Jon Lester

[a700hitter]

Time to trade him for Willis. His value way up right now. Let's hope the FO gets cracking on this.

[ksushi]

Yeah, lets hope, because Willis has been so good. Keep dreaming. Seriously, I don't understand your impatience. I mean, I kind of get that what you're saying is a little bit rational, I'm just confused as to why you are so hell bent on trading a 22 year old lefty who has touched 98 this year and was the eastern league pitcher of the year. What is it? Granted, Lester lives in the low 90's, he has a power arm with good stuff. People all up and down the Red Sox system gush when they talk about him. Not all prospects pan out, but I don't understand why you are so averse to giving him a shot. I will guarentee you they will not trade him. They have walked way too far out on the plank with this kid handling him with kid gloves, grooming him to be in the Boston rotation. They could have dealt him for Johnson, didn't. They could have dealt him for A-rod, didn't - although to be fair Lester wasn't the breaking point of that deal, or at least not all of it. They could have dealt him alone in the Beckett deal, didn't. They've gone to great lengths at this point to keep him. He's done nothing but what is expected of him. Why trade? *shakes head begins to cry*

[jsinger121]

Time to trade him for Willis. His value way up right now. Let's hope the FO gets cracking on this.

 

I didn't know we had Dan Duquette on this board.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I didn't know we had Dan Duquette on this board.

 

jsinger I'm not sure if you saw the game but if you did.....how was the velocity??

[jsinger121]

jsinger I'm not sure if you saw the game but if you did.....how was the velocity??

 

Didn't see the game or listen to it on the radio but I can find out through people I know how he did.

[a700hitter]

I didn't know we had Dan Duquette on this board.

Aw just yanking your chain a bit. It's good to see the kid getting his s*** together, because ST messed up his mechanics and his head.... but if the trade were to be made, I would not sqawk if id did not cost too much. This team needs another solid starter, and I think Willis would fill that bill.

[ksushi]

What has willis done this year to make you think that? And ST didn't mess with his mechanics at all... i know he was rattled and not ready... but mechanically he was fine.

[a700hitter]

What has willis done this year to make you think that? And ST didn't mess with his mechanics at all... i know he was rattled and not ready... but mechanically he was fine.

I don't think it is fair to judge Willis based on what he has done this year. The Marlins have been dismantled and they are in total disarray. Willis is a proven Major League pitcher. He's 24, so there is no reason to think that he has lost anything. As for Lester, he made some statements in ST that he was rushing and that it affected his mechanics. He was still messed up after ST ended. They did some good work getting him back on track.

[jsinger121]

Who even knows if Willis can pitch in the AL?

[ksushi]

Erm, no, I'm sorry. Lester mechanics were totally fine. He is a self proclaimed slow starter, so perhaps throwing him into MLB games in ST was a bad idea to begin with. He is a slow starter. His slow start had nothing to do with bad mechanics it is what he does.

 

The marlins dismantling has nothing to do with Willis's terrible BAA and WHIP. He is an off again on again NL pitcher who I would not trust making the transition to the AL right now. I think its possible lester has a higher ceiling.

[a700hitter]

Who even knows if Willis can pitch in the AL?

In 46 1/3 innings against American League teams he has a 3.10 ERA, so there is no reason to think that he can't pitch in the AL.

[ORS]

FWIW, Lester supposedly doesn't take well to relief roles. He's fairly comfortable with his routine as a starter according to an interview I read (sorry no link, I can't find it again), but it gets disrupted as a reliever. Apparently he has a problem with not knowing when he's coming into the game. In one of his ST appearances, he came in after Schilling and E-Mart and 8 of his first 9 pitches were balls. Seems like he loses control (mentally) when he feels like he's not in control, which could account for why he started slow when his pitch count leash was fairly short. He's got more freedom to pitch now and the results support this line of thinking.

[jsinger121]

In 46 1/3 innings against American League teams he has a 3.10 ERA, so there is no reason to think that he can't pitch in the AL.

 

I'm still skeptical he can put up those stats pitching the AL fulltime.

[a700hitter]

I'm still skeptical he can put up those stats pitching the AL fulltime.

Are you still skeptical about Beckett?

[jsinger121]

Beckett is a much more dominant pitcher than Willis and I was never skeptical of Beckett coming to the AL. Willis delivery is not something I want a part of. I'm not a Willis fan and believe he is very overrated as a pitcher.

[ksushi]

I think Beckett was stuff-wise way ahead of Willis. The reason they dealt him is because Beckett was viewed as a high maintenance pitcher who spent too much time on the DL. The stuff was never an issue.

[riverside sluggers]

I think Beckett was stuff-wise way ahead of Willis. The reason they dealt him is because Beckett was viewed as a high maintenance pitcher who spent too much time on the DL. The stuff was never an issue.

