Jon Lester goes on Twitter to reply to critics and supporters
Lester shows a strong way to interact with fans on social media.

Left-hander Jon Lester has endured a rough start as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Not only does he own a 7.84 ERA through two starts, he's also started throwing over to first sometimes, with mixed results at best. Then there are the critics, the unwashed masses who have to express an opinion about something. These days, with social media, they can get right up in your face and tell you off. It can be... unpleasant. But on Twitter, Lester does whatever he can to kill the haters with kindness, and/or humor.
@SamSciascia Thanks for the advice Sam, I'll give it shot, didn't know trolls had kids.
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 14, 2015
Scalding block, dude. But did you know that Lester is a lieutenant in the grammar police?
@ryanbowen10 Ryan, its "you are" or "you're" say it with me...
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 14, 2015
Or maybe just a corporal.
@HawksiPad touche
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 14, 2015
A word of warning: The following exchange contains adult language:
@willywonka_19 no thanks
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 14, 2015
@JLester34 hey Jon sorry I didn't mean that, I actually really like you just a little sad you left Boston
— Will O'Connor (@willywonka_19) April 14, 2015
See how quickly they fold? It wasn't all bad news bears from the peanut gallery:
@GarrettFilson I'm trying man, I can promise you it won't be due to lack of practice!
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 14, 2015
@jmottz1 "They hate us cuz they ain't us!"
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 14, 2015
This one somehow relates to his errant pickoff, though the fan said he deleted it out of embarrassment:
@d0ttydotcom Not to worry, if you cant laugh at yourself, you're doing something wrong...not that I found it even remotely funny at the time
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) April 14, 2015
His tactics are exactly the same as they were in December after news broke that Lester was not coming back to leaving the Boston Red Sox and many, MANY fans had a problem with that. Lester tried talking them all down from the proverbial ledge, it seemed:
@pjb1546 it does not, and I'm sorry you feel that way Peter but that couldn't be further from the truth.
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) December 10, 2014
And so on. Lester, obviously, has worked on his social media skills more than he has that pickoff move. But I kid! He's a great example for other athletes on how to handle hecklers on social media. He'll only make more fans, and more goodwill, this way.
Big CBS wink of the Eye: The Chicago Sun-Times














