Lester lays low on eve of debut

Jon Lester was nowhere to be seen yesterday afternoon when the doors to the Red Sox clubhouse opened to the media at 3:30. Instead, the 22-year-old was placed by the club at a hotel in Brookline, left to his thoughts instead of those put in his head by those toting notepads and pens.

But the 6-foot-2-inch lefthander was at Fenway Park yesterday, on the eve of his much-hyped major league debut. At about 11 a.m., Lester, who had never set foot on the Fenway grass, took a walk around the yard. He played a little catch, and threw about 10 pitches in the bullpen. He was gone by 12:15.

``It was an empty stadium," Lester said at about 6 last night, speaking by phone. ``All empty stadiums look the same to me. It was neat being at Fenway. But it didn't sink in. I'm sure it will hit me when I head out onto the field [today]."

As Lester talked, he asked, ``If I'm at Coolidge Corner going to Prudential, do I go toward North Station?"

He mentioned that he was boarding the T, which was evident when, in the background, a driver could be heard asking him for exact change.

``I don't have it," he said.

Clearly, his welcome-to-Boston moments have begun. He was boarding the Green Line to meet his agent for dinner, but he didn't expect to be recognized.

``It's way too soon for that," he said. ``I'll need about five or six starts for that."

No. 1 comes today, approximately four years since the Sox made him the 57th overall pick out of Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Wash. His parents, Kathie and John, were boarding a red eye last night in Washington, due in Boston at approximately 7 a.m. today.

At 1:20 p.m., the lefthander will pitch against a Texas team that began the weekend ranked fourth in the majors in batting (.283) and third in slugging (.462). Will Lester prepare for the batters in particular, for Michael Young and Mark Teixeira and Hank Blalock?

``I'm sure it's possible," Lester said, ``but I'm trying not to do any preparation for these guys. I'm going to have a million things in mind. I don't want to have to think about, `What's this guy trying to do?' I'll just jump on [Jason] Varitek's shoulders, let him call the game, and just keep nodding at him."

The relationship between Varitek and Lester, though, amounts to ``10 pitches in a bullpen one time," Lester admitted. ``[Pawtucket catcher] Ken Huckaby game me some things to tell [Varitek] about what I like to do, my strengths, weaknesses. They're supposed to talk, so Varitek can get a little more feedback. We may be feeling each other out.

``Hopefully, it'll be a quick first inning. That's the biggest thing, getting off to a quick start, getting in and getting out so I can take a deep breath and settle in."

Does he think he's ready?

``Yes and no," he said. ``I thought I was ready in spring training and I didn't pitch too well [6 innings, 12 hits, 13 earned runs]. I think I am now. It'll be something different, exciting, and fun. We'll see what happens."