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  6. article_body => "<p>MESA, Ariz. \u2013 Jon Lester\u2019s so far beyond the first step of admitting there\u2019s a problem, posting a self-deprecating message on his Twitter account to celebrate Major League Baseball\u2019s labor peace: \u201cWhile my efforts to eliminate pitchers from having to throw to 1B didn\u2019t pass, I\u2019m proud of the PA &amp; Owners for coming together on a new CBA!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adding a third World Series ring to his collection won\u2019t stop the questions for Lester, who sat through a press conference on Friday morning that lasted almost 19 minutes, talking about the yips and answering why he thinks throwing to young catcher Willson Contreras instead of Grandpa Rossy won\u2019t be an issue.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not the one that keeps bringing it up, other than that joke,\u201d Lester said. \u201cI\u2019ve been open with it since Day 1. It\u2019s nothing to hide from. It\u2019s there.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>David Ross is now walking around the Sloan Park complex as a special assistant in baseball operations, and part of his Mesa portfolio will be helping show Contreras the right buttons to push with Lester, what they learned as teammates on that 2013 Boston Red Sox championship team.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRossy and I just didn\u2019t jump in and all of a sudden click,\u201d Lester said. \u201cIt took a few starts for us to kind of hammer some things out \u2013 and him get used to what I like to do and vice versa. That\u2019s all it really comes down to \u2013 just pitching, time on the mound, time behind the plate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWillson\u2019s a smart kid and he cares and he wants to get better. He\u2019s eager to please, so I think he has all the attributes to be a really good catcher in this league for a long time. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s going to be much of a learning curve.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond Lester\u2019s Cy Young Award-level stuff, the Cubs used several mechanisms to help cover up the issue, from varying his times to the plate to disguising pitchouts to coordinating pick-off plays with Gold Glove first baseman Anthony Rizzo to putting together the best defensive unit in the majors.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWilly\u2019s probably got a little bit more arm than David actually has physically,\u201d manager Joe Maddon said. \u201cDavid was really good about feet and release \u2013 (and) I think Willson can also be that good.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRealizing that Willson\u2019s behind the plate, the thought process (for the other team) will be very similar to David behind the plate, regarding the ability to throw to first or throw to second. So I don\u2019t perceive an edge for the other side based on that flip-flop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe biggest thing for me there is just purely the person, David\u2019s knowledge, his experience, whatever, working with Jon. That\u2019s going to be the part, to me, that we have to be aware of.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen it comes down to controlling the running game and all that stuff, I feel pretty good about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>[SHOP CUBS:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/shop.nbcsports.com\/NBC_Chicago_Cubs\/partnerid\/13747\" target=\"_blank\">Get your Cubs gear right here<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At this time last year, Contreras had never before played above the Double-A level, part of an accelerated development that turned him into a key rookie contributor for a 103-win team and the obvious catcher of the future. With Lester signed to a $155 million contract through at least the 2020 season, the Cubs clearly want this to work with Contreras.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMe and Rossy didn\u2019t reinvent the wheel with anything special,\u201d Lester said. \u201cIt\u2019s a matter of having a game plan. And when the game plan isn\u2019t going well or you\u2019re not able to execute that \u2013 the ability to go to a Plan B is where I feel like Rossy and I kind of clicked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI saw Willy do that last year a lot with everybody else, so I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be any problems. He\u2019s very talented and very willing to learn.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s ready to go. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s going to be any issues at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>[MORE: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnchicago.com\/chicago-cubs\/cubs-reboot-kyle-schwarber-catching-experiment\" target=\"_blank\">Cubs reboot the Kyle Schwarber catching experiment<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Except for that inexplicable mental block for one of the greatest big-game pitchers of his generation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is what it is,\u201d Lester said at least three times. \u201cI\u2019ll keep worrying about throwing it 60 feet, six inches.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Cubs

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Cubs

MESA, Ariz. – Jon Lester’s so far beyond the first step of admitting there’s a problem, posting a self-deprecating message on his Twitter account to celebrate Major League Baseball’s labor peace: “While my efforts to eliminate pitchers from having to throw to 1B didn’t pass, I’m proud of the PA & Owners for coming together on a new CBA!”

Adding a third World Series ring to his collection won’t stop the questions for Lester, who sat through a press conference on Friday morning that lasted almost 19 minutes, talking about the yips and answering why he thinks throwing to young catcher Willson Contreras instead of Grandpa Rossy won’t be an issue.    

“I’m not the one that keeps bringing it up, other than that joke,” Lester said. “I’ve been open with it since Day 1. It’s nothing to hide from. It’s there.”  

David Ross is now walking around the Sloan Park complex as a special assistant in baseball operations, and part of his Mesa portfolio will be helping show Contreras the right buttons to push with Lester, what they learned as teammates on that 2013 Boston Red Sox championship team.  

“Rossy and I just didn’t jump in and all of a sudden click,” Lester said. “It took a few starts for us to kind of hammer some things out – and him get used to what I like to do and vice versa. That’s all it really comes down to – just pitching, time on the mound, time behind the plate.

 

“Willson’s a smart kid and he cares and he wants to get better. He’s eager to please, so I think he has all the attributes to be a really good catcher in this league for a long time. I don’t think there’s going to be much of a learning curve.”

Beyond Lester’s Cy Young Award-level stuff, the Cubs used several mechanisms to help cover up the issue, from varying his times to the plate to disguising pitchouts to coordinating pick-off plays with Gold Glove first baseman Anthony Rizzo to putting together the best defensive unit in the majors.     

“Willy’s probably got a little bit more arm than David actually has physically,” manager Joe Maddon said. “David was really good about feet and release – (and) I think Willson can also be that good.

“Realizing that Willson’s behind the plate, the thought process (for the other team) will be very similar to David behind the plate, regarding the ability to throw to first or throw to second. So I don’t perceive an edge for the other side based on that flip-flop.

“The biggest thing for me there is just purely the person, David’s knowledge, his experience, whatever, working with Jon. That’s going to be the part, to me, that we have to be aware of.

“When it comes down to controlling the running game and all that stuff, I feel pretty good about it.”

[SHOP CUBS: Get your Cubs gear right here]

At this time last year, Contreras had never before played above the Double-A level, part of an accelerated development that turned him into a key rookie contributor for a 103-win team and the obvious catcher of the future. With Lester signed to a $155 million contract through at least the 2020 season, the Cubs clearly want this to work with Contreras.

“Me and Rossy didn’t reinvent the wheel with anything special,” Lester said. “It’s a matter of having a game plan. And when the game plan isn’t going well or you’re not able to execute that – the ability to go to a Plan B is where I feel like Rossy and I kind of clicked.

“I saw Willy do that last year a lot with everybody else, so I don’t think it’s going to be any problems. He’s very talented and very willing to learn.

“He’s ready to go. I don’t think there’s going to be any issues at all.”

[MORE: Cubs reboot the Kyle Schwarber catching experiment]

Except for that inexplicable mental block for one of the greatest big-game pitchers of his generation.

“It is what it is,” Lester said at least three times. “I’ll keep worrying about throwing it 60 feet, six inches.”