To everyone who has ever said "Even I could hit better than he could!” Jon Lester just proved you wrong.
Monday, Lester recorded his first career hit. You read that right. His first one.
“But Steve,” you might say, if you bothered to read my byline and knew my name, “Lester spent the first nine years of his career pitching in the American League.”
Yes he did. And that league sometimes plays the National League. Coming into this season, Lester had 36 at-bats without a hit. He struck out in 17 of those. This season, he upped that pace, striking out in 15 of his 30 at-bats coming into today’s game. Lester had only ever reached base once before today, on a walk back in 2010. Hopefully he didn’t get lost on the way to first.
Entering Monday, Lester had a .000 batting average and a .015 on base percentage in 66 at-bats and 73 plate appearances. His other six plate appearances were 5 sacrifice bunts and a a sac fly, the most recent of which came in 2013.
And we’re not talking about a pitcher who is barely hanging on to his job. Lester is a guy who could spend time taking a few cuts. He’s a three-time all-star who finished top 5 in the Cy Young balloting twice. You know where else he could have learned to hit? The first 18 years of his life, where there was no designated hitter. In fairness, Lester probably wasn’t playing baseball until he was two or three.
Lester’s slump-breaking swing shouldn’t have even been a hit. The infield single came when a weak line drive bounced off John Lackey’s leg and caromed into an odd space between two fielders. It was as much of a hit as an intentional walk is a walk. Yes, it counts -- but it’s no compliment to the hitter’s eye or patience.
What’s the point of all this? Jon Lester is a professional baseball player. He understands pitching better than most people in the world, with access to some of the best hitters in baseball. He’s made $63 million in his career, with another $100 million on its way. Which could buy a lot of training. Hell, that could buy a lot of Batmobiles. And it took Jon Lester nine years and 67 at-bats to record one squib of a hit.
So the next time you see someone hitting .220 or .200 or .150, relax on the claims of “even I could hit better.” Because you couldn’t. Jon Lester just proved that.
