That's the question the Wall Street Journal asks. And while A.J. Burnett is a serious contender, the Journal concludes that Lackey would be the choice in a game you absolutely must lose.
"Lackey also has a slightly higher ratio of walks and hits to innings pitched, 1.6 vs. 1.5. He's allowing more hits per nine innings—11.6 vs. 9.1—and has given up 115 runs in 154 innings compared with Burnett's 113 runs allowed in 182.1 innings."
The amazing thing is that casual fans saw both signings and laughed. I knew that neither Burnett nor Lackey would live up to these absurd contracts, although I have to say that i'm suprised about how bad they both are. To wit, this quote from Chad Finn's live chat at the Globe last Friday: "Lackey is THE WORST PITCHER IN RED SOX HISTORY among every starter who has ever thrown 150 innings in a season, based on his 6.49 ERA and whatever his adjusted ERA is. Those are both the worst in franchise history. The only other starter in Sox history to make 25 starts with an ERA over six is Ramon Martinez. And I'd rather have him pitch Game 3 of the ALDS than Lackey if given the choice."
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