Laying Down the Law in Detroit

Eric D. Schabell
Contributing Writer

The new sheriff rolled into town on his horse, gently bringing her to a stop outside of the stadium. He peered up at the bright sun from under his dusty black hat, squinting slightly and surveyed the scene around him.

This town was ready for a new law man, a strong and dominating type of law man needed to put the riffraff in its place. No more long home runs, 5 hit games, and easy go lucky wins would be had here in this town.

There was a new sheriff in town and the Detroit Tigers would feel the long arm of his law.

He swung down from his trusty horse, hitched up his gun, and swaggered on into the Tiger Stadium saloon...

John Lackey, the new sheriff did exactly that. He hurled a 7 inning gem giving up only 2 runs on 7 hits. His pitch totals per inning were impressive.
  1. 13 pitches, 9 thrown for strikes, 2 strikeouts, no hits, no walks, only 3 hitters faced.
  2. 13 pitches, 7 thrown for strikes, no hits, no walks, only 3 hitters faced.
  3. 16 pitches, 11 thrown for strikes, 1 hit, no walks, 4 hitters faced.
  4. 15 pitches, 9 thrown for strikes, 1 hit, no walks, 4 hitters faced.
  5. 23 pitches, 14 thrown for strikes, 2 strikeouts, 3 hits, 1 walk, 7 hitters faced, 2 runs given up.
  6. 7 pitches, 6 thrown for strikes, 1 hit, no walks, 3 hitters faced.
  7. 11 pitches, 8 thrown for strikes, 1 strikeout, 1 hit, no walks, 4 hitters faces.
A very good showing that had the Red Sox in the game, leading 3 - 2 going into the 8th inning.

Koji Uehara comes in and closes the 8th inning on just 9 pitches, 8 thrown for strikes (spoiler alert, this sounds like a closer approach to the 9th inning), and facing only 3 hitters.

Then the doom music comes in and I can only imagine what must have been going through John Lackey's mind. I know what I was thinking, sitting with crossed fingers and a mojo doll for luck. John Lackey was inline for the win.

Was...

Closerapocolypse II arrives, over 9 pitches of which only 4 were thrown for strikes, he walks the first man, then hangs a breaking pitch.

What was John Lackey thinking as he watched that ball launched like a rocket into the night?

What were you thinking?

Post a comment or via twitter @ericschabell with your thoughts.

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