Base Knocks

If the Boston Red Sox are facing an elimination game in the playoffs, who do you want on the mound? While it’s nearly impossible to argue against Beckett, especially with his history in the post-season, Jon Lester can’t be dismissed without debate, and he is looking like he will be a true ace for years to come.

Through his battle with cancer (and with high walk totals), the Red Sox stuck with Jon Lester, despite lucrative trade opportunities. The Red Sox are one of the few organizations that even when they do something that’s widely unpopular with the fan base, like let Pedro Martinez walk after 2004, they have earned the benefit of the doubt because odds are, they just know what they are doing. In the off-season the Sox had the opportunity to receive the most dominant starting pitcher of the young century (Johan Santana), if they would just include Jon Lester in a prospect package to the Twins. Despite the banter heard from WEEI callers strongly preferring to hang onto Jacoby Ellsbury and sending Jon Lester packing, the Red Sox brass firmly resisted the urge. They had seen enough from their young southpaw to know that he was special.

“His breaking ball and changeup improved dramatically in the postseason,” said Peter Gammons, speaking of the 2007 postseason where Lester was the game winner in the World Series clinching game. “After the Cleveland series, the Indians front office, coaches, and player personnel people had a meeting and it was unanimously agreed that after Josh Beckett, the best pitcher on the Red Sox was Lester. That doesn’t include Papelbon, different category.”

The truth is we had never seen Lester at full strength until this season. Even during his eye-opening 2006 rookie campaign cancer had penetrated his body, affecting his velocity and perhaps his spotty command. We never saw the high 90s heat that we heard he was throwing down on the farm. In 2007, he was still recovering, and his velocity still wasn’t where it was before. He has literally been getting better and stronger with every start he makes.

His winning battle with lymphoma may be just a testament to how much passion and fight the kid has in heart. You can see it in his eyes when Lester finds himself in a big spot. When he’s in a jam, he has the ability to buckle down and induce that necessary double play or get a much needed pair of strikeouts. When he hears the “strike three” call from the umpire, his intensity is obvious, as Lester is no stranger to a victorious grunt or fist pump.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. Game-winner of the World Series clinching Game four. A no-hitter against the Royals. AL Pitcher of the Month in July. 23-6 career record.

Back to the initial point. Jon Lester has molded himself into the guy you want to have the ball in Game 7. He’s a guy who wants the ball for nine innings. The Atlanta Braves always had incredible pitching in the 1990s, with Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. They made the playoffs for 14 out of 15 seasons, but only won the crown once. Nobody could question the talent the ability of their pitching staff—all three are Hall of Famers. But only Glavine has a winning record in the World Series. None of them earned the reputation as a big game pitcher–a “stopper.”

Josh Beckett has earned his reputation as the go to guy when his team needs to pull out a win.  Lester showed traces of that same pit bull mentality in 2007.  In 2008, he’ll have another shot at earning the same reputation as his veteran teammate.

Who would you rather have on the mound in an elimination game, Beckett or Lester?