Comments on: What to Do With Daisuke, The Transformation of Lester

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:30:10 +0000

Completely agree re: Jon Lester. Once he got his strength up he started to rock. I remember people on this site were ready to move him because of the walks he gave up, and even earlier this year with the “big innings” problems he faced. For that matter, until recently many on this site wanted to move Wake and Buchholz out of the rotation. His stuff and personal strength have been there all along and, at 25, he is blossoming, and he is going to keep getting better.
Completely disagree re: Daisuke Matsuzaka, and am offended by and concerned about the disrespect shown towards him. In a deal brokered by Lucifer Boras himself, amidst all the hooplah, his $8.33M salary is well below Beckett’s and Billy Wagner’s . . . 1/3 that of AJ Burnett; and about the same that Schill was given to sit out 2008. Not extreme in any way. And the Sox wouldn’t play him because of his salary (see Lugo, Renteria), but because in the midst of all the angst, he has done very well for the Sox.
His career line demonstrates he is an elite pitcher, not a lucky one. I agree with Minor about his training regimen. Let him throw. Nolan Ryan is even pushing this for his Texas pitchers who suddenly rock. His talent is not a mirage. He really does have two MVP’s for the WBC (no, it’s not 4-A, it is stacked with MLB players) and 33 wins in his first two seasons in Boston, and is revered for his pitching skills in Japan. We can’t say “what went wrong”, because he had done nothing but succeed here until his WBC-related problems … despite the coronies fans experienced. And you can NOT blame him for national pride and loyalty unless you paint EVERY MLB player in the WBC with the same brush.
He missed 2009 for complex reasons. Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito missed 2008, and look at them now.
I empathize with those who quailed at Daisuke’s preference for a BB over a Hit. However, I learned to enjoy the ride, and look forward to another 18-3 record in 2010, no matter how he gets it. Did I mention his ERA and K’s? And I look forward to him strengthening this roster for the rest of the season and post season. The pecking order in the rotation doesn’t matter. Call him what you want, a #2 or #4, his record, his stuff, his mound presence, his knowledge of the game, and “won’t give in” intangibles means we have a top pitcher and stronger roster right when we need it.
If my math is right, Daisuke’s 18-3 record will be the best record of any Sox pitcher in two seasons. Aren’t you glad we got him and not the Yankees.

By: Minor

Minor — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:52:57 +0000

What I’d like to see with Dice-K in the future is to let him train how he wants. I know the Sox training staff and shoulder program are said to be the best in the business, but sometimes a guy doesn’t fit into the mold. I wonder if they’d force Tim Lincecum to train how they want. I say let him do his Japanese thing , even if it means putting an underwear vending machine in the clubhouse.

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:06:40 +0000

Lester has been unbelievable this year, and it seems as if his recovery from cancer is definitely a reason why his fastball velocity keeps rising. He’s a real sleeper for the Cy next year.
Our #4-5 starter is of minimal importance in September, so I am all for getting Dice the innings he needs to show us what we can get from him in October.

By: Tom A.

Tom A. — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:17:31 +0000

Somehow I think the Red Sox management is far more concerned with getting one of their key pitchers healthy and prepared than with the sanctity of the Carolina League playoffs. Not to mention, they scored seven runs and won 7-2. Did Dice-K make all the difference?
Good start by him anyway and hopefully he can come back and produce for us soon. We certainly need him…as much as it pains me to say that.

By: Wooden U. Lykteneau

Wooden U. Lykteneau — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:50:16 +0000

Unfortunately, the club chose to make a mockery of the Carolina League playoffs by sending Dice-K to start a playoff game. Should Salem win the Mills Cup, people might do well to remember that it wasn’t won fair and square.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:01:51 +0000

With Dice-K there’s no real other option than to start him, he could probably do better than what Byrd did last night. All the talk about running him out of town is ridiculous when he’s healthy he’s not an ace but he’s a solid mid-rotation pitcher and when he’s at his best he’s definitely better than Penny/Smoltz/Byrd and its not like the Sox are hurting for money.
As for Lester, he’s my favorite player on the team after Pedroia. He’s been the real ace for the last 2 seasons and by FAR the most consistent pitcher. If not for a rough stretch in his first couple starts and the fact that his win total has been lowered by a lack of run support he should be getting more Cy Young buzz. Back when he couldn’t stop walking guys I thought that curveball had a chance to be truly special and it has. He has a chance to be one of the top 5 lefty pitchers in Sox history (partly because there haven’t been that many great ones)