Jon Lester throws to first!... And there goes the ball
Lester makes first throw to first since 2013 -- and it's wild! Thankfully for the Cubs, Jorge Soler was backing up and threw the runner out at third base.
Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein are geniuses because they persuaded left-hander Jon Lester to try a pickoff throw to first base Monday night, something Lester had not done in two years because he got out of the habit while pitching for Boston and developed a mental block. A new man after signing with the Chicago Cubs over the winter, Lester threw over to first without incident in the second inning after Zack Cozart of the Reds had reached. The Wrigley Field crowd cheered sarcastically, generally aware that it was Lester's first pickoff attempt since April 30, 2013.
Then came a second throw, which was... errant... and sent the Cubs defense scrambling for the ball up (and/or down) the third-base line. Cozart made it to second and raced for third.
Maddon and Epstein: Geniuses, perhaps. But no miracle workers.
Lucky for Lester that outfielder Jorge Soler was backing up the play and threw out Cozart at third base, helping to keep the score tied. The Cubs won 7-6 in 10 innings, after Soler also contributed two home runs, and Arismendy Alcantara hit a game-winning single through a drawn-in infield.
But about Lester throwing to first.
Via Cubs.com:
"The second one, I got a little excited," Lester said. "I looked over there and [Cozart] was going the other direction. When you're not used to doing stuff like that, I just got a little over excited and tried to throw the ball too soon. Once again, [Soler] picked me up and comes in and makes the great play."
The Cubs have worked with Lester this spring on his pickoff throws, and he feels he's made progress.
"He'll either control the running game by holding the ball, varying his times, being quick to the plate, stepping off," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "If that doesn't work, he'll end up throwing to first base. He'll find a way to control it."
When Lester was in Boston, Epstein said the lefty had a good move to first. Somewhere along the line, he stopped throwing over there as much.
The Cubs figure Lester's pickoff throws will get better because he missed some of spring training due to a tired arm and isn't as far along as he otherwise would be. What? Is there something to work on?
Juuuuuuuuuust a bit outside.
