To help fix his problem throwing to first base, Cubs ace Jon Lester is attempting to imitate the form of one of the most famous athletes to ever don a Chicago uniform … for the Bulls.
Under the tutelage of new third-base/infield coach Brian Butterfield, Lester has begun working on deliberately bouncing throws to first, the same way that Michael Jordan would bounce passes to Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen.
“We’re working on the Jordan-to-Pippen bounce pass,” Lester told The Chicago Tribune. “I don’t really care what it looks like. I don’t care if it bounces 72 times over there. An out’s an out.”
Over the past few seasons, Lester has resorted to throwing underhand tosses over to first, an odd-looking method that’s had some success correcting the problem that’s dogged the lefty since he was young.
The bounce pass method has the potential to be even more effective and, if Lester can be like Mike, it should help the four-time All-Star continue the progress he’s made in reducing the number of stolen bases he allows (44 steals in 2015, 28 in 2016, 19 in 2017) each year.
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