Jon Lester Archives - Jane Heller

A Janer, People! (With a P.S.)

July 29, 2014

When was the last time the Yankees scored 10 runs? Not lately, that’s for sure. Way more fun than watching them try to scratch out one or two and look lame doing it. I thought tonight’s game was headed for another 2-1 score, but then the Rangers showed why they’re in last place and we showed we still have a pulse.

Except….our bullpen absolutely sucked. Just sucked. Are they tired because it’s the second half of the season? Are the arms that were so effective – Warren, Bettances, Robertson, the cream of our crop – about to fall off? Seriously, I’ve never seen such a collective meltdown and Bettances, in particular, hasn’t been his All-Star self since, well, the All-Star break. If they’d thrown away that game I would have had smoke coming out of my ears. But thanks to Beltre, we ended up winning. Who needed such a tense ending? I didn’t.

As of this writing, Jon Lester seems to have been traded. By the time I wake up tomorrow morning I’ll know where he landed. The Dodgers? The Marlins? The Cardinals? The Mariners? If it’s the Mariners, I kind of might be sick. About as sick as I feel having to watch a Tuesday night game on Fox. What’s that about? It’s bad enough that they have Saturdays.

Pedro Ciriaco = The New Most Annoying Red Sock

August 18, 2012

Seriously. He was great in that first series against the Yankees after he was called up and he’s been great in this series too, including today’s 4-for-4 day. Where did he come from? Planet Pirates? How is that possible? I know Lester was tough, but it was Ciriaco who bothered me the most. He has now taken his place in the rivalry as the guy we can’t figure out.

But mostly today’s game was the essence of RISP failure. We’d get somebody on with nobody out and couldn’t bring him home. Over and over. The pattern was so boring it nearly lulled me to sleep. I hate when we don’t score.

And it wasn’t as if Phelps gave the game away. He kept the Yankees in it the whole time, and I continue to be impressed by the poise he shows. He’s not overpowering. He’s not phenomenal. But he’s smart and focused, and Hughes and Nova could learn a thing or two from watching him.

I wish Tex could be back in the lineup – the healthy Tex. Cano is slumping and Jones is not a cleanup hitter (or an outfielder at this point); I’d rather see Chavez hit even against a lefty.

I really hope tomorrow night is more entertaining. This one was a dud.

The Red Sox’s Epic Collapse Has An Official Name

October 17, 2011

Apparently, it’s “Popeye-gate.” As in the fried chicken favored by the Red Sox pitchers who ate it in the clubhouse instead of sitting in the dugout watching their teammates try not to lose.

Oh, my.

Today one of the above pitchers, Jon Lester, went on the record to the Globe and admitted his dastardly chicken eating. (If this story weren’t so pathetic I’d be laughing. I mean, we’re talking about fried chicken, people! Not heroin. Not even PEDs. Chicken!)

No, I’m not condoning any of the behavior exhibited by Lester and his buddies. His “But it was only one rally beer in the ninth inning” defense was hollow, and the way he outed Francona for not being able to control his players was really low. But my favorite line of his had to do with a question about whether he was just following Beckett’s skanky lead. “I’m a grown-ass man,” was his response. I mean seriously. Who even uses the term “grown-ass man?”

Not to let Lester’s words sit out there, Globe writer Dan Shaughnessy poured more gas on the flame with his own article today. It’s worth a read if you haven’t already.

Shaughnessy says Red Sox fans won’t soon forgive this team. Is he right? And if certain Yankees were guilty of some of the same transgressions attributed to the Sox, would you forgive them?

For me, it would depend on who was a truly bad apple and who was merely slacking off. I’d want the bad apple(s) gone. I know that much.

The Red Sox's Epic Collapse Has An Official Name

October 17, 2011

Apparently, it’s “Popeye-gate.” As in the fried chicken favored by the Red Sox pitchers who ate it in the clubhouse instead of sitting in the dugout watching their teammates try not to lose.

Oh, my.

Not to let Lester’s words sit out there, Globe writer Dan Shaughnessy poured more gas on the flame with his own article today. It’s worth a read if you haven’t already.

