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Red Sox will watch Jon Lester, Mike Napoli in World Series

By Brandon Nickel

Oct 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) sits in the dugout between inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) sits in the dugout between inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Red Sox will watch as their former ace Jon Lester, who won co-MVP for winning the NLCS with the Chicago Cubs, play Mike Napoli in the World Series.

It’s official: the Chicago Cubs have finally won the National League Championship Series for the first time since 1945 and will play to win their first World Series since 1908. Lester, the former ace of the Red Sox, was a big reason why the Cubs got over the hump. The 32-year-old lefty had three starts in this postseason, going 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA in 21 innings of work.

These performances earned him co-MVP honors with young second baseman Javier Baez, toppling the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

All that the Red Sox and their fans can do is sit, watch, and applaud the effort that wasn’t allowed to pitch for their own team.

Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reported the reminder that Lester “delivered the Red Sox a World Series title in 2013, going 4-1 with a 1.56 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in five postseason starts. The Red Sox then lowballed him with a four-year, $70-million offer during contract extension talks heading into spring training 2014.” Even when Lester buried his pride and played for the rest of the 2014 season as their ace should, the Red Sox then traded him to the Oakland Athletics with the intent on re-signing him in the offseason. Despite that intent, Lester was again let down by the Red Sox not matching the Cubs’ offer of six years and $155 million in December.

Combined with the fact that the Red Sox offered $217 million to David Price the next offseason, how does one think Lester took it? Was it acts of betrayal or just business?

Smith’s believe is pretty clear: “That decision to let [Lester] get away continues to make the Red Sox look worse with every postseason start.” It’s not like Lester is the only person on the Cubs who was formerly a part of the Red Sox organization, but he’s the one who hurts the most in the hearts of Red Sox Nation.

Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians designated hitter Mike Napoli (26) at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians designated hitter Mike Napoli (26) at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Another Red Sox fan favorite will also be joining Lester in the World Series, but from within the other dugout. Mike Napoli has awakened his bat for the Cleveland Indians and has helped them reach the final series with a slew of RBIs.

The 34-year-old has only hit .179 with a home run and two RBIs in this year’s postseason, but he hit 34 homers and 101 RBIs in the regular season to get Cleveland into the playoffs in the first place.

Like Lester, Napoli brings playoff experience and leadership to his team. Napoli’s hit eight home runs and 29 RBIs in his postseason career. None more known than the seven RBIs that he drove in during the Red Sox 2013 World Series run, including four RBIs in the title series itself against a tough St. Louis Cardinals team.

Next: Boston Red Sox Report Cards: Hanley Ramirez

Both Lester and Napoli learned from veterans David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia what the young players need to hear during the playoffs to spur them on to their best. Having both contribute to their respective teams makes for an exciting World Series. Unfortunately for Boston, neither one of them will be helping teach the young Red Sox players how to win a World Series this year. All that Boston can do now is dream of what might have been while watching their former players fight for what the Red Sox could have had.

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