Jon Lester’s attitude is one the whole team must also adapt

Entering Tuesday’s high-profile matchup against rookie Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets, the Chicago Cubs find themselves teetering on the brink of .500 – six games back of the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.

The latest projections from Baseball Prospectus have Chicago finishing the year at 85-77 with a 50.1 percent shot of the postseason. Last season, the Cubs lost 89 games – avoiding 90 losses for the first time since 2010. This year has proven quite different, from the expectations to the atmosphere in the clubhouse.

After left-handed ace Jon Lester led the team to a series-opening win on Monday, he voiced his displeasure at the work he’s turned in to-date this year, despite moving to 3-0 in the month of May.

"“My expectations are more than anybody could put on me,” Lester told MLB.com. “The biggest thing is we won. You look at that, and everything’s fine.”"

The veteran inked the biggest deal in Cubs franchise history this offseason – a six-year, $155 million contract. With that come tremendous expectations, from both fans and the organization itself. However, the fact that Lester constantly pushes himself each time out and holds himself accountable is a new philosophy, especially in a clubhouse full of young players. And the value of it is immeasurable to the team.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

Anthony Rizzo is the seasoned veteran of the Cubs infield at age 25. While he’s still coming into his own, emerging this year as perhaps the best first baseman in all of Major League Baseball, he’s looked up to in the clubhouse on a daily basis. Lester, meanwhile, is the gritty old man on the pitching staff, bringing valuable experience from his time in Boston, including deep postseason runs and playing for an annual contender.

The “can’t quit, never satisfied” mindset he brings to the mound each time he toes the rubber is something that all 25 men on the big league roster must embrace if this team is to take the next step and become a legitimate postseason threat. First-year skipper Joe Maddon has already helped push the young team in the right direction with his “Respect 90” campaign teaching the guys to hustle every time they’re on the field, but there’s nothing more effective than leading by example.

However, even Lester has been a fan of the different tactics and teachings Maddon employs – which are known to be a bit different from those used by other big league skippers. This combination of a fierce competitor in the Cubs ace and a calming, relaxing leader in Maddon could be the perfect combination for this up-and-coming ball club.

Either way, for the first time in years, Chicago Cubs baseball is fun to watch.