Red Sox Resolve Lackey Dilemma (At Least For Now), Place Righty On Disabled List

Last Thursday, I wrote that the Red Sox needed to do something about the conundrum that John Lackey’s struggles have created for the club, both on the field and in the front office.

It was irrelevant to me whether the right-hander asked out of the rotation or the club nudged him aside—it only mattered to me that it got done.

Last night, it happened. The front office placed Lackey on the disabled list.

We don’t know whether Lackey asked to be (temporarily) relieved of his spot in the rotation or whether the ballclub decided it was in his best interest, but we do know that Tim Wakefield will start in Lackey’s place Tuesday night, and likely moving forward until he is ready to return to regular duty.

The $82 million man has largely been a disappointment since signing with the Red Sox as a free agent prior to the 2010 season. He has a 16-16 record with a 4.95 ERA in 40 starts with the Red Sox. But he is just 2-5 with an 8.01 ERA in seven starts this season and in his last two starts, he has allowed 17 earned runs on 19 hits in 10.2 IP (a 14.34 ERA).

After his start last Wednesday night in Toronto, he expressed great frustration with his performance, but in his remarks, he gave us all a window into what may be going on:

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“Everything in my life sucks right now, to be honest with you.”

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Lackey was obviously referring to the fact his wife, Krista, is battling breast cancer, a fact the typically private hurler revealed to Red Sox Nation during spring training.

Pitching in the major leagues is tough enough under the best of circumstances—it takes physical gifts, the talent to maximize them and the mental focus to employ them effectively.

In his current predicament, it is indisputable that he is lacking (no pun intended) a major factor in that equation. No one can blame him for being unable to concentrate on baseball when his wife’s life may be hanging in the balance—he would have to be superhuman for it to be otherwise.

Lackey, manager Terry Francona and GM Theo Epstein met in New York on Friday to discuss his situation—both personal and on the field.

None of the attendees had much to say in the aftermath of the meeting and yesterday, Francona spoke about him (at length) during his pregame media briefing.

But Tito gave no indication Lackey was about to go on the DL—rather, he spoke about changes he has made to his pitching mechanics and a productive bullpen session he had in The Bronx on Sunday.

A short time later, he was placed on the DL (strained right elbow). Right-handed reliever Scott Atchison was recalled from Pawtucket to take his place on the roster.

Krista Lackey likely will not be declared "cancer free" in the next 15 days, though we hope and pray she will beat the insidious disease, so it remains to be seen what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Assuming the problem is not the elbow but all of the distraction and stress created by Krista’s medical condition, then it would seem that two weeks will not be enough to resolve what ails her husband.

The club needs to be sensitive to his situation, but he needs to be sensitive to the impact his work has had on the club thus far in 2011.

It seems likely that Lackey, Francona and Epstein will continue to have private meetings as they muddle through charting a course through these turbulent waters.