The Cubs signed one of the biggest prizes in free agency this winter when they locked up Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million contract to be their ace. In Lester’s first two starts with the team, however, a major issue has emerged: Lester is struggling to make one of the basic plays in baseball.
Lester can’t make routine pickoff throws to first base, which has led to speculation he has the yips.
On Monday night, Lester made two pickoff attempts to first base. These were significant because they were Lester’s first pickoff attempts in 67 starts, dating back to April 2013.
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And we can see why he didn’t throw to first for two years.
The first throw was not terrible, but it did cause first baseman Anthony Rizzo to come off the base to make the catch.
But Lester’s second pickoff was a disaster, with the ball sailing well over Rizzo’s head and into right field.
In this case, Lester got bailed out when right fielder Jorge Soler threw the runner out at third base. But it seems clear that Lester doesn't want to throw to first base and that bad things are going to happen if he does.
That Lester has struggled with his pickoff move is not new. As pointed out by Ben Lindbergh of Grantland, Lester began working to improve his pickoff attempts as long ago as spring 2012. Teams almost certainly noticed Lester had stopped throwing to first base in 2013 and 2014.
But what differs now is that before Monday night, Lester still held the threat of throwing to first base and keeping potential base stealers close to the bag.
From the point of the view of the runner, there is a big difference between thinking the pitcher doesn't like to throw to first base and knowing the pitcher can't throw to first base.
The Chicago Cubs' $155 million ace has the yips and can't throw the ball to first base
THE CHICAGO CUBS have a $155 million problem.
The Cubs signed one of the biggest prizes in free agency this winter when they locked up Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million contract to be their ace. In Lester’s first two starts with the team, however, a major issue has emerged: Lester is struggling to make one of the basic plays in baseball.
Lester can’t make routine pickoff throws to first base, which has led to speculation he has the yips.
On Monday night, Lester made two pickoff attempts to first base. These were significant because they were Lester’s first pickoff attempts in 67 starts, dating back to April 2013.
And we can see why he didn’t throw to first for two years.
The first throw was not terrible, but it did cause first baseman Anthony Rizzo to come off the base to make the catch.
But Lester’s second pickoff was a disaster, with the ball sailing well over Rizzo’s head and into right field.
In this case, Lester got bailed out when right fielder Jorge Soler threw the runner out at third base. But it seems clear that Lester doesn't want to throw to first base and that bad things are going to happen if he does.
That Lester has struggled with his pickoff move is not new. As pointed out by Ben Lindbergh of Grantland, Lester began working to improve his pickoff attempts as long ago as spring 2012. Teams almost certainly noticed Lester had stopped throwing to first base in 2013 and 2014.
But what differs now is that before Monday night, Lester still held the threat of throwing to first base and keeping potential base stealers close to the bag.
From the point of the view of the runner, there is a big difference between thinking the pitcher doesn't like to throw to first base and knowing the pitcher can't throw to first base.
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