Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

by Allen Chace on Feb 3, 2008 12:48 AM EST in Open Thread Comment 9 comments

Yep. It's Jon Lester. I don't know if it's from his first game back or not. Doesn't matter.

Elsa/Getty Images

July 23, 2007

The significance of this game, as you'd imagine, is mostly emotional. The Sox didn't particularly need this game, and the 6-2 final score wasn't exactly misleading in terms of the flow of the contest itself. The Sox got 4 runs from Jake Westbrook in the 1st, and the Sox' pitching staff (including, of course, the aforementioned Lester) would prove more than capable of holding that lead, even as the Sox offense added two to the final tally.

But really. We're here to discuss Jon Lester. The date, July 23, 2007, represented the end of a journey that began in September of 2006.

You probably all remember hearing the news, the news that our talented young LHP, who won over the fanbase nearly as quickly as he won 7 games for the big league club in 2006, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I doubt any Sox fan, or probably any baseball fan was left unmoved by this news.

Before I go on, I want to make a mention of Julian Tavarez here. J-Tav was nothing but complimentary of Lester, and constantly referred to himself as simply holding Lester's spot until he was ready. I thought it was pretty classy of Tavarez and <soapbox>, think the Sox should do the classy thing and trade Tavarez if he wants the opportunity to start elsewhere.</soapbox>

Back to Lester. I'm sure plenty of us were hoping he'd get the chance right out of Spring Training. The Sox chose the more conservative route, and Lester started 18 games at various MiL levels before getting his opportunity against the Clevelands at the end of July.

Six innings, six strikeouts, and a night full of emotion later, Jon Lester was right back in the swing of things, and the Sox and us fans were richer for it.

You all probably didn't need my hackneyed attempt at summarizing the emotional impact of this game to be happy that we still have Jon Lester. I certainly didn't.

Look for the next top moment on Monday. Also, for those Sox fans who are also Pats fans, enjoy the game. I will be.

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This year?

I can't wait to see him pitch again this year. He will have gotten stronger over the offseason, and his arm will be closer to, and likely better than, it was before the diagnosis and chemo.

And I agree about Tavarez. He wants to start, and we have seven starters including him. He'll actually get to pitch on another team, and we could get, say, a real backup catcher for him. (No offense, Dougie.)

by Liza on Feb 3, 2008 1:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

Gotta love Lester, even if he usually only goes 5 or 6 innings, and even if his control is questionable. I have no problem with him as our number 3/4 starter of the future.

As for trades I hope we send Julian to the NL. It would be better for the team and for "hatchet-face." What kind of player could we get for 2 or 3 of the following guys:

Julian Tavarez
Coco Crisp
Craig Hansen
Bowden/Masterson (But not both)

Would they fetch a young catcher? An up-and-comming pitching prospect? A young outfielder with power potential? It will be interesting to see what Theo does with our tradable pieces- especially Julian and Coco.

by Schulz on Feb 3, 2008 10:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

What a great series that was in Cleveland. Im looking forward to locking horns with the Tribe again this summer. I would have liked 2 keep Tavarez as our long guy and cut loose Snyder, ahh well.

by Matzushocka on Feb 3, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

I love Tribe games, considering I don't like Cleveland at all (that is, in baseball) so it's almost as exciting as Yankee games for me (but without the division rivalry).

by Liza on Feb 3, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

Jacobs Field is the second best stadium in all of baseball behind Fenway. I will not call it Progressive field. The Indians are the team I follow second closest behind the Sox if it isnt obvious, so its special every time they play.

by Matzushocka on Feb 3, 2008 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

The Prog rocks

Bottom 9th B:1 S:0 O:0 With Bill Mueller batting, Dave Roberts steals (1) 2nd base.

by britsoxfan on Feb 3, 2008 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

Camden is up there. Of course, the quality of baseball being played takes away from it a bit, especially if Bedard jets out to Seattle.

I've also heard great things about the Pirates' park, but alas, I've never been.

by Allen Chace on Feb 3, 2008 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

Camden is a great spot. I really want to get to Wrigley one of these days.

Manny Ramirez is a bad man

by tommy.otm on Feb 4, 2008 12:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Top 10 Moments of 2007: #5, Lester's Return.

Wrigley's a fun, little park. Lots of charm, but it's mostly concrete. Great place to watch a game. It could stand several updates like those Fenway has benefited from over the past several seasons.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Feb 4, 2008 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs