Lester's Future

[Bellhorn04]

Blame him or not. It took too long to resolve.

 

Can't argue with that.

[User Name]

This team's medical staff is awful, and probably the one true weak link in the organization. If the players don't trust the team's medical stuff, it is a big big problem

[dupree]

Didnt they announce before this season that they overhauled the medical staff this year? Well needless to say they are not trusted and i think the biggest mess up is not diagnosis that Hanrahan was gonna have elbow trouble before this season. This whole Buch thing isnt a mess up on their part as far as diagnosing his injury they got it right, just a mess up on not sending him for a 2nd opinion sooner and him not trusting their verdict.

[lospunchados]

I don't care how long it took to resolve, if he comes back healthy and for the stretch run, that's when we need him for. Through his entire career when he has pitched 100% healthy he has been a top tier pitcher, when he has nagging injuries he has been average at best. I'll hope that this extra rest will give us a healthy Buccholz, and more of the Clay we saw in the first half.

[jung]

The danger now is what happens while he is working to regain his arm strength. Buch makes styrofoam cups look like Abram's tanks in comparison. They will have no choice but to build him back slowly and even then he might hit a snag.

 

I don't understand why after all these years he does not know his own body well enough to know what was happening to him. Dr. Andrews is describing something that every athlete, pro and amateur participating in seasonal sports goes through over and over again during a career. Between Lester, Buch, Bard and Aceves a sports psychologist could have made a steady living just off the Sox pitching staff.

[a700hitter]

The danger now is what happens while he is working to regain his arm strength. Buch makes styrofoam cups look like Abram's tanks in comparison. They will have no choice but to build him back slowly and even then he might hit a snag.

 

I don't understand why after all these years he does not know his own body well enough to know what was happening to him. Dr. Andrews is describing something that every athlete, pro and amateur participating in seasonal sports goes through over and over again during a career. Between Lester, Buch, Bard and Aceves a sports psychologist could have made a steady living just off the Sox pitching staff.

The whole scenario is bizarre.

[Orange Juiced]

The danger now is what happens while he is working to regain his arm strength. Buch makes styrofoam cups look like Abram's tanks in comparison. They will have no choice but to build him back slowly and even then he might hit a snag.

 

Well as long as he's ready for the stretch run and (hopefully!) playoffs, I'm ok with it taking a little while. Of course, his prolonged absence might prevent the Sox from even getting there.

[a700hitter]

Well as long as he's ready for the stretch run and (hopefully!) playoffs, I'm ok with it taking a little while. Of course, his prolonged absence might prevent the Sox from even getting there.

This is a scary week playing the Red hot Rays. I will be in a state of shock if we are in 3rd place after this series.

[jacksonianmarch]

BTW, I have a scenario for you. Let's say Buchholz comes back, throws 5 good starts in September and then is serviceable in October, assuming the sox get there. Do you trade him?

[BSN07]

BTW, I have a scenario for you. Let's say Buchholz comes back, throws 5 good starts in September and then is serviceable in October, assuming the sox get there. Do you trade him?

 

I'd rather they traded Lackey or Lester. But I guess no one is untouchable. It have to be for a pretty eye popping deal tho.

[mvp 78]

Depends on what is being offered. The only pitchers I wouldn't move on from are Lackey (cheap money), Doubs and the young guys (Webster, RDLR, etc).

 

I'd package Taz in a deal if it helped to bring back a quality starter.

[mvp 78]

I'd rather they traded Lackey or Lester. But I guess no one is untouchable. It have to be for a pretty eye popping deal tho.

 

Even with his injury history?

[a700hitter]

I'd rather they traded Lackey or Lester. But I guess no one is untouchable. It have to be for a pretty eye popping deal tho.

I think the guy is physically fragile. If he can put up a full season, I would sell high on him, because I have no confidence that he will ever be a reliable innings eater.

[mvp 78]

If Lester has a bad game tonight, I'm completely done with him.

 

Haven't heard from the FIP defenders this year. Wonder why...

[Bellhorn04]

BTW, I have a scenario for you. Let's say Buchholz comes back, throws 5 good starts in September and then is serviceable in October, assuming the sox get there. Do you trade him?

 

Personally I think the notion of trading Buchholz is out in the ether...something that might be fun to discuss on message boards, but that is extremely far removed from what's actually being considered by Cherington and the brass.

[User Name]

If Lester has a bad game tonight, I'm completely done with him.

 

Haven't heard from the FIP defenders this year. Wonder why...

 

It may have something to do with the fact that Lester's FIP and xFIP are both at or above 4.00. May have wanted to double check that before making the post.

[mvp 78]

His FIP is .004 and XFIP is all of .18 higher than last year. So how was he a bad luck pitcher last year, but just plain bad this year? Edited July 23, 2013 by mvp 78

[User Name]

He was plain bad last year too. And like last year, it's a home road split problem. Last year, he got bombed at home and dominated on the road. This year, he bombs on the road and dominates at home. It's all in his head.

[Standing Room]

xFIP isn't always reliable when it comes to pitchers in transition such as Lester or Sabathia since they often see ballooning home run rates coinciding with their decrease in velocity.

[a700hitter]

None of those stats are needed to see that Lester has stunk for the last 2 seasons. Watching the games tells you that. The stats just confirm it for the doubting Thomases.

[Standing Room]

As always the case with stats, no one stat should be used to judge a pitcher. Stating that pitcher x unlucky or pitcher x is better than pitcher y because he has a better xFIP is no different from saying the same thing based on any other one stat like wins or strikeouts.

[seabeachfred]

I get blue in the face this here and elsewhere but Lester has to step up tonight finally and utterly. We gotten nothing but crapola from him the past two months and his stubbornness in the face of seeing his cutter getting hammered time and again is getting me thoroughly pissed off at that stupid jackass. Nevertheless, we need a much needed shot-in-the-arm win tonight and he is the guy we have to depend on for getting it for us, otherwise, how does second place sound? And maybe third buy the end of the week. The Red Sox have to set their feet in the ground and make a dramatic stand tonight.

[BSN07]

Nice to see Lester with a solid outing last night.

[seabeachfred]

Nice to see Lester with a solid outing last night.

 

Well he finally stepped up and become a stopper when we needed it most. The Rays have been red hot and someone had to stop them and Jon did. I just wonder if he has turned a corner and will be steady for us from here on in, or whether he was giving us a tease with that performance last night. I still think we need to add a starting pitcher and reliever to the mix. These next two games with Doobie and Lackey might tell us a lot about the strength of our rotation.