Da Windy City
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Biggest question facing each Chicago Cubs starter in 2016

By Paul Steeno

Mar 16, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey (L) and catcher Miguel Montero talk in the dugout during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey (L) and catcher Miguel Montero talk in the dugout during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) throws in the bullpen during spring training camp at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) throws in the bullpen during spring training camp at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

Jon Lester: Will he develop a pick-off move?

There are few things in baseball more pathetic than watching Jon Lester try to execute a pick-off move. Lester said Tuesday that improving his pick-off move and his overall defense were points of emphasis for him during the offseason.

"This isn’t something you can hide and run from it. It’s out there. Everyone knows. It’s something that I continually trying to tackle every day and get better at. That’s all I can do and hopefully my teammates can believe I’m putting my work in every day and getting better at and making (catcher) David Ross and my teammates’ jobs easier. —-Quote obtained by Chicago Tribune reporter Mark Gonzales"

Lester’s inability to hold runners on base hurt him last season. He surrendered a league-leading 44 stolen bases. Overall, opponents had an 80 percent success rate stealing bases off Lester in 2015.

Defense was an issue for him last season as well. According to FanGraphs.com, he saved eight runs less than an average pitcher based off his fielding in 2015 (DRS).

During a makeshift, five-inning minor league game on Tuesday, the Cubs started Lester specifically so he could work on his defensive deficiencies. The results weren’t pretty: he recorded three errant pick-off throws and bounced a throw to second on a force play. The silver lining was he did pick-off a runner at first base.

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Although Lester insisted that his defensive deficiencies were a point of emphasis during the offseason, his outing Tuesday showed that he still has a lot more work to do. Simple things such as holding runners to their bases and making good throws on batted balls become even more important when the postseason rolls around. In October and November, one error or a stolen base that gets a runner into scoring position could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Next: Can the old man still pitch?

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