BOS 3, CLE 0: Sox Snap Losing Streak Against the Tribe

The Red Sox were ready to snap a six-game losing streak at all costs. Unfortunately, it had to come at the cost of Indians rookie starter Carlos Carrassco, who took a Jacoby Ellsbury line drive off the knee cap on the way to a 3-0 loss.

Jon Lester, who suffered an almost identical injury less than a week ago, looked like his old self, throwing a veritable gem for his fifteenth victory of the season, while the bats played small ball to get themselves out of the slump.

10/1: Hello, October

GAME NOTES: You could make the case Cleveland is worse than Toronto and Kansas City. Let's hope so... so we can finally win a freaking game. Jon Lester takes the mound in a big tune-up game for him.

NYY 9, BOS 3 – Sox Lose More Than Lester

Friday was a night where the Red Sox had a great chance to send their division rivals a message. Instead, they stumbled from the get-go, falling behind 5-0 before they broke the shutout (and no-hitter) in the fourth.

The game was shaky from the beginning, as the Sox were retired in order in the first. Lester looked sharp for the first two innings; particularly in the first when Mark Teixeira chased an outside pitch for a strikeout. Still, the Yanks were able to plate a run on a stolen base and two singles.

The game was quiet through the second inning but, it was all down hill from there.

The Yankees were able to tack on four runs in the third, an inning that also saw Lester leave the game after a Melky Cabrera liner caught him in the leg.

9/25: Lester in New York

GAME NOTES: Jon Lester, the probable ace in October, duels against Joba Chamberlain who is fighting for his rotation spot (versus Chad Gaudin).

Should Jon Lester start Game 1 or 2?

Today, Rob Neyer talked about the news that Jon Lester was going to be the No. 1 starter for the Sox in the ALDS. While he concedes that on some ends it makes sense, he gave more face time to making the case for Lester starting Game 2. I'm here to disagree.

Neyer's two points: One, the Angels are predominantly right-handed. Two, by starting Lester in Game 1 (and theoretically game 2) you lose the chance to have Lester starting in Yankee Stadium twice.

In a response to both points: Lester is starting against the Angels no matter what. Whether that's Game 1 or Game 2, so this point is really only valid for Game 5... if it's even played.

If it is, Lester has been far and away the Sox's best pitcher this year. Boston has to start him in Game 5 -- it's a do-or-die game and you have to have your best pitcher on the mound.

If there is no Game 5 and the Sox advance, Lester will be slated to start Games 2 and 6 (maybe even Game 1 if the Sox sweep) at Yankee Stadium.

So we either get Lester starting Games 2 and 6, or starting a do-or-die game where you need your best pitcher. Seems like sound logic to me.

Lester’s Case for the Cy Young

The Cy Young Award campaigns are getting real heated this time of year. The baseball media has zeroed in on four prime candidates: Zack Greinke, C.C. Sabathia, Justin Verlander, and Felix Hernadez.

Each of these pitchers has a great resume, but Jon Lester has had quite the season. Where does he stack up against the competition?

ERA

1) Zack Greinke - 2.14 - 1st in AL
2) Felix Hernandez - 2.45 - 2nd in AL
3) C.C. Sabathia - 3.31 - 6th in AL
4) Jon Lester - 3.33 - 7th in AL
5) Justin Verlander - 3.44 - 9th in AL

BOS 11, BAL 5: Less than Lester, Still Good Enough

Even an uninspiring performance by Jon Lester was enough to get the job done against an Orioles team that has all but thrown in the orange towel, as Boston beat Baltimore, 11-5, on Saturday.

It was the Red Sox bats that locked up the 12th consecutive series win against the Orioles, behind a shaky outing six inning stretch where Lester gave up ten hits. But as he continued to miss his spots (only 62 strikes over 102 pitches), the offense was busy at work against an already depleted Orioles pitching staff.

9/19: Lester looks to clip some wings

GAME NOTES: Lester starts on one extra day of rest. Lester is inching up on 200 innings pitched on the year, so I see no reason why they shouldn't be a little cautious this late in the season. David Hernandez? Fah! Lester eats David Hernandez for lunch.

20/20 Vision

A few years back, I was introduced to a simple site on the Internet that gave me a different and useful lens on the baseball season. Doug's Stats (www.dougstats.com) looks much like it did the day I stumbled on it in 2003. It hasn't gotten a Web 2.0 facelift, there are no fancy charts or running commentary. In fact, most of the stats can be gotten from any sports site with a "stats" tab in their MLB section. But there was one link on the front door of Doug's home on the Internet that grabbed my attention.

6/13 G2: Evening delight

GAME NOTES: Jon Lester takes the mound. Let's hope he starts off better than the canceled Friday affair, when he got the bases drunk in the first and only had one out before the torrential rain come. He'll go against 'Big Game James' Shields, who is looking to move to .500 on the season, given his 9-10 record.