It must be frustrating being Jon Lester. I mean, sure he’s their big free agent and the expectations on him are running high but let’s face it folks, something’s bothering him. Yesterday, the Cubs lost 4-0 to the Dodgers and not everything was going right for Lester.
His record is 4-6 but should be the other way around, at the very least. In the second inning, Lester got into a tete a tete with Umpire Andy Fletcher. Words were shared but it followed a walk to AJ Ellis.
“I didn’t say anything directly to him,” Lester said. “I don’t know why he was so upset. I had my head down when I was yelling. Nothing was directed at him … and I don’t know what was going on. It had nothing to do with the umpire’s strike zone. I have to execute better.”
So, let me ask you this; Is he the Jon Lester that Theo Epstein thought he was getting? Is Jon Lester over rated? I’m not complaining about the guy, just asking some much needed questions. It’s easy for me to rail against Jon, I’m just a fan. It could be the National League style, I don’t know. I assume that Jed Hoyer and Epstein took that into consideration before signing him.
“The fastball was not going to where he wanted it to go, and that was a problem,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Lester.
That’s all it could have just boiled down to as well. Just one of those games. The All Star break is coming up soon and as we all know it is a chance for players to relax a bit, have fun and hopefully get their groove back.
In other news, Kris Bryant left the game early due to flu symptoms. Many through social media speculated he was being traded:
“With all due respect to the fans, unless I was running for mayor, I’d be worried about what they have to say a little more,” Joe Maddon said. “It’s about what we think right now. All the social media and all the components that create all the stir, it’s probably kind of fun. … For me, I think if it accelerates interest in our game, I’ll take it. Other than that, I really don’t pay attention to it.”
Ah, some folks.
Believe it.
Whatever is bothering Lester, Theo or Joe needs to figure it out and address it fast. If it’s physical, then send him to the DL and get whatever it is straightened out.
Ultimately it’s not about one pitcher but the entire team. The Cardinals are nearly uncatchable already so that leaves the Cubs fighting for a wildcard spot (barring a St. Louis collapse). They are showing flickers of being a “very” above .500 team and it would be ashame if that got all squandered due to a problematic de facto ace.
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You’re right. I think they’re looking at pitchers right now because they have to make a change. Something’s not right with him and they’ll need to address that before playoffs.
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