March 11--Jon Lester's defense is as exposed to criticism as much as anyone's thanks to his issues throwing to bases last season.
Lester knows the drill and is ready for anything.
But in his spring debut on Thursday at Peoria Stadium, the Cubs left-hander provided more fodder for his critics.
During a long two-inning outing, Lester committed one throwing error, made a 50-foot underhanded toss to first base for an out, let a bunt roll between him and the first baseman and was handcuffed on another comebacker that went for a hit.
All in all, Lester allowed six runs on seven hits in the 10-8 loss to the Mariners, though only three of the runs were earned because of three Cubs errors, including his own.
"I didn't really help myself out too much," Lester said. "But we got through two innings. Not ideal, but delivery felt good when I was in it. Obviously the results weren't there."
Last year at this time there was little talk of Lester's problems throwing to a base. He was the Cubs' $155 million trophy pitcher and undisputed ace of the staff, and the Cubs weren't expected to contend until 2016 anyway.
It wasn't until opening night that it became an issue when ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" broadcasters revealed Lester had not made a pickoff attempt in 2014.
The Cardinals stole three bases off Lester that night, and after one start in a Cubs uniform, he was forced to play defense over his defense with the media.
"This really wasn't a big issue until somebody brought it up on TV," a perturbed Lester said that day. "Now I'm sitting here answering questions about it. I don't know. I think I had eight or nine or 10 stolen bases off me last year. It was not a lot."
Lester worked to improve last season and it really didn't affect him or the Cubs that much. He said he was able to read runners better as the year went on, and everyone got used to his unconventional underhanded throws to first on comebackers. Opposing teams didn't really bunt on him as much as you would think they would, knowing he didn't like throwing to first.
In his spring debut Thursday, Lester admitted he made a fielding mistake on the error, making a short-armed throw to second instead of running at the baserunner, or perhaps just getting the out at first. He said one comebacker he muffed handcuffed him, and he realizes he has to clean some things up.
"As pitchers we can always get better at fielding," he said. "Sometimes it's difficult. The ball gets back on you pretty quick."
Lester said he works every day on pickoffs and throwing to bases and conceded he "never has been comfortable" throwing to bases since his high school days.
"I'm a bigger guy (6 foot 4, 240 pounds), I have a harder time with being in the infield," he said. "I never played the infield. I played the outfield. Everything is a lot different. Obviously pitching is a very different motion and (throwing to a base) is something I've not felt comfortable with.
"So back to my Boston days and here, every day I do something, whether (it's pickoffs) or throwing to first, second, third or home, whatever it need be.
"Certain days we do the full gamut, and some days five or 10 or 15 (throws) and move on. I put in the work. I give you everything I have, whether fielding a ground ball, picking off, throwing to first or whatever. I prepare for the moment. It's just executing the play."
Lester vowed he would get better this year with his throws and stopping the running game. Catcher David Ross is in his final year, and the two are bonded at the hip.
"It's all on me to make (Ross' job) a lot easier," he said. "The guys don't steal on catchers. They steal on pitchers."
psullivan@tribpub.com
