Levine: Jon Lester Has Pitched Through Floating Fragments In Elbow
By Bruce Levine--
MESA Ariz. (CBS) -- Despite the recent talk of a floating bone chip in Cubs left-hander Jon Lester's left elbow, he and the team are nonplussed by the revelation that's surfaced in Jeff Passan's soon-to-be-released book, "The Arm."
Making his second Cactus League start of the spring Sunday, Lester threw five strong innings in a 5-2 victory against the Royals.
"Regardless of what an MRI shows, you can throw a pitch and blow out," Lester said Sunday. "That is the risk of the game. I have been pitching a long time. I have dealt with minor and even bigger things. I think you can go back and see I have not missed any time for any elbow problems. I know it has been there for a while. It is what it is."
The development of a veteran pitcher is strange to talk about, as the maturation of your game is subtle at this point in a career. For the 10-year veteran Lester, the work has been both substantial and impressive as he attempts to become a better pitcher and overall player.
A floating bone chip in the 32-year-old Lester's throwing elbow appears not to have hampered him at all. Lester has made all of his starts this spring and also did so during the 2015 season. His velocity remains a constant around 92-94 mph.
"If you are going to stick any pitchers arm into a tube (MRI) after pitching as long as I have, you are going to find something," Lester said. "I have not always known for sure what was in there, but when you have some inflamed area in your elbow, guys say, 'Well you probably have a bone chip or something in there that makes it bark a little bit.' My track record speaks for itself."
Lester's fielding problems and especially the inability to hold runners on base were certainly hot topics surrounding him in 2015, dominating the conversation on days he pitched.
Those are still notable topics, and this spring we have seen a new Lester who's not afraid to tackle those baseball demons that have haunted him. On Sunday, he allowed two stolen bases against the defending champion Royals and also had a throwing error.
"Everything is getting more and more comfortable," Lester said. "We all know last year guys were taking pretty good leads off of me. (The step off and throw) will probably be the best one to handle those leads. We will mix in some slide steps, try to give the catchers a decent chance."
Cubs manager Joe Maddon and his staff have been working with the physical and mental side of the battle that Lester must fight each time he hits the mound.
"I love the fact and idea that he is attacking this head on," Maddon said. "It's the only way to get over it, like all of us in any situation. If there is a road to recovery, I think we are on it right now."
Kansas City outfielder Reymond Fuentes stole second and third base in the fourth inning Sunday but was stranded at third. Two throwing errors, one by Lester and one by Anthony Rizzo, led to an unearned run in the fifth.
"I just think that the fact he is open about it indicates that (willingness to work)," Maddon said. "Last year coming into this situation and trying to be the savior of this staff with expectations attached, I think he felt (pressure) it a little early on and finally got through it."
Lester seems to have a new comfort level this spring with the addition of best friend John Lackey to the staff. The surroundings of a new city and new teammates are also in the past for him.
"This year with a year under his belt in Chicago, he really feels like a Cub right now," Maddon said. "The ascension of (Jake) Arrieta and now Lackey being here, knowing me and the staff better -- all of that matters. All of this is revealed to me conversationally. I tend to look into that. I think he is going to have a great year."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