 

Beckett will also be entering free agency in the next year or so. The Marlins know that a pitcher of his caliber demands top dollar, something they wont do. Their 25 man roster consists of $24 million combined. Alex Rodriguez earns more than that team in 1 season.

[ksushi]

Beckett will also be entering free agency in the next year or so. The Marlins know that a pitcher of his caliber demands top dollar, something they wont do. Their 25 man roster consists of $24 million combined. Alex Rodriguez earns more than that team in 1 season.

 

Not true. Beckett isn't a free agent until 08. They estimate that the Marlins will be competitive again in 5 years. Thats usually how long a rebuilding takes, neither Dontrelle or Beckett would have been around if you figure they don't get re-signed.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

The difference between Willis and Beckett is a few extra pitches and more velocity. Dontrelle Willis really only features a fastball, slider, and a changeup. With the teams in the AL East they can sit on a pitch and figure out a pitcher in the later part of the game.

 

Josh Beckett has the stuff to completely overpower a team (like he did to Baltimore). Dontrelle Willis relies on being deceptive and being perfect with his location. That being said I love the guys attitude and I think he is a real competitor. I wouldn't mind one bit having him on the Red Sox but I think there are other options I would want to look at before.

[Cityofchampions33]

Beckett ahs the mentality, stuff, and velocity for a front-of-the-line-starter and to be the anchor of any team, he can win without much run support and get out of jams while keeping his head. Thats a huge reason why I like him is because even when he doesn't have his best stuff he knows how to still eat up innings and get easy outs. I mean the guys 26 and already a World Series MVP, he's like the Tom Brady of starting pitchers.

[YazYaz04]

beckett is going to be the curt schilling of 2001 very, very soon.

[example1]

Beckett is a different pitcher than WIllis. Willis is, obviously, a lefty, to begin with. He hits 94 or so when he's throwing well, though I must admit that at times his velocity impressed me last year.

 

Beckett has amazing stuff. I'm listening to a linked interview from WEEI on BDD and he just said verbatim "I've never had Josh Beckett's stuff". That means a lot coming from someone with the mouth (god love it) and the stuff of Schilling.

 

I don't want this to become a Beckett thread, but do people think he will develop a splitter in the next year or two? That pitch would be devistating with his curve, heater and change (which I don't think he's throwing enough, btw).

[MANNYHOF24]

Yeah, lets hope, because Willis has been so good. Keep dreaming. Seriously, I don't understand your impatience. I mean, I kind of get that what you're saying is a little bit rational, I'm just confused as to why you are so hell bent on trading a 22 year old lefty who has touched 98 this year and was the eastern league pitcher of the year. What is it? Granted, Lester lives in the low 90's, he has a power arm with good stuff. People all up and down the Red Sox system gush when they talk about him. Not all prospects pan out, but I don't understand why you are so averse to giving him a shot. I will guarentee you they will not trade him. They have walked way too far out on the plank with this kid handling him with kid gloves, grooming him to be in the Boston rotation. They could have dealt him for Johnson, didn't. They could have dealt him for A-rod, didn't - although to be fair Lester wasn't the breaking point of that deal, or at least not all of it. They could have dealt him alone in the Beckett deal, didn't. They've gone to great lengths at this point to keep him. He's done nothing but what is expected of him. Why trade? *shakes head begins to cry*

 

Jon Lester 98 mph, I highly doubt it

[ksushi]

Go ahead, but I've read now from two places he hit 98 once in one of his last starts. Velocity increases happen with moves to higher level of play. Workout gets more intense etc. He won't hit 98 consistantly at any point and it may have been the gun, but he threw heat.

 

I saw Santana hit 99 last year, doesn't mean he can throw it all the time.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, but it also might be the fact that he has more in his arm due to the leash he's on. I mean Bedard hit 97, but he doesn't throw that on a regular basis, however it very well could be a velocity spike I as have also heard him hitting 96 on occasion.

[jsinger121]

Jon Lester takes the hill tomorrow against Louisville at McCoy.

[jsinger121]

Lester last night against Louisville

 

5inn 3H 1ER 3k's 4BB's and took the win

[monty]

good to see. I think his progression has been stellar and look forward to seeing how he pans out. I do think we wont see him as a sox for long though... i think he will be traded this year in a big time trade that will net the sox either Dontrelle Willis, Barry Zito, Miguel Cabrera or Mark Prior.

[jsinger121]

Lester is not getting traded for any of those pitchers at all. He was already hands off in the Josh Beckett deal. If the Sox acquire a pitcher it will be to a lesser degree.

[monty]

Lester is not getting traded for any of those pitchers at all. He was already hands off in the Josh Beckett deal. If the Sox acquire a pitcher it will be to a lesser degree.

I love how you say that like your in the sox front office and are tight with theo. do you really know? no, no one does. Its just my opinon and im not the only one who thinks Lester could be traded.

 

Thanks Theo.