Let the Lester character assassination begin

[jacksonianmarch]

Coming off the report from sox FO mouthpiece, Peter Gammons, is there any question the FO is greasing the wheels for a Lester deal? He's said he loves Boston, but he won't be here long, IMO. Once this starts, the process rolls on.

[VA Sox Fan]

What are you referring to?

[jacksonianmarch]

Gammons wrote that Lester doesn't like Boston and wants out

[SemperFi Sox]

and Lester went to twitter to deny it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Of course he did. Whether its true or not, this will be the start of the slide out of boston

[SemperFi Sox]

Of course he did. Whether its true or not' date=' this will be the start of the slide out of boston[/quote']

 

So if Gammons starting some BS rumor about Pedroia being unhappy he'd be sliding out of Boston? give me a break.

[mvp 78]

Meh, I don't care. Paps hated Boston and he performed at a high level.

 

I don't think it's a big deal.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I'm all for trading Lester if we can get someone like Justin Upton in return, and trade for an elite SP using Ellsbury this offseason.

 

But unless we get that type of deal done, keep Lester. He may be unhappy right now but so is about everyone else on that team. Know why? Because 1. The media is a bunch of ruthless *******s who just stir up ******** (see: Buchholz goes to pool party) and 2. The team is playing like s***.

 

If the Sox come out and play like they are capable in the 2nd half, everyone will be happy.

 

Winning cures all.

[a700hitter]

Of course he did. Whether its true or not' date=' this will be the start of the slide out of boston[/quote']I hate to admit it, but you may be right. It's not a definite that Lester will go, but this is a sure-fire sign that they are dangling him out there to see what he could bring back. The only time a media guy prints or says garbage like this is on a cue to do so from the FO, IMO.

[Station 13]

Coming off the report from sox FO mouthpiece' date=' Peter Gammons, is there any question the FO is greasing the wheels for a Lester deal? He's said he loves Boston, but he won't be here long, IMO. Once this starts, the process rolls on.[/quote']

Hey jackolanturd, don't be paranoid.

 

He was ace level like in 2009-2010. You don't be so quick to dump someone with a couple of bad months and who is under 30 years of age.

 

The guy who should go is Beckett to someone who need SP, Nats, Cards, Texas, etc.

[redsoxfan3]

and Lester went to twitter to deny it.

 

Here are his two latest tweets from his Twitter.

 

Jon Lester ‏@JLester31

Guys, I love Boston, very happy here. Nothing better than playing for the @RedSox, hope to be here for my entire career! ‪#dontbelievethehype‬

 

Jon Lester ‏@JLester31

Wanted to send a big thank u to all the fans for their support. This is exactly why I love Boston and want to stay here! Love y'all! ‪#NVRQT‬

 

That does not sound like someone that wants to leave Boston. I don't know what Gammons has heard, but from what I am reading Lester is happy here. He did start retweeting some trolls on his Twitter yesterday, which was pretty stupid to do. I cannot say for sure what Jon is thinking, but I do know he needs to pitch well in the second half of this season. If this is his last year in Boston, or if he is here for the remainder of his career, it doesn't matter what he is saying, as long as he does his best in the uniform while he is here.

[a700hitter]

Hey jackolanturd, don't be paranoid.

 

He was ace level like in 2009-2010. You don't be so quick to dump someone with a couple of bad months and who is under 30 years of age.

 

The guy who should go is Beckett to someone who need SP, Nats, Cards, Texas, etc.

His numbers are in decline for the second year in a row. People forget that he was thought to have had an off year in 2011 and people were expecting a bounce back year in 2012. He has gotten worse. It is not just a couple of bad months.

The Red Sox record in Lester starts in 2011 was 16-15, and he had Bard and Papelbon to hand the ball late in the game. 2011 was not a good year. This year is worse. I would move this guy now before he becomes Time Lincecum.

[Guest]

Gammons wrote that Lester doesn't like Boston and wants out

 

Gammons is an idiot. My father worked with him years ago and I remember him telling me that Gammons has two brain cells, one is lost, and the other one is looking for it.

I believe nothing that Gammons says. Lester said he likes it in Boston, and I have no reason not to believe that. Whether he belongs here is a separate issue.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Guys. Do you think w may be a bit premature on this whole Lester's demise?

 

1. He has the best k:bb ratio (3.13) since 2009. He is striking out less, but he is also walking way less.

 

2. He has not missed a single start this year. He has thrown 112 innings and is on pace for another 200+ inning campaign.

 

3. The Red Sox are 2-4 in games which Lester has allowed 2 ER or less this year, and one of those was a 1-0 win over the ChiSox. Yes he has been bad a lot, but when he has been electric, he is still losing. So quoting the Red Sox record when he's pitched is not exactly a good measurement. I mean, the Sox were 3-3 in Buchholz's first 6 starts. Was he a better pitcher than Lester? Hm. He had a 9.09 era in those starts.

 

4. Lester's FIP of 3.57 is the best indicator that he will turn it around. It bases a pitchers performance on things he can control, ie strikeouts, walks, and homeruns. It's a much better indicator of future performance than era over 18 starts.

[Bellhorn04]

Lester is pitching horribly at Fenway (5.80) and very well on the road (3.04). That'll certainly catch the eye of any teams interested in him. If we do trade him, I have little doubt that he'll get himself straightened out and will have a long, productive career.

