Has Jon Lester figured it out?

[Orange Juiced]

Last 4 games: 27.2 ip, 2.93 era, 0.98 whip, 8.8 k/9

 

Just a blip on the radar or has he gotten himself back on track for good?

[3rdManOut]

I think its still too soon to say. Dont get me wrong I feel that he is slowley getting better and yesterday was pretty good. Still I would love to see more actual wins from him as well.

[mvp 78]

All it means is there's hope for 2013.

[jung]

I think MVP is right about that. You can still see Lester struggling with his mechanics and I think he is forced at least this year to concentrate really hard on his mechanics in an effort to keep from getting really erratic. Where you could credit him I think is that he has in my view worked really hard probably off the mound and on the mound to find a way to get through the remainder of this year.

 

That truly ugly pitch he grooved to Granderson you could have seen coming as he let the ball go. But it does suggest that with a full off season he could get it back.

 

I really hope that somehow he finds a way to deal with his emotions on the mound between now and the start of next year. He just makes it more difficult for himself, particularly this year when I would contend that it is taking a great deal of concentration for him to keep his mechanics from going goofy on him.

[Thunder]

I think he has figured it out. What's even better is that Beckett had an okay start last time out.

[Behindenemylines]

Yesterday was a good test. When you can shut down the Evil Empire like he did that is a good sign. If he pitches like that the rest of the season then we can say he has found it and can be counted on for 2013.

[a700hitter]

Yesterday was a good test. When you can shut down the Evil Empire like he did that is a good sign. If he pitches like that the rest of the season then we can say he has found it and can be counted on for 2013.

The Evil Empire without ARod and Texeira is not that evil, but this is the best that Lester has looked in a long time. Hopefully, he can build on this.

[Designated Hater]

All it means is that he hopefully will finish stronger than he started, making him trade bait. Code: it really means nothing.

[jung]

Just to be clear I think this is really a good sign for Lester...one because as I have stated I think he is working really hard at maintaining consistent mechanics and having found a way to do that in the middle of the season. I think he really has to concentrate very hard while on the mound to maintain consistent, repeatable mechanics at this point...more than he probably would like to. Two, it does suggest he can resolve the mechanics issue completely given enough time to work through it, likely an off season.

 

While he has had less issues to go ballistic over lately, at one point he seemed to be going ballistic over one bad ump call. So, it does look like he is making progress there as well.

[Behindenemylines]

Good lefties are hard to find. When right I think Lester is one of these. He is still young and he someone the Red Sox have developed in their system. Is scheduled to make a 11.6 in 2013 (bargain at today's rate) and I don't think it would be wise to move him. If you get him right and Buchholtz is healthy that is a decent top of the rotation.

[jung]

Well that is the step I am not willing to take. The Sox have made virtually the same gamble on Lester and Buch and Beckett the past two years and frankly with similar results. To me, regardless of how they finish the season, Buch is not ready to be a 1 and Lester has had the opportunity for two years running and has not done it. The idea that you start the years with a bunch of guys that look like 2's at best dooms you to being lucky to have one of them turn out to be a 2 and the rest not even make that standard either due to underperformance or injury or both.

 

The Sox may not be able to bring in a 1 for 2013. They simply may not be able to get that done. Moving Beckett may be enough of a challenge what with everything else going on over there. I am resigned to the possibility that is may very likely take more than one off season to resolve. I do feel much better about things if they do bring a 1 here....at some point because I do think you can make a case that they would be pretty solid from the 2 down. Without a 1, I just do not think they have the kind of rotation you need to get to and then also succeed in the post season.

[a700hitter]

Well that is the step I am not willing to take. The Sox have made virtually the same gamble on Lester and Buch and Beckett the past two years and frankly with similar results. To me, regardless of how they finish the season, Buch is not ready to be a 1 and Lester has had the opportunity for two years running and has not done it. The idea that you start the years with a bunch of guys that look like 2's at best dooms you to being lucky to have one of them turn out to be a 2 and the rest not even make that standard either due to underperformance or injury or both.

 

The Sox may not be able to bring in a 1 for 2013. They simply may not be able to get that done. Moving Beckett may be enough of a challenge what with everything else going on over there. I am resigned to the possibility that is may very likely take more than one off season to resolve. I do feel much better about things if they do bring a 1 here....at some point because I do think you can make a case that they would be pretty solid from the 2 down. Without a 1, I just do not think they have the kind of rotation you need to get to and then also succeed in the post season.

Based on Lester's last 2 seasons, i would slot him in as a number 3 even if he does well down the stretch.

[jacksonianmarch]

He might be turning it around. He's certainly been good for a few starts now. We'll see how the next 6 weeks go. But a700 is right. He cannot come into 2013 slotted any higher than #3, because if he falls on his face again and he is supposed to be your #2 pitcher, then you'll be in the basement again

[kapsis21]

answer is Lavarnway