One day, John Lackey needs Tommy John surgery. The next, he doesn't? That's the story according to Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, as well as the big hurler himself.
Peter Gammons of NESN and MLB Network reported on Wednesday that Lackey may need Tommy John surgerybefore too long, but all the parties involved in the Red Sox club house denied that rumor.
"He's pitching tonight. I don't have a good answer for that other than 'no,' " Francona said when asked if Lackey might need Tommy John surgery. "Guys go through aches and pains, that's the way the game is. If it ever gets to the point with anybody that it gets in the way we do something about it. We don't usually work six weeks ahead on the surgeries. It's probably not the way it works, you know, 'Go get 'em Lack, because you've got six more starts and then we're giving you Tommy John.' " (via WEEI)
Lackey, who tossed seven and two thirds quality innings in a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night, also denied the report, saying that Gammons' words were false.
"It's a possibility for everybody in here. You can throw that against the wall and see if it sticks. He straight made that up," said Lackey, who allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings in the loss. (via WEEI)
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