Jon Lester Checks In From Red Sox Camp
BOSTON (CBS) - There are many things Red Sox lefty Jon Lester wants to accomplish in 2011, but none are more important than the main goal.
"Win the World Series, that's the goal every year," Lester told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jonny Miller at the Red Sox Spring Training facilities down in Fort Myers, Florida.
The personal accolades were there in 2010. Lester came up just short of his first 20-win season at 19-9. He tied a career high with 225 strikeouts and had the second best ERA of his career at 3.25.
Somehow there is still plenty of room for improvement in the eyes of the 27-year-old ace.
"There's a lot of things to improve on. One thing is walks," Lester said, who was third in the American League with 83 free passes in 2010. "Pitches per inning. Little things that add up during the season. It's just a constant battle of refining everything and getting a feel and command of all your pitches. Hopefully we can really improve on the walks this year. That really hurt me"
Jon Lester Talks To WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jonny Miller About His Confidence
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As far as his arsenal, Lester has a 95-98 mph fastball that sets up his other pitches. He started throwing his cutter to both sides of the plate last season, making it almost as deadly as the one Mariano Rivera has used during his career. Lester's best pitch, in his eyes, was his changeup.
"The biggest pitch to me last year was my changeup," the lefty said. "That made the cutter more effective. It was just another pitch guys had to worry about."
Although this will only be Lester's sixth season in the majors, he knows last year's success will mean nothing towards 2011.
"My confidence doesn't go up with success, its goes up because of how I throw the ball," Lester said. "(When) you feel good on the mound, you feel comfortable, that's when that confidence and that aura comes back and your able to execute pitches."
Lester may be staying level-headed on his personal expectations, but is very confident in the rest of the Red Sox rotation. This includes both Josh Beckett and John Lackey who had, in Boston standards, rough 2010 seasons.
"I'm not too worried about them. I don't think they have anything to bounce back from," Lester said of his teammates. "Josh battled injuries. Anytime you miss time during the season it's going to be tough to get back. I'm not worried about Josh or Lack. He (Lackey) had the worst luck I've seen anyone have in a season in my life. Every broken bat was a hit, ground balls found a hole. He threw the ball as good, if not better, than anybody in second half. The rotations going to be fine if we stay healthy."
Lester admits everyone gets a few bumps and bruises along the way, but as long as no one misses extended lengths of time the Red Sox will be right there until the very end. It also helps to get two leaders back from injuries in Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.
"Obviously you use lose those two spark plugs it's a big deal," he said. "Pedey runs our team out there, takes care of things and keeps us in line. He's a big part of our team, same as Youk. When those guys are gone it takes two bats out of our lineup that see a lot of pitches. Having them back takes a lot off pitchers, to have them out there making plays."
There are many reasons to be anxious for the 2011 Boston Red Sox season, but Lester is going to take it one day at a time.
"I can wait. We have a long ways to go," Lester joked. "We haven't even started spring. It's the first day of many down here. There's a long way to go."
WBZ's Dan Roche will begin live reports from Florida starting February 15th on WBZ-TV, 98.5 The Sports Hub, and WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
