Lester named Red Sox pitcher of the year

On the same day Jacoby Ellsbury is announced as This Week in Baseball's - defensive player of the year Jon Lester gets nominated as the Red Sox pitcher of the year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Lester is the first pitcher to win this award in back to back years since Pedro Martinez did it in 3 consecutive years from 1998-2000. Lester is the only left handed pitcher to win back to back years. Lester went 15-8 with a 3.41 ERA in 32 starts this past season. He led all Major League lefties and finished third in the American League with a career high 225 strikeouts. The dinner for the awards is scheduled for Jan. 14 at the Westin-Waterfront Hotel in South Boston. Tickets for the event are $150 each and can be purchased by sending a check to Boston Chapter-BBWAA, P.O. Box 7346, Nashua, N.H. 03060.