CHICAGO _ John Lackey has a reserved parking space near Wrigley Field, just across Waveland Avenue.
Maneuvering his car there Friday proved to be difficult, though, ahead of the first World Series game at the ballpark in 71 years.
And the Cubs' starting pitcher for Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night matched up against Indians ace Corey Kluber said he never has been happier to be stuck in traffic and in a sea of people.
"Trying to get to the players parking lot is an experience," Lackey said Friday before Game 3. "There are a lot of people out there. It's really cool."
Lackey's patience Friday might be a product of all the extra rest he has had since he started Oct. 19 in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series and before that Oct. 11 in Game 4 of the division series.
That doesn't mean Lackey has been relaxing, though. The 38-year-old right-hander said he has been throwing more side sessions to keep his form.
"It has been kind of a crazy schedule for me," he said. "I feel like I'm pitching every two weeks kind of deal.
"Once you get into the game you kind of fall back on things you've been doing all season, and hopefully you execute."
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he's not concerned about the time between starts for Lackey, who has 25 postseason appearances, including 22 starts, to his name. Not to mention two World Series victories in championship seasons for the Angels and Red Sox more than a decade apart.
Lackey was out for three weeks spanning mid-August and early September with shoulder stiffness, but Maddon isn't worried about that, either.
"I just want to believe that he keeps getting stronger," Maddon said. "But there is a certain amount of rust element involved. However, I have a lot of faith in John, and I know he's going to be ready. I never worry about him, man. He has been there, done that, and I know he'll be ready for (Saturday)."
Lackey believes he will be, too.
"Once you've actually done it before, I guess it makes it a little bit easier," he said. "No matter what happens, nobody can say I can't win the big one. That's kind of comforting."
