March 27--MESA, Ariz. -- Jon Lester threw 54 pitches and topped out at 93 mph in a minor league start Thursday morning.
Most importantly, the Chicago Cubs' prize' offseason free-agent acquisition said his so-called "dead arm" has come to life.
"Today was good, I look forward to the next one (in spring training), and then we can talk about ... if everything goes well ... then we can talk about opening night (against the Cardinals)," Lester said.
With Cubs manager Joe Maddon, President Theo Epstein and several coaches and other team personnel on hand, Lester looked smooth in his deliveries.
"The cutter was good at times, bad at times," Lester said. "The curveball was just pretty inconsistent. I threw a couple of good ones, but that's just something that comes with arm strength. A lot of times for me, sometimes that doesn't show up until the middle of April, May or even when it warms up when you can really feel consistent with that curveball."
Lester, who allowed a walk and a couple of hits, showed frustration on the mound after his minimal slip-ups.
"That's one of my pet peeves in really anything is (when) you continually do the same thing over and over and don't change it," Lester explained.
"If I miss a ball up and away to a right-handed hitter, I'd rather yank a ball down and in to him. At least I made the adjustment. But to continue to do the same thing over and over again, that is kind of unacceptable ... that's the frustrating part. I wear my emotions on my sleeve, whether it's good, bad or indifferent. You can probably tell how I like a pitch or don't like a pitch by watching my reaction. It is what it is, it's who I am."
The Cubs reduced their roster to 40 players Thursday afternoon by assigning 12 players to minor league camp.
Optioned to Triple A Iowa were right-handed pitcher Blake Parker and left-handed pitcher Joseph Ortiz.
Non-rostered invitees assigned to minor league camp were right-handed pitchers Daniel Bard, Anthony Carter, Jorge De Leon and Gonzalez Germen; left-handed pitcher Francisley Bueno; infielder Chris Valaika; outfielders Albert Almora, Mike Baxter and Adron Chambers; and catcher Kyle Schwarber.
fmitchell@tribpub.com
Lester throws 54 pitches and looks comfortable
