You know, you’d think that John Lackey would be Hawk Harrelson’s kind of player.
The former GM, and current long-time White Sox color man has always espoused a special affection for players who have that undefinable “will to win.” With his frequent displays of … passion, doesn’t Lackey call to mind that kind of player?
Well, if Lackey had previously been on Harrelson’s Nice List before his start this week against the White Sox, he is now clearly on the Naughty List.
Harrelson went off on Lackey during Tuesday’s game, when Lackey got extraordinarily wild, and plunked four White Sox batters, leading to Ian Happ taking one in the thigh. Lackey’s pitches were obviously unintentional, unless you think he really wanted to load the bases by way of the HBP in a tight game.
Well, actually … Hawk does think that. And he was pretty clear about it.
“He’s full of (expletive), and you can print that,” Harrelson told the Tribune of Lackey. “He’s full of it. He always has been.”
Harrelson was not impressed by the eye-for-an-eye that the White Sox got by plunking Happ, and wishes instead that Lackey had taken one. Maybe next year, if Lackey is back with the Cubs, Harrelson wondered. You can read his full thoughts here.
There was no additional retribution last night, and you can figure tonight will be clean – barring a new triggering incident – as well. It’s a rivalry, sure, but unless Michael Barrett and A.J. Pierzynski are involved, it’s not really a violent one.
In the end, of course, I don’t know how much stock you can really put in Harrelson’s thoughts on this matter. He’s not always right:
You, uh, you sure about that, Hawk? (sound) pic.twitter.com/31cB9VMVCw
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) July 27, 2017