FORT MYERS — Jon Lester [stats] might own the broadest shoulders on the Red Sox [team stats]. And yesterday the big left-hander sounded ready to bear the responsibility of leadership on them.
While there will be much debate today about just how truly sorry Josh Beckett [stats] is or is not for the disaster that befell the Red Sox last September, in truth, Beckett’s a sideshow.
The story with far greater long-term implications is Lester.
In the span of 20 minutes, one of the central figures in the beer and chicken clubhouse scandal managed to brilliantly walk about a dozen fine lines. He expressed contrition without pandering. He firmly set his sights on 2012 without downplaying the significance of 2011. He blamed no one but himself for his performance.
And most importantly, he expressed a willingness to fill a leadership void created by the departure of Tim Wakefield [stats] and presumably Jason Varitek [stats]. The time is now for the next generation of Red Sox leaders to step forward, and the 28-year-old Lester answered the call.
On the position player side of things, this is very clearly Dustin Pedroia [stats]’s team. Now maybe we can say the pitchers are Lester’s.
“I want to try,” Lester said. “You know, it’s something that the guys in my age group have never really had to do. Because we’ve been around guys like Wake and Tek and had veteran guys who have been around a long time, we’ve just kind of sat back and let them do their thing and kind of follow them.
“I think it’s time for us and me to step up and try to feel comfortable in that situation and try to just do the best I can. Hopefully just by me going out and pitching and doing the stuff I do in the weight room and in between starts, people, young kids can do that and say, ‘All right, well, this is what I need to do.’?”
Lester’s comments stood in stark juxtaposition to those of Beckett, who barely admitted culpability despite being the perceived ringleader of the clubhouse shenanigans. Beckett barely could bring himself to admit he failed his teammates in any capacity other than on the field.
Lester harbored no such hangups.
“It’s something I’m not proud of,” he said. “You learn from your mistakes and I’m looking forward to starting new this year and trying to be that leader that we were just talking about.”
Of course, words are wind. True leaders, particularly in baseball, rely on their actions. Judging from the look of the hulking Lester, he didn’t just pay lip service to that idea this winter. And he’ll continue to set what he believes is the proper example.
“I think just being a better teammate,” he said. “A better presence. A guy like Tek, if you ever really watch Tek, he doesn’t say much. But just his presence is enough. I think going out here, we have a lot of young kids in camp, just showing them, hey, the first bullpen means something. The first sprint means something. That first groundball you take in PFPs is important.
“It sets the tone for the season. That was something I learned my first spring training being around Schill (Curt Schilling [stats]) and Josh and those guys, Wake and (Mike) Timlin. Everything they did meant something. I think it’s important to instill in some of these young guys that day one means just as much as day 162.”
Lester is not the most vocal or outwardly emotional guy. He’s been a put-your-head-down-and-do-your-job type. At times, he has appeared aloof.
But yesterday felt different. Lester didn’t just say the right words. It seemed he truly meant them.
Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardy ed hardy clothing Christian Audigier
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