Shaughnessy says Red Sox fans won’t soon forgive this team. Is he right? And if certain Yankees were guilty of some of the same transgressions attributed to the Sox, would you forgive them?

For me, it would depend on who was a truly bad apple and who was merely slacking off. I’d want the bad apple(s) gone. I know that much.

What Was Not To Love About That Game?

September 24, 2011

Things went so much better than I could have imagined. On paper, Lester versus Sweaty Freddy looked like a mismatch, but here’s what we know about paper.

It means nothing. Lester didn’t have it and Garcia did and there was a moment when Lester was standing on the mound, after giving up the homer to Jeter, when I thought he might burst into tears. He was so tough in the first inning, wasn’t he? After that, not so much.

Here’s what else was great:

Jesus Montero’s hitting theatrics.
Boone Logan’s mastery of Ortiz.
Watching Andruw Jones run the bases.
The fact that a Yankees-Red Sox game only took THREE HOURS.
The fact that we scored 9 runs without any production from A-Rod, Grandy or Tex.
The fact that Joe Buck wasn’t around for the broadcast.

Here’s what wasn’t great:

A-Rod’s rust; I’m concerned.
Tex’s continued slump; I’m concerned. (What’s he batting? Like .230? If that?)
The fact that FOX didn’t show us the pre-game ceremonies with the Maris family except for a tiny clip. (I couldn’t get over how much one of the sons looks like his dad.)

Anyhow, it was a terrific win for the Yanks after all the beatdowns this year at the hands of the Sox and a very reassuring performance by Sweaty Freddy.

A Very Workmanlike Win

August 5, 2011

We beat the Red Sox tonight by waiting Lester out, then delivering when he was vulnerable. I’d call that workmanlike.

At first, I thought we’d never get on the board. Lester’s slider was nasty and he was striking everybody out (or so it seemed).

But along came Granderson to give us a run and, later, Swisher, to put us ahead (he also had an excellent night in the field).

Colon was fine, keeping the Red Sox at two runs, but he wasn’t efficient and it was clear he wouldn’t be hanging around for long. I was a nervous wreck when Girardi brought in Boone with the bases loaded. Talk about a big strikeout.

The entire bullpen was fabulous, with a special shout-out to Soriano. There was no attitude whatsoever when he took the mound in the 7th. He not only set the Sox down in order but had a spring in his step on his way to the dugout. Nicely done.

It was a tense contest but what other kind is there between these two teams? The big takeaway is that the Yankees secured sole possession of first place – for tonight anyway – and I’ll sleep better.

‘Night.

It Could Have Been Worse

June 7, 2011

Yes, we could have had a Buster Posey situation on our hands.

Tell me you didn’t hold your break and think about Posey when Lester’s pitch made a direct hit on Tex’s knee. I heard that crack, watched our guy go down and felt sick. But the x-rays were negative and he’s got a contusion and nothing’s broken. At least that’s what we heard tonight. How long he’ll be out remains a question mark. And just when he’d gone on a home run streak too. Figures.

What further bothered me was that despite Lester’s lack of control (he hit Martin to add insult to injury), the Yankees couldn’t knock him out earlier. They couldn’t even take advantage after Jenks went lame with a stiff back. Just not enough firepower tonight. A-Rod, in particular, was not helpful. Granderson had an atypically off night at the plate. And Andruw Jones looked ready for the glue factory.

Should I even bother to talk about Garcia? Oh, why not. He was throwing batting practice. He had nothing. I know he’s pitched well and I’m not supposed to complain about him but I’m doing it anyway. He’s not the answer over the long haul, he just isn’t.

On a positive note, how about Hector Noesi?!

Aside from Big Sloppy’s homer, he was brilliant. Who wants to see him in the rotation?

woman-raising-hand — (courtesy: villagevoice.com)

Kudos to Ayala too.

And Jorge. Clearly, all he needed was to play defense instead of just DH. He had a terrific night. So if he takes over at first for awhile, maybe we’ll see some real offense from him.

And a word about Cano and that throw he made from Granderson to nail Ellsbury at third: sweet.

I hate losing to the Red Sox yet again, especially at the Stadium. I hate losing one of our hottest players too. But there’s always tomorrow and Thursday.

I’m being amazingly level-headed about all this, aren’t I?