John Lackey had a problem with Starlin Castro

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher John Lackey has always been known as a fierce competitor. Recall when Lackey was with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and manager Mike Scioscia went to pull Lackey from a game. If you’re a lip reader and was watching, you could see Lackey say “This is mine.” That’s John Lackey.

Today during the Cards 9-6 come-from-behind win, there was a bit of an exchange between Lackey and Chicago Cubd shortstop Starlin Castro. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has some details.

"It started in the fourth inning of the Cubs’ 9-6 loss when Lackey began jawing at Castro after the shortstop popped out to end the inning. Castro said he was talking to himself in Spanish, upset at himself for missing the pitch."

Sullivan also says that Castro claims he said nothing directed toward Lackey. Castro was merely frustrated at missing what he felt was a pitch he should have hit. Apparently, Lackey didn’t see it that way. As the inning ended, Lackey said something to Cubs first base coach Eric Hinske. Hinske would offer no information on what Lackey said upset him.

Maybe what frustrated Lackey was the fact that he had surrendered five runs in the second inning of the game. Maybe Castro’s reaction was viewed as a means to “show up” Lackey. Maybe this all much ado about nothing.

Who knows. I know Cubs manager Rick Rentria doesn’t have any clue (per Sullivan).:

"“I can’t really explain it to you,” he (Renteria) said. “I don’t know what (Lackey’s) issues were. Then again, I can’t get into his head. That’s his problem.”"

It should be no surprise that there’s a minor fracas (if you can call this a fracas) between these two teams. They have been bitter rivals for well over one hundred years. To even hear that there was an incident in a Cubs-Cards game is of no surprise.