Before you start, READ THIS:
On December 31st, 2003, Evan Brunell penned the article There is No Such Thing as ‘The Curse of the Babe’. On that day Fire Brand of the American League was born.
Today we would like want to thank all of the great readers of FireBrand AL. It’s you who make us want to write and talk about the Red Sox. No matter the topic or opinion, whether we see the teams through the same lenses, we appreciate our readers and hope to keep bringing you entertaining and thoughtful Red Sox material for as long as you’ll have us.
Fire Brand of the American League is your home for analytical and opinionated takes on all things Boston Red Sox. Evan started it in response to Aaron Boone’s home run and Evan flew solo until September 2005.
Since then, years later, additional, passionate authors also call Fire Brand home, dedicated to bringing the world musings from Red Sox Nation (whether you’re a card-carrying member or not).
It’s now been 7+ full years since the ground shifted in Boston in preparation for what would be the first World Series championship in 86 years. FireBrand was there at the swell and is very proud to be continuing strong in 2011. Today we have a stable of writers that includes Mike Silver, Charlie Saponara, Tom Fratamico, Tim Daloisio, Paul Testa, Darryl Johnston and Evan Brunell.
86 years though. Think about how heavy that was. Even if you downplayed or tried to ignore it you could always feel it. Let’s be thankful we don’t have to carry that anymore.
“2004 was wonderful. As was 2007.”
(Which brings me to my next story)
Let’s talk a minute about Jonathan Tyler Lester (born January 7, 1984, in Tacoma, Washington) and how he has made the transition from top-flight prospect to top-flight ace. With Lester, it’s as good as it gets.
It was in 2007, after just after beating a battle with cancer, that Jon Lester won the World Series-clinching Game 4 and captured the second Red Sox championship of the modern era.
Four seasons later he’s arguably the best left-handed pitcher in the American League. And depending on how you calculate his value (health, production, quality starts, contract, mental toughness, etc.), he’s the best pitcher in baseball.
Every season in this space we honor one Red Sox as Fire Brand of the American League. The Fire Brand of the American League is a Red Sox player who exhibits character under pressure, an unassuming man who leaves the spotlight for other people but makes his indelible mark on the past season’s Boston Red Sox.
Jon Lester is the 2011 Fire Brand of the American League.
In 2010 Lester took the reigns as Red Sox staff ace and not only repeated his elite skill-level, but improved upon it. Lester made the leap to dominance by sustaining K/9 gains and flirting with 10 Ks per game in 2010.
Lester ratcheted up his GB% heavily to 54%, kept his command and the xERA validates the ERA (xERA – 3.22, ERA – 3.25).
Lester is the Fire Brand of the American League in a season when the Red Sox rotation wavered in flux. 2010 was filled with Josh Beckett’s struggle with back spasms and hit rates, a half-of-a-season adjustment-period for John Lackey, Dice-K’s bewildering performances and the statistically-unsupported breakout of Clay Buchholz.
Lester steered the ship with conviction, providing 15-straight dominant outings, en route to 19 wins and Cy Young Award considerations.
He is a consummate professional who is undoubtedly committed to his craft. Lester is a foundation-level player developed from within and exhibits the character and makeup desired by the Red Sox organization.
He came from being a highly-touted prospect, to beating cancer, to winning the 2007 World Series and now establishing himself as the team’s most dominant left-handed pitcher of the last 50 years. Lester has emerged as an unassuming superstar capable of carrying a franchise on his shoulders and to victory time and time again.
Congratulations, Jon Lester.
2011 Fire Brand of the American League
