Jon Lester is trying to channel his inner Chicago Bull to solve his well-documented throwing problem.
Lester told reporters Sunday that he's been working on intentionally bouncing throws to first base this spring training, referring to Bulls legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
"We've been working on the Jordan-to-Pippen bounce pass," said Lester, who revealed that he has been trying out the new approach with Cubs third-base coach Brian Butterfield.
Lester has struggled throwing to bases throughout his career and usually resorts to underhand tosses after fielding a comebacker. The veteran left-hander said he and Butterfield have been practicing the bounce throws on the back fields this spring.
"In [Butterfield's] words, just eliminate all tension and bounce it over there," Lester told reporters. "We've been working on it early in the morning. ... I don't really care what it looks like. I don't care if it bounces 72 times over there. An out's an out."
Lester had a chance to try out the new approach during Sunday's spring training game against the Diamondbacks, when he fielded a comebacker off the bat of Arizona's David Peralta.
But after initially bobbling the ball, Lester bounced a throw past Cubs first baseman Efren Navarro for a two-base throwing error. Lester said after the game that he has been working on the throws with regular first baseman Anthony Rizzo and that Navarro, who is with the Cubs on a minor league deal, was not expecting the unorthodox method.
"I feel bad for the guy today," Lester said. "He had no idea what's going on. He's never been a part of it. With Rizz, probably the surprise wouldn't have been there."
Jon Lester trying 'Jordan-to-Pippen bounce' to solve yips
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Jon Lester trying 'Jordan-to-Pippen bounce' in unorthodox attempt to solve throwing problem
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things."
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- Boris13c
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G08 wrote:Crazy to me that Lester is an elite MLB pitcher yet he can't throw to first. Never understood that.
the yips can come in many odd forms
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things."
George Carlin
George Carlin