up as the sixth starter once something happens to one of the front five. "
from LA Times:
ANGEL REPORT
Lackey Will Help in Doubleheader
By Steve Springer
MILWAUKEE -- Faced with a doubleheader on Monday against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, and in the middle of a schedule that calls for 14 games in 13 days, the Angels will call up right-hander John Lackey from triple-A Salt Lake to pitch Monday's second game.
Lackey is 8-2 with a 2.57 earned-run average for Salt Lake.
"There are a lot of things I like about him," Manager Mike Scioscia said of Lackey. "He has such an upside potential and he's starting to realize it." The arrival of Lackey will necessitate a roster move. That's why he's pitching in the second game. The Angels can make the move between games, keeping whomever he replaces available for the first game.
......................................................................................................................
off USA Today:
Angels 2002 prospect report
By Matt Santillo, SportsTicker
....John Lackey -- RHP -- Swing Man: The organization's Minor League Pitcher
of the Year in 2000, Lackey excelled in Class AA, finished his season in
Class AAA and was awarded a spot on the organization's 40-man roster.
A second-round pick in the 1999 draft, Lackey went a combined 12-11 with
a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts. The 6-6, 200-pounder showed improved durability,
working into the seventh inning 15 times, and ranked among the minors' Top
10 in both complete games (4) and innings pitched (185).
A star first baseman who earned All-American status while leading Grayson
County Community College to a national title, the 23-year-old Lackey was
raw when drafted but has blossomed into a steady starter. He throws a
94-mph fastball with good movement and is starting to establish a good
changeup.
from topprospectalert.com:
3- John Lackey, RHP
Age: 22 Bats/Throws:
R/R Height: 6-6 Weight:
210
Acquired: Angels-Drafted
2nd Round 1999, (Grayson
County CC, TX)
Key Stats: (A-Cedar
Rapids/Lake Elsinore,
AA-Erie) 15-9 W-L, 3.15
ERA, 138 SO, 188 IP
The Angels top pick in the
1999 draft, Lackey, was
signed as a
two-way-player out of a
Texas community college.
His mid-90s fastball was
tough to pass by even
though most scouts
believed he had more
success as a hitter.
Lackey has two excellent
pitches in his fastball and
downer curveball. He
should develop an
above-average change up
in a year or so. Lackey
came to the professional
leagues with terrible
control, but by the end of
2000 when he had
reached double-A in his
first professional league
experience, Lackey
seemed to have terrific
control. Look for him to
return to double-A to start
out 2001, but he won't
spend a lot of time there
and will likely reach
triple-A by the end of the
season.
this from Mike Vogel at usastats.com (Dec 2001):
"RHP John Lackey's control improved in 2001 and he finished the
season with 58 Triple-A innings. At Double-A and Triple-A
combined, Lackey was 12-11 with a 4.48 ERA and 136 whiffs
versus 45 walks in 185 IP. He is a big guy who throws in the low- to
mid-90s and projects as a number two or three starter ...."
........................................................................................................................
from Nov 2001 mlbprospect.com:
5. RHP John Lackey
Age 23. 6'6'', 215. Bats R, Throws R.
2001 in Review: Lackey, only a day older and an inch taller than Bootcheck, followed a similar
pattern at a higher level in 2001. Starting at AA Arkansas, Lackey went 9-7 with a 3.46 ERA,
earning a promotion to AAA Salt Lake in late July. He fell off considerably at the AAA level,
allowing 75 hits in 57.2 IP and sporting a 6.71 ERA. A good sign for the Angels: his 16/42 BB/K
ratio at Salt Lake, a sign his control and strikeout ability did not vanish when he started getting hit.
Pitching: When you look at his past two seasons and compare him to the pitcher he was in 1999 and
in his college days, the reason for his emergence is control. Once a wild pitcher, Lackey now has
better control than most prospects. His stuff has always been there, highlighted by a sharp-breaking
curve and a 92-95 MPH fastball. His change-up is an average pitch, and could use some
improvement.
2002 in Preview: There's no shortage of arms for the Angels in the high-minors. Lackey may be the
closest one to the Majors. He'll return to Salt Lake to start 2002, but with some success, should be
called up by the All-Star Break. He projects as a solid middle of the rotation starter, and with his
stuff and control should give the Angels rotation a boost when he arrives. He's pitched 373 innings
the past two years, so he's at a heightened risk for an arm injury.
