The Chicago Cubs have announced their opening day starter. As expected, left-hander Jon Lester will be given this special honour. For Lester, this is no longer a new experience.
For the third time in his four years in Chicago, Lester will receive the opening day start,”Pretty cool,”Lester said, adding:”Whenever the manager chooses this event for you, it’s a great honour. I’m excited. It’s the earliest time they ever told me that.”
Lester also reflected on the status of the team, two years after Cubs’ first World Series title in 108 years. He called the beginning of last season a “hangover” and came to the conclusion:”The boys are now opening up a bit more. It’s our fourth season together. I feel like I’m getting older and they’ve grown up.”
“Last year we thought,”Hey, we’re gonna have to slow down. We have to be ready for May rather than April,’ For some of us this meant that we were behind the 8-Ball. And we didn’t realize it until the end of the year.”
Manager Joe Maddon, on the other hand, had two reasons to let Lester pitch the prelude. On the one hand, he starts out against the Miami Marlins, who will be an allegedly easy opponent after their Fire Sale. On the other hand, he likes the leadership role Lester has taken:”There was an organic change in him that I just love. He feels this leadership role, but he doesn’t force it. You grow into the role and people just follow you.”
This article was published without prior view by the Major League Baseball.