Lester will bounce his throws to bases

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester is trying a new approach when it comes to his biggest weakness. One bounce at a time. Lester is working with new third-base coach Brian Butterfield on bouncing his throw to a base when he has to make a play on defense. He got a chance to use the technique during Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Arizona in spring training, but the ball skipped past minor-league first baseman Efren Navarro for an error.

Lester has struggled with throwing to bases for years, but the three-time World Series winner remains one of the game’s most effective pitchers. The 34-year-old is slated to start on Opening Day on March 29 at Miami.

“It’s just a different thing for him,” Butterfield said Monday. “Throwing a ball to a base for him in a quiet setting is far different than when he’s got to cock his arm in a game setting. You know, that’s understandable, just because pitchers for the most part, it’s probably a little bit more difficult for them to throw to the bases because they’ve made a living out of long arm action.”

Lester and Butterfield have been working on the bounce throw on the back fields of Chicago’s spring training complex. They also tinkered with the concept while the two were in Boston.

If the concept is successful, it would give manager Joe Maddon more options when it comes to aligning his defense in certain situations. It also would make life easier on first baseman Anthony Rizzo, third baseman Kris Bryant and catcher Willson Contreras while Lester is on the mound.

“I really don’t even want him to worry about it, I really don’t,” Maddon said. “They’re handling it. Like I said, that’s what we wanted to do is what he did yesterday. It’s going to work. It works.”

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