SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Brian Butterfield remembers working with Jon Lester on his throws when they were together on the Red Sox, retreating to what the coach light-heartedly called, "Field 109, where there was nobody." The two are reunited on the Cubs, and the lessons have resumed.
On Sunday, Lester tested his "Jordan-to-Pippen" style bounce pass to first after he fielded a comebacker, and the play surprised first baseman Efren Navarro. It also resulted in an error, but it's part of the learning process.
"I thought that was perfect," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Monday about the play.