It was because he can't hit.
Lester was pulled from the game so that David Ortiz could come off the bench, and Ortiz promptly grounded out to end the inning.
Such is life in the National League, as the Red Sox are forced to learn from time to time. Some people love it, others hate it, but which style of play is more exciting?
Fans of the NL say that they love the strategy required to win a game. Double-switches, sacrifice bunts and pitching around the eighth hitter are tactics that all come into play on a regular basis in the Senior Circuit, and they all require a bit of creativity from managers and players.
But is a sacrifice bunt really exciting?
Is it exciting to watch a pitcher flail helplessly at strike three or round the bases while wearing his jacket? Is that why people buy the tickets?
It's more likely that fans pay money to watch games because, in doing so, they're guaranteed to see some of the best baseball players in the world compete against each other. They're likely not paying to see a sacrifice bunt.
To many, however, it is a matter of tradition. Those fans believe that the game should be played the way it was created, with nine players going against nine players. "Designated hitter" is a term that should never exist in their minds, and if a pitcher is able to hit, that's all well and good, but again, is it exciting?
The debate is endless. Leaving out the argument of which league requires more strategy, which league do you think is more exciting?
Share your thoughts below. The best comments will be read on NESN’s Red Sox GameDay Live or Red Sox Final.
Wednesday, June 23: Which ace would you rather have: Jon Lester or Ubaldo Jimenez?
