Crabcakes as our ’stopper’?

Really?

Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know all about the no-hitter. Watched it. Watched the montage of the 27 outs. Read what was written about it. “He has better velocity, better command, he’s going to be an ace with this club…”

I’m not totally buying it. Not yet, anyway.

Listen, I know how hard it is to throw a no-hitter, and I’m totally proud and impressed that Jon did it. And I certainly know that Lester was ON earlier in the week when he threw his. It wasn’t a complete fluke. (He did give up a fielder’s choice, which many people have been excited about pointing out to me, along with his two walks.) He looked great out there. But see, I was AT a no-hitter last year where the pitcher looked amazing (and only put ONE guy on base as opposed to Lester’s 3): Clay Buchholz. Remember him?

Yes, they’re different pitchers. And, although the same age, Lester being drafted 3 years before Buchholz gives him a professional edge. But the world was touting Buchholz as the next best CURRENT thing and due to many factors (including his admitted lack of taking his training seriously) Clay had to get shut down because his pitching wasn’t effective after his first two MLB wins.

I know they’re different pitchers and their progression into/through the majors won’t be close to the same, but I also prefer to err on the side of caution. I’m thrilled that over the course of 8 months, two of our youngest players threw no-hitters. I know they both have talent. I’m just concerned that we’ve already seen the best they have to offer. Or at the very least, the best they CURRENTLY have to offer. I’m cynical that way. (At least with Lester, who I’ve always had doubts about. I’ve been more convinced that, eventually, Buchholz is going to be a pitcher I truly enjoy watching.)

Lester’s been showing tremendous improvement over his last three starts (Jeez, ya think, Cyn? A no-hitter shows improvement? You’re a genius!) but I want more. I want to see the velocity and control he exhibited on Monday more often.

Mind you, today might be the only game Lester has pitched, short of his first game back in 2007, where I’m not going to judge his performance against what I think he can do. He threw 130 pitches in his first career complete game. Anything he does today is gravy.

Which is why some offense would be nice, fellas. Hmmm?

I want the BoSox to win today. To stop the damn road-trip losing and to, well, just get a damn win. But the game I’ll probably be keeping a closer eye on is in Pawtucket. Ironically (is it ironic? Maybe only if they both throw no-hitters again, huh?) Clay is pitching his first rehab game since going on the dl. I’ll be listening.

Jon Lester tries to salvage one from Oakland at 4:05pm…be there. Aloha.