(originally posted 7/24/07)There are some shady dealings going down in the wide world of sports these days. Canine cruelty. Betting allegations. Rod Barajas. Ugly, ugly stuff. The ugliness isn't limited to sports, either. There's people on the streets getting diseases from monkeys! Why can't they leave those poor sick monkeys alone? What's wrong with the world today? Something to think about, indeed.
But this week we have a truly amazing sports story to celebrate. A remarkable triumph of spirit over adversity. (No, not J.D. Durbin and his complete game shutout victory against Jake Peavy and the Padres. We're talking about another "Real Deal" here.) Jonathan Tyler Lester. First, he beats lymphoma. Then he makes his return to the major leagues, and shuts down the Cleveland Indians. Six innings, one run allowed, and his eighth career victory in ten decisions. Just. Incredible.
I'll admit I was a bit concerned about the timing of his return to the Majors. His performance in Pawtucket had been inconsistent, and he had not pitched very well in his most recent AAA appearances. While it was certainly time for Batshit Crazy to be ejected from the starting rotation (0-3, 8.05 ERA, 2.21 WHIP, .402 BA against in July), it seemed possible that Lester was being rushed a bit. Perhaps not. He was extremely poised and got results. Even if Lester goes back to Pawtucket when Curt Schilling comes off the DL, or is packaged in a trade for Teixeira or Rowand, he's given Red Sox Nation another highlight in what has been a season of highlights. Hopefully, there will be many more highlights this season. Both for Jon and the Sox.
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