Jon Lester next year

[Dojji]

Jon Lester followed up a pretty solid 2008 performance with much the same work in 2009. In both years he won 15+ games and pitched 200+ innings, but last year he increased his k/9 from mid-6 to 10+, silencing doubters and giving himself a reputation as possibly our best starting pitcher. In the process, his top fastball has improved from 93 to 97 miles an hour, and I've heard some people hint that he might even still have some projectability as he continues to put his stuff together.

 

My question is basically, the guy's still going into his age 26 season next year. is there room for an encore or even an improvement should we just be grateful for what he's giving us? Does anyone see him winning 20 and cementing his reputation as a True Ace?

 

Or, since I know Jacko's sniffing around here somewhere, is there the possibility of a regression to the mean?

[Keeper]

He could have won 20 games this year. He had 9 no decisions where his ERA was 3.32 and his WHIP was 1.228. Averaged over 6 innings in those no decisions as well.

 

The key for Lester will be getting off to a better start next year. In '08 and '09 he struggled big time in April. Was also bad last year in May. But his numbers were staggeringly good the rest of the way.

[Dipre]

Lester's K spike is legit, he has the potential to win 20 games right now, and he's smack dab in the middle of the discussion for top lefty in MLB, however, i believe there is room for improvement if he finishes incorporating his changeups and completes harnessing his stuff (which is pretty damn good), he could probably be a bit better, there is no reason to expect a regression.

 

He was also a bit unlucky last year as evidenced by his .323 BABIP and 10.6 HR/FB % (a more than 3% increase from 2008, that is a noticeable raise in a pitcher who arguably pitched better in 2009).

[Soxfan1]

I think Lester is probably the most underrated player on the roster right now. I could definitely see him reaching Ace status this year.

[Dojji]

Lester was a longshot for the Cy Young at times this year, although the absurd performance of Greinke (and to a lesser extent Felix Hernandez) pretty much meant that wasn't actually going to happen.

 

He's always been an "if he can put it all together" kind of guy, and it looks now like he's very, very close to having everything in place for a monster career.

[TheMino007]

I think he'll have a shot at the Cy every year for the next decade. If he can put full season together of great pitching. Over the last two years he has started off slowly in April and into May before really ramping it up and pitching fantastically. If he can pitch solid in those two months he could win 18-20 games and have a sub 3 era.

[Cocos Disciples]

I think he's surpassed Beckett as the #1.

[BSN07]

I think he's surpassed Beckett as the #1.

 

I feel this way also.

 

I wonder if putting Lester #1 would light a fire under Beckett? Being a contract year and having Lester pushing him for #1 status could result in huge seasons for both.

[jacksonianmarch]

He proved 2008 was not a fluke by being even better in 2009. I dont think anyone could count him out as a possible CY option for 2010.

[BSN07]

He proved 2008 was not a fluke by being even better in 2009. I dont think anyone could count him out as a possible CY option for 2010.

 

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TVTJawdrop.png

 

... speechless....