On Aug. 26, 2008, John Lackey threw a complete game seven-hitter against the A's, winning 5-1. The victory put him at 11-2 for the year, with a 2.95 ERA. He was averaging 7 1/3 innings per start, and looked poised to make a run at a second consecutive ERA crown.

Since that day, Lackey has made 9 major league starts, counting the playoffs. He has not gone 7 1/3 innings in a single one of them. In fact, he's averaged just under 5 innings per start. (Even if you give him a bye on that weird Texas ejection, his average IP in the other 8 starts was less than 5 and 2/3 innings). And over that period he has gone 2-5, with an ERA of 6.45.

Interesting, no? Also, by pointing it out, I'm trying to reverse-jinx him into 7 1/3 innings of Doyer-whiffing genius tonight.