Guest columnist and Fire Brand commenter Gerry chimes in…
Lester’s Long Rookie Year:
On October 28, 2007, Jon Lester’s very long rookie year ended with a dominant win in the final game of the World Series The year began at his Fenway debut, at age 22, on June 10, 2006. During his long year, Jon threw 144 innings in 27 games, in which he struck out 110 and ended with a 4.68 ERA and an amazing 11 – 2 record. With experience, he continued to improve, and was unbeaten in his last 15 MLB games, and struck out 9 batters on 9/28 vs. Oakland. Not bad for a rookie. His cool command in pitching 5+ shutout innings to win the final game of his Rookie year, which happened to be the final game of the World Series, was discussed by all. That he accomplished this at age 23 promises a bright future. In fact, most baseball gurus believe they saw a glimpse of that future in that game.
But his stats reflect only a minuscule part of his success as a rookie, as he started that long year pitching with cancer, (anaplastic lymphoma) and finished at Denver in the final stages of his recovery. About 90% of cancer patients experience some form of fatigue. Not the kind of fatigue, like from long flights, which cause pitchers to lose games the next day. Cancer fatigue is deep, bone weary, unrelenting. And it lingers for a while even after recovering.
Jon began his long rookie year with this disease, and with this fatigue. Being a tough kid, he pitched through it. By September 2006, he was diagnosed and needed treatment, which brings its own kind of fatigue, and pain, exacerbating the cancer fatigue. In 2007 his rookie year saw him back on the mound, excelling at A level, AA level, AAA level until he was back at Fenway on July 23, to help power the Sox into the post-season. From that point on he determined to put cancer in his rear view mirror, and again become a successful MLB power lefty. In accomplishing this, he joined Lance Armstrong by climbing his own mountain, and winning his own race.
Having turned 24, this month, Jon is waiting for the pitchers to report to Spring Training in February, to begin his sophomore year, a new man. His rookie year is finally over. The lingering effects of the disease, and the toxins which coursed through every fiber of his body to defeat it are, by now, gone. We will soon experience the real Jon Lester, healthy and powerful and disciplined. We know this because, beyond demonstrating his growing skills on the mound, he has become the definition of courage and character on this Red Sox team and, yes, all things being equal, courage and character are difference-makers.
Because of their tremendous ordeal, cancer survivors are considered Warriors, in the truest sense. Red Sox LP Jon Lester has been tested in fires most of us will never experience, been found unbreakable. He beat cancer while posting a remarkable 11 – 2 record as a rookie. He shut out the Rockies in his first World Series start. We can only hope that he will continue to shine in a Boston Red Sox uniform for at least another decade.
How can we even consider giving up this home grown hero, who certainly could win 15 games in his sophomore season, in order to get Johan Santana who won 15 games last season? This long time fan says it is unthinkable. Johan is among the best pitchers of his generation. Jon won’t be far behind, and Jon isn’t holding teams hostage demanding to become the highest paid pitcher in baseball. Johan is, and character counts. With Jon Lester we have a proven pitcher and a man of character. And with Jon we keep our top prospects, save a bundle, and send a clear message that we support our heroes, and baseball is more than business.
Ellsbury’s Short Rookie Year:
Did you recognize the queasy feeling as the 2007 season rolled on through summer, that “why is this happening” angst as our pitchers tired, our batters tired, our team tired, the Yankees kept creeping up in the standings. “Not again”.
Out of nowhere, in center field of all places, where Coco was daily demonstrating why he ranks among the best defensive outfielders in baseball, and giving lessons in base stealing . . . suddenly there appeared a bolt of lightening, like a messenger from the gods of the Dene’, the Navajo people.
It was Jacoby Ellsbury, the Red Sox #2 minor league prospect, who seemed to be everywhere. In fact, in the batting order and on the basepaths, he really was everywhere, hitting at almost every slot and slapping balls to wherever it got him on base, terrorizing pitchers, and tracking down balls like Coco would. A phenom.
Jacoby became a force of nature, exciting, awakening a giant of a team which seemed to have stopped to rest. And didn’t he play well with classmate Dustin Pedroia. Those two lit up the center of the field, and got everyone up and going. Not just a sparkplug, this 23 year old played awesome baseball. In 33 games and 116 AB, this more rookie than Pedroia (who would win ROY), hit a stratospheric .353, with 3HR and 9SB. With plate discipline, good contact, and lightening speed he racked up a .394 OBP and .509 Slugging percentage. Wow!
Fans were whooping and hollering and laughing, and the Sox got moving again and never looked back. Is Jacoby the second coming of Fred Lynn or Yaz? Who knows. He has all the tools to lead off, get on base, steal alot of bases, hit with some power, and develop the same range and defensive skills of a Coco . . . and none are better than Coco at this. And, in his oh, so brief rookie start, while some thought he should still be in Pawtucket, Jacoby helped win the world series. From the leadoff spot, he averaged an absurd .438, while driving in 3 runs an scoring 4x. Everyone kept saying “Who is this kid?”
We know a little bit about him now, and applaud his success, appreciate his skills, admire his work ethic, and look forward to watching him grow. Pundits aside, he is another top player from our farm system, another star from our own youth movement, a probable hero, like Lester, for at least another decade. Most would not think of trading him for Johan or anyone else, but there he is, in the deal, just weeks after his heroic World Series effort.
In Navajo culture, an individual is healthy only as long as he/she is in Harmony with the world around him/her. If a person falls out of harmony, then sickness and malaise follow, until Harmony is restored. The word for this “Beauty Way” is very similar to the word for Happiness. I can’t help thinking that, as Jacoby felt the love and harmony from the Fenway faithful, and accomplished such mighty deeds during his short year, the word from the top that he might be traded off as part of a huge package to bring a 15 – 13 pitcher to the best pitching staff in baseball, might have thrown him out of Harmony. It did it for me!
The Santana trade could cost us these two highly talented home town heroes, and a whole lot more besides. As Schill and Julian predicted, we didn’t need Roger last year, and most fans appreciate that we don’t need an angry Johan this year . . . despite their vast talents and dominant reputations. Let’s keep our heroes, cherish their accomplishments, and watch them become dominant stars in their own right. We are Boston. We are smarter. We love baseball, we identify with the players and the game, not the business of baseball.
