December 12, 2014

Farewell and Amen



So now that Jon Lester has made his choice, whatever will we do? How can we find meaning in our life with him heading to Chicago or raise our children in a world that no longer allows him to coexist with the Red Sox? What heinous act was the final deciding blow that drove Lester to the point of no return?

Holy hyberbole, Batman! Enough! Just stop it!

 I don't know which was worse: the litany of "World's Coming to an End" posts on his departure or the constant "updates" on his supposed forthcoming decision that always seemed to linger into the following day. The more drawn out the process became, the more you felt "How can I miss you if you won't go away?" as the writing was on the wall with indelible ink.

Was I disappointed that Lester informed us in the wee hours of Tuesday night that he would not return to Boston? Most definitely! Do I think Boston can be successful in 2015 without him? Absolutely! We've enjoyed the highest of highs and lowest of lows (doesn't get much lower than Bobby Valentine) in Jon's company and this is a cycle that will continue as it does with other organizations.

 To read some of the comments on Twitter over the last two days, you’d think the Red Sox no longer were relevant as a contender. Some fans seem to really feel that Jon Lester was a victim of outright and blatant disrespect. Then you have others that want a pound of his flesh for his comments regarding “What’s an extra 20 million?” which was exactly the amount the Cubs bettered the Sox with their contract offered. A 6 year 155 million pact was agreed to, but actually, he’ll make about 170 million with an included signing bonus so we better increase that number by another 15 million. Lester secured the largest average annual salary for any free agent pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball for a multi-year deal. But the money doesn’t matter, right?



Wrong! If there is one thing I know from all I’ve read and seen concerning Jon Lester, it’s that he is genuine. He gave everything he had on the field during his brilliant career with the Red Sox which included a no hitter, three all-star berths and two world championships. His nine year career in Boston consisted of 241 starts and a record of 110 - 63 second only to Mel Parnell for wins by a left handed pitcher in Red Sox history. He made no excuses with regards to his performance and was a highly regarded teammate, but Lester was equally memorable with his conduct off the field as well. He inspired many people and families stricken with cancer as he waged his own heroic battle against lymphoma eight years ago. Lester also used his stature to give of himself to help those in need by his charitable efforts in the community. So why does it come as a shock that he would take more money? There’s nothing more genuine than that. No one reading this article would refuse more money for a similar role in their chosen professional field. Yeah, those comments above look like he really put his foot in his mouth, but he was playing the game of negotiations. If I hear the words “hometown discount” again when fans discuss baseball contracts with their star players on the cusp of free agency, I’ll simply shake my head and chuckle. It doesn’t exist, except if you are Mike Lowell.

Now was it all about the money initially with Lester? Yes it was. If the Boston brain trust had had half a clue (insert Larry Lucchino), they could have had Lester in the spring for about 110 million for 5 years and an option. At that particular time Jon would have “felt wanted” as he mentioned with the free agency process. Instead, the Red Sox brass stood by their philosophy of less years with respect to a player’s age and opened with that now infamous 4 year /70 million insult. One agent was quoted as saying on the Boston offer:"I don’t start a conversation with my kid by saying “Go to bed.'' Now, it was ill conceived, but Boston was also playing the negotiating game, albeit not very wisely. What even muddied the waters further was Boston’s hubris which was evident when they traded Lester to Oakland for Yoenis Cespedes. Why not? The thinking was they’ll get a big right handed bat for Fenway, and then kiss and make up with Jon in free agency.

To their credit, Boston did divert from their philosophy with their overture this week to Lester because they deemed him to be an exception to the rule which was the appropriate thing to do. By this time though, the damage had been done as Lester was mortally wounded and Boston beyond redemption. Lester then went about his plot to give Boston a taste of their own medicine. He left them twisting in the breeze and had them so uneasy about their position that John Henry made a personal visit to Lester’s home in Atlanta to beg forgiveness.  Slyly masking his vengeance, Lester made Henry et al feel they were still in the hunt before planting the dagger into the torso of Red Sox Nation creating a gash with a resounding ripple effect. He signed with the former Boston “Boy Wonder” Theo Epstein who he grew up with in the Boston organization, and he will now be managed by an old AL East nemesis in John Maddon. To see Maddon crow at his impromptu press conference about the Cubs signing Lester was tantamount to rubbing salt into the gaping wound. 

Sawx GM Ben Cherington attempted to stop the bleeding in a flurry of activity at the end of the winter meetings by inking Wade Miley, Rick Porcello, and took a flyer on former Red Sox Justin Masterson. It wasn’t just Lester’s pride that took a hit in this whole process – Cherington’s was bruised as well. His comment on Porcello showed some moxie as he shifted to counterattack mode and stated this:



Ummmm… nice try, Ben. Until now, Boston's association with Porcello was a fickle one as he can be best remembered for tossing Kevin Youkilis on the Fenway infield like a rag doll after Porcello took some liberty by pitching inside. Yeah, there is plenty upside with Porcello but it may have been a tad premature for that volley. Still, Cherington was busy applying some salve to begin the healing process as he moved towards keeping the ball on the ground. Both Porcello and Miley induced plenty of groundouts in the past, and judging by the tweets below, Boston is clearly lacking in this area. Evendently, Porcello seems to be a key component in rectifying this. 


Porcello has also got 5 years on Jon and has made 30 plus starts in 5 of his 6 big league seasons. Cherington also rid Boston of all remnants of Lester by dealing the big bat Jon was spurned for in Cespedes. Yoenis wasn't going to sign in Boston after 2015, and they knew it so he was shipped to Detroit along with Alex Wilson and pitching prospect Gabe Speier. I'll give Ben a mulligan on this failure with Lester as I still say we are all still indebted to him for swinging the deal that ushered Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, and the manically discontented Carl Crawford to Los Angeles. Cherington also neatly swept away the booty he received from that deal with the Dodgers sending Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster to Arizona away for Miley.  De La Rosa showed some promise with the Sawx but didn't miss many bats despite his high velocity . He could land as a back end bullpen piece in Arizona. Webster just couldn't seem to put it together in Boston and may thrive with a fresh start. Another aspect of Ben's dealings that I admire is the fact that he rebulit the rotation and still has three top end lefties on the farm in Henry Owens, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Brian Johnson who now have time to develop. As far as positional players, top enders such Blake Swihart, Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts were held back from the trade table. Plenty of possibilities remain to go for that number one guy like Hamels via a trade or buy a wannabe number one such as Shields (did I really type that?).

 Even though one of Boston's most cherished sons has left for greener pastures, the wound left by Jon's departure will mend and the scar will subsequently fade. Of course it hurts right now, but I'm convinced that the franchise will be better off as Lester's deal ages in "The Windy City". In the past five seasons, only 4 pitchers between 35-38 years old own a winning percentage of .500 or better when pitching 500 innings or more. These years will represent the back end of his contract in Chicago.
So, at the end, who really knew that we were one awkward and somewhat creepy hug away from the losing Jon Lester forever? One can only speculate what his legacy would have been  if he had chosen to be a Red Sox for his entire career. The Boston brass hedged their bet that he cared more about this romantic notion, the organization itself that raised him from a pup, and the chance to win more championships, than the almighty dollar. However, they discovered that  you really can't go home again. You can think of all the "and, "ifs" or "buts you want but remember, if "ands", "ifs" and "buts" were candy nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas. 

 Speaking of which, I hope you and yours have the merriest of Christmases and a peaceful holiday season. I look forward to a bountiful edition of the 2015 Boston Red Sox, but until then, I'll relish in the blessings brought forth from seasons past.

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