Jon Lester: Feels Good

Everyday the sun’ll shine.  Took this dream and made it mine.  I’m gettin’ down one thing that I know.  We’re untouchable.  -DMX

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  Wooo doggie!  Archie Moonlight Graham once asked,  “Is there enough magic out there in the moonlight to make this dream come true?”  Jon Lester will tell you the answer is yes.  Undoubtedly, yes.  Assuredly, yes.  Positively, yes.  Jon Lester.  The very bester.  The pound your chester.  The bulletproof vester.    

Jon Lester was bulletproof last night, boyyyyyyy.   Lester was ahead in the count on twenty of the twenty-nine batters he faced.  Lester struck out nine batters.  Lester walked just two batters.  Batter, batter, batter, swiiiiing batter.  Lester threw his first career complete game.  And yes, Lester threw a no-hitter.  Doesn’t get much better than that. 

Well, pitching the clinching game of a World Series is pretty good too.  And oh ya, beating cancer, that’s not too bad either.  What a story, what a story.  You thought the Rich Ankiel story was good.  You thought the Josh Hamilton story was good.  You were right.  This one’s better. 

You know it by now.  Bellarmine Preparatory School.  Tacoma, Washington.  Phenom.  Phenomenal.  Gatorade State Player of the Year.  Minor  Leagues.  Portland Sea Dogs.  League-leading 2.61 ERA.  League-best 163 strikeouts.  Eastern League Pitcher of the Year.  Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year.  Year-end Topps AA All-Star squad.  On top of the world looking down on creation.  Best young pitcher in the nation.  More fun than 101 Dalmatians.  Out of this world like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

The rookie lefty made his Major League debut in June ’06.  The rookie lefty went 7-2.  The rookie lefty threw sixty Ks in eighty innings.  The rookie lefty contracted the cancer.  Ain’t that a shame?  My tears fell like rain.  On August 27th, 2006 Lester was scratched from his scheduled start due to a sore back. The following day he was placed on the 15 day disabled list.  Three days later, it was reported that Lester had been diagnosed with a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. 

There it was.  There was a kind of hush all over the world.  A deafening hush.  Made my insides turn to mush.  Another dream crushed.  But this kid’s a fighter.  He fights.  He fought off the cancer.  And just like The Terminator, who just like Jack Torrance, is baaaack!  

On March 5, Lester made his first appearance in a 2007 spring training game.  He threw 8 pitches and retired the first three batters he faced.  Good news.  Real good news. He hasn’t looked back since.  And now this.  And now Lester is the first pitcher to win the clinching game of a World Series in one season and throw a no-hitter the next year since Sandy Koufax.  Yowza!  

For he’s a jolly good fellow!  For he’s a jolly good fellow!  For he’s a jolly good feeeelllllooooww!  Which nobody can deny!  Curt Schilling can’t deny it:  “This isn’t even about baseball.  It just doesn’t get any better the way a guy like that comes back to us.”  No it doesn’t Curt, no it doesn’t.

Public Acknowledgements:  Field of dreams, Cameron Frye, The Carpenters, Arnold and The Shining

Public Spectacle:

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Need More? Boston Red Sox,Jon Lester,MLB