John Lackey, Red Sox Pitcher

Let's go back to Fenway Park joining -- On the line right now is the newest member of the Boston Red Sox get talked Mike Cameron an hour or so ago and John Lackey is with us now John -- Michael how --

I'm good guys -- gone congratulations -- well -- fire about a man -- yes welcome to Boston to tell us -- your life as a is -- from Maine. Yes you went to high school most loss of then Sampras. -- As the the the guy across from me is like mister Manny I Gloria I grew up in Maine two's I was real excited to hear that nice nights out don't know Romario I'll introduce to you guys -- Doug made stuff I mean. This guy's got his own sandwich at the main diner all kinds of stuff so are you bid on yankees' historic day all right good. What John now how how is factored in major -- background played two guys signing with the Red Sox or just a coincidence. All I -- has a little bit of factors obviously you know failed the decision is not so that I could just make -- but. Let let us you know they're winning was the biggest factor and it's it was a if it was the team. You know that the wasn't good it didn't matter where my wife -- from you know remain.

One of the things Curt Schilling said after he agreed to the trade come to Boston as they convinced him that he could be as successful pitcher here at Fenway Park. As you pointed out your press conference over the last couple of years you have been a successful pitcher at Fenway Park I assume pitching here doesn't faze -- at all. Not Nelson.

Yeah obviously you know struggled a little bit here but. The last two years and I've done well and excited to have the guys on this team behind -- and in this you know on this fan base it's been. Crazy walk around town only people who welcome to Boston. I'm just really really really fired up about it to be good to be apart of this say you know. Listen you know this is crazy you know just. Zealous members are pumped about it.

As John obviously we're not talking to a guy who's come from the National League to the American League you spent your entire career in the AL. Yeah familiar with these guys I'm wondering though did you take a different approach against American League east teams like the Yankees and Red Sox and in Toronto. To a degree with these big slugging lineup that maybe you didn't see all the time in the American League west.

I mean it is different -- challenge for sure I mean I think. It's. Everybody recognizes that this is done the best division in baseball. Versus you know the way it is and it's going to be a challenge every -- going to be -- against a lot of quality of the teams in this division and and then after a ready for the challenge -- to. The of the bigger game more fun -- and just I'm really pumped by.

The Red Sox have an interesting. Situation for Tito to handle here you got three guys who like think. Our aces and and have been aces you've been an ace in LA back it's been an -- Lester is pretty darn close does it matter to you which guy in the pitching rotation you are.

I'm not really concerned about all I just. I I think you gonna have you know several dozen candidates that day so. You know whoever goes first the first game of the season that is not that big deal of the media just. -- wanna make my you know thirty some starts and he -- just even the playoffs are a little World Series. The you know once we -- the playoffs the sooners doesn't really matter what when he pitches are as good chance this chance to win.

He says something very interesting and your press conference he said that the the angels' way that's that's the only organization you've known you -- your entire career. And when you make the decision obviously. Leo was then on it stand -- wife is in on injured close family and friends. Course the first Angel. You told which are going to Boston.

That's the first. Probably. Price either if the Saunders or shields 101 of those guys -- Mallon -- price you know -- few guys kind of saved time and I've had several. You know text messages and guys column mis stated you know good luck you know we understand kind of stuff well misused but it's you know. I think it's it's a great fit for me it's opened the that I really wanted to do cite your phone -- during the press conference it was a social. I I don't not even sure who was actually it was no car idea on it. Not gonna pick those evidently around the conference cannot I don't know you're number forget what you have is it -- would have developed by anyway yeah I dated her press conference but it. -- Russia turned out awful started doing what -- gonna do.

You got an outfield it's gonna have been some way shape or form Jacoby Ellsbury Mike Cameron in J. D. Drew. You got an infield it's gonna include Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia and Marco -- row and somebody else yeah what do you think about the defense that you're gonna have behind.

Really excited about it for sure obviously. Pitching and the defense decided that I've been a huge. You know important for these guys. For us that this this offseason so. It it as a pitcher you -- you always look you know what -- do you fairest via shirt up and they obviously have a great defense here and just just real excited be part of the club.

I don't think I love watching you work is that you work he'd get it in frolic we have we don't see three hour ball game usually with you know in I ice plays first base and cause I hated guys it took forever so Obama negated on -- This year. You and Beckett are probably pretty similar in that regard -- ethic it would definitely have innocence of similarities are on the field this year. He gets little fired up than you know. A regular fired up soon but. But -- give you effort approach to that.

close with any Red Sox -- guy that you you've known for awhile on this team that your looking forward -- with. Not for awhile there are no I Casey cost -- you know from from coming over year but. You know I've known him since he was in high school when I was a minor leagues up -- dad so. It but. But besides that not not really there's you know just you run into guys and just hey what's up kind of stuff for not not really close with anybody here but. But just look at from across the way from the other dugout have a lot of respect for the way these guys play negated really play hard play at the right ways so. I think I think -- well.

Final question before relate to go have you had much contact in the past -- new manager. No really have a Bud Day you know obviously that they do their research and as a free agent he he's got to do your own research and about teams and haven't heard -- haven't heard a bad thing about him and adapting in in the in his office for for about an hour before this press conference talking. I'm excited platform really great guy -- see any rats did -- last time where and his office we saw one the -- in Sydney this time I don't know.

Good news what congratulations on the deal welcomed doubled welcome your -- back to new England and while the new year and best of luck today. Christian guys expect -- Johnson that is John Lackey newest member of the Boston Red Sox.