CHICAGO • Ten springs ago, the current Cleveland manager approached the current Cubs ace.
“Stay in Josh Beckett's back pocket,” Terry Francona told Jon Lester.
People don't talk about Beckett as much as they should. The cocky Texan is an October icon. Two rings. A World Series MVP. An ALCS MVP. And a tiny 0.94 WHIP in 14 playoff appearances.
At the time – spring training, 2006 – Francona was the Red Sox skipper; Lester was the Red Sox whippersnapper. So the rookie Lester took his manager's words.
“You know, by nature I'm a pretty quiet guy, so I just kind of sit back and take everything in,” said Lester, who will start against Francona's team Sunday in Game 5 of the World Series, with Cleveland up 3-1.