[jung]

Well I still think trading Lester at this point makes very little sense. I do wish he would not wear his emotions on his sleeve so much on his start days. It just feeds the beast of the Boston media.

 

I just have not seen anything that would suggest trading Lester off a team that needs pitching is a good move. As I mentioned in an earlier thread I don't think Lester is showing any signs of slacking off the innings totals he normally generates for a season and that says a lot, pitching in the AL East and pitching in Boston.

 

The whole team is a huge disappointment across multiple fronts and I am one that does not believe they will turn things around this year. But I don't see how it makes sense to trade fairly consistent starting pitching off a team that is thin and weak at starting pitching.

 

Beckett is a different story. I do believe Beckett wants out of here. Maybe he wants back to Texas more than he wants outta' here. I don' know but his innings total is not likely to be that great by year end and innings he will have given us will not be that great either.

[kapsis21]

Here are his two latest tweets from his Twitter.

 

 

 

 

 

That does not sound like someone that wants to leave Boston. I don't know what Gammons has heard, but from what I am reading Lester is happy here. He did start retweeting some trolls on his Twitter yesterday, which was pretty stupid to do. I cannot say for sure what Jon is thinking, but I do know he needs to pitch well in the second half of this season. If this is his last year in Boston, or if he is here for the remainder of his career, it doesn't matter what he is saying, as long as he does his best in the uniform while he is here.

 

Boston media esp news related to redsox is the worst i have seen amongst any sports.

[redsoxbeatz]

Coming off the report from sox FO mouthpiece' date=' Peter Gammons, is there any question the FO is greasing the wheels for a Lester deal? He's said he loves Boston, but he won't be here long, IMO. Once this starts, the process rolls on.[/quote']

 

You must work for the Boston media.

[redsoxbeatz]

His numbers are in decline for the second year in a row. People forget that he was thought to have had an off year in 2011 and people were expecting a bounce back year in 2012. He has gotten worse. It is not just a couple of bad months.

The Red Sox record in Lester starts in 2011 was 16-15, and he had Bard and Papelbon to hand the ball late in the game. 2011 was not a good year. This year is worse. I would move this guy now before he becomes Time Lincecum.

 

Is Lester that short? Pretty sure he is not Lincecum at all. Not even at his best or worst.

[Coach_Gunns]

I would hate to see lester go and if he did where would he go and who would they pick up?

Another, pitcher like who?

[redsoxbeatz]

I don't think Lester will go anywhere.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Peter Gammons reporting that an NL GM called Cherrington about Lester and was told 'we are in it to win it in 2012' so he's not going anywhere, at least not this season.

[SemperFi Sox]

We could be 15 games under FO and ownership would not sell. They are so damn sensitive about PR.

[Brennan]

Wow Wacko Jacko, are you a fan of the bankee$ or just a fan of stirring up s*** with Sox fans?

 

You're really out doing yourself now that our team is about as down and out as it gets. Shows great character.

[Spitball]

I think there is a chance we will see a change in the nature of the deadline deal this season. The added wild card team means there will be more teams contending and possibly a change in the way teams approach trades.

 

For the last 30 years, we have seen salary dumps with teams unloading their high salaried players, or teams trade players within a year or so of free agency for prospects. We might see a different pattern this year.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see contending teams trade within themselves for equal talent and needs. If Lester is traded, I believe he will be packaged with perhaps Mike Aviles for something like Rafael Furcal and Lance Lynn of St. Louis. Perhaps Homer Bailey and Todd Frazier for Lester and Sweeny.

 

Those trades are just guesses, but I think we will see a different type of deadline deal this year because of the added wild card team.

[ellsburyforMVP]

I think there is a chance we will see a change in the nature of the deadline deal this season. The added wild card team means there will be more teams contending and possibly a change in the way teams approach trades.

 

For the last 30 years, we have seen salary dumps with teams unloading their high salaried players, or teams trade players within a year or so of free agency for prospects. We might see a different pattern this year.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see contending teams trade within themselves for equal talent and needs. If Lester is traded, I believe he will be packaged with perhaps Mike Aviles for something like Rafael Furcal and Lance Lynn of St. Louis. Perhaps Homer Bailey and Todd Frazier for Lester and Sweeny.

 

Those trades are just guesses, but I think we will see a different type of deadline deal this year because of the added wild card team.

 

 

Might just be me, but I feel like we'd be making out like bandits if we got Lynn and furcal for Lester/aviles :thumbsup:

[Spitball]

Might just be me' date=' but I feel like we'd be making out like bandits if we got Lynn and furcal for Lester/aviles :thumbsup:[/quote']

 

That was just a "throw out there" example. Actually, I think we will see more contending teams trading between themselves with middle relievers and 3 and 4 starters very important components.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I feel like if he didn't like Boston, his response Tweets would have been vague and uncommitted. "I have no plans to leave Boston", etc. To come right out and insist he wants to play his whole career in Boston seems pretty certain to me.

[jung]

So just wondering Spitball, are you thinking most of these trades will be between the WC contenders and will hence be trades that are trying to fit players better than they fit into their current teams????? like "needs change of scenery" trades that are also trying to match up players to team needs so that a team with an abundance of one thing trades off some of their abundance and in return gets an asset that helps bolster them where they are weak?

[SoxSport]

Cherington said today they are not sellers. They can come back if their key players play to their potential.

That includes the top 3 starters. They would be selling low at this point, which would be pretty foolish.

They've already been burned by the Youkilis deal. That guy got pushed out and they got beans for him.