Carlos Lee News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 12

Philadelphia Inquirer

"What Phillies lefthander Cliff Lee called "the never-ending chess match" of hitter vs. pitcher goes to a different level Monday in the National League division series.Lee will pitch against Colorado righthander Ubaldo Jimenez for the second time in six days. Facing the same team in consecutive starts presents a strategic question for each pitcher.Should he plan on making significant changes, or follow the same approach?"They're going to watch the video of the last game and make adjustments," Lee said tonight. "They'd be a fool not to. That's the nature of this game. If you're not making adjustments, you're losing ground."This situation rarely arises during the regular season.Jimenez faced ..."

Need a big hit? Lee's your man

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July 21

Houston Chronicle

columnist Richard Justice

"Carlos Lee's legacy with the Astros couldn't be simpler. He gets hits. Big ones. Small ones. He mostly gets hits that score runs and win games, and as legacies go, he's fine with that one. "To be honest, I concentrate a lot more when there are runners on base," he said. "I give up less at-bats. Sometimes I get away from my game with nobody on and try to drive the ball or hit a double instead of just concentrating on getting a good pitch to hit." The Astros needed one big hit Monday night, and Lee delivered it in a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in front of a noisy crowd of 36,437 at Minute Maid Park. His three-run home run provided the offense on a night when the pitching and ..."

Lee to play for Panama in WBC

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February 20

Houston Chronicle

"Lee to play for Panama Barring problems with his left little finger, outfielder Carlos Lee hopes to represent Panama in the World Baseball Classic next month. “I’m planning on playing right now,” he said. “I still want to play a few games and work out. I haven’t faced live pitching in a game. So I want to play a few games and work out and see. Hooton hobbled Former Astros pitching coach Burt Hooton, the pitching coach at Class AAA Round Rock, is being hampered by a severely swollen right knee while helping in major league camp. Hooton, 59, had left knee replacement surgery by Dr. Adam Harris in San Antonio on Oct. 15. His right knee has been cranky for years, but now it has hobbled him. ..."

Never at a loss for jokes

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February 20

Houston Chronicle

"Carlos Lee’s left little finger is a bit gruesome, disfigured at the nail bed; it serves as a reminder of the blow that ended his 2008 season Aug. 9. It’s sore, too, stinging each time he made contact Thursday during his first batting practice since the Cincinnati Reds’ Bronson Arroyo nailed him with a pitch last summer. If the end of Lee’s 2008 season will be linked to Arroyo, the late start of his 2009 season will be linked to his friends and clubhouse nemeses Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. Lee, Berkman and Oswalt, the men who must carry the Astros’ heaviest loads this season, were all smiles two days after Berkman chastised the outfielder and Oswalt ridiculed Lee’s excuse for being two ..."

Indians' Lee says A-Rod story has run its course

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February 13

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Alex Rodriguez's interview with Katie Couric on CBS' "60 Minutes" in 2007 sticks in Cy Young winner Cliff Lee's mind. "He was so bold about saying he didn't use steroids," said Lee on Thursday, when Indians pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. "So it did surprise me a little bit." By now the news that Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003, and admitting it earlier this week, is still rumbling through baseball. Commissioner Bud Selig on Wednesday talked about suspending the man generally regarded as the best player in the game before standing down Thursday. Selig did tell the Associated Press, "Alex has shamed the game." Lee doesn't think Rodriguez should be ..."

Lee to play for Panama in World Baseball Classic

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January 20

Houston Chronicle

"Astros slugger Carlos Lee, the all-time leader in home runs among major leaguers born in Panama, has decided to represent his country in the World Baseball Classic in March. Jose Valverde, Wandy Rodriguez and even shortstop Miguel Tejada are on the Dominican Republic’s provisional roster, which was released Monday. Astros ace Roy Oswalt will play for Team USA. Lee had been hesitant to commit to play for Panama as he waited to see how he recovered from the season-ending fractured left little finger he suffered Aug. 9. Lee’s left little finger has healed, and he already started swinging the bat at home in Panama. “We’re fine with the finger,” he said via cell phone from Panama. “I haven’t ..."

Astros LF Lee's finger still weeks away from normal

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October 14

Houston Chronicle

"Astros outfielder Carlos Lee’s broken left little finger is not completely healed two months after he suffered six fractures when he was hit in the hand by a pitch from the Cincinnati Reds’ Bronson Arroyo. Lee, who spends most of the offseason in his native Panama, was in Houston on Monday to be examined by Astros physician Dr. Tom Mehlhoff. “The doctor says it’s going to be about six more weeks so that everything will be back to normal,” Lee said. “Right now I’m doing exercises to get stronger and to have the movement needed in the finger.” Lee, who led the National League with 100 RBIs and the Astros with 28 home runs when he was injured Aug. 9, expects to be 100 percent for spring ..."

All’s well for Lee following surgery

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August 12

Houston Chronicle

"For almost two hours, Carlos Lee was his jovial self Monday at Methodist Hospital. He joked with the registered nurse, handled the tedious registration process with humility and a smile, and generally tried to ease the tension for his wife, Mary. Then, Dr. Tom Mehlhoff, the Astros’ hand and wrist specialist, walked in to explain the damage on Lee’s left pinky finger. There were six fractures, twice as many as he was originally told, and a severe laceration to the nail bed. There also was a chance he would need as many as three pins to fix the fractures. “Wow,” Lee said as Mary held his left thumb tightly. “Maybe I should just listen to (Roy) Oswalt and have it cut off.” Mehlhoff prepared ..."

Astros OF Lee breaks left pinky, likely ending season

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August 10

Houston Chronicle

"Any dreams the Astros had of making a run to the playoffs in the season’s final two months took a huge blow when slugger Carlos Lee was likely lost for the season with a broken left pinky finger Saturday night. Lee, who leads the National League with 100 RBIs, will undergo surgery Monday in Houston and is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. There are seven weeks remaining in the regular season. “We have to suck it up and tighten our belts and go after it,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. Lee was hit by a pitch thrown by Bronson Arroyo in the third inning of the Astros’ 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. He left the game immediately to be taken for X-rays. “I knew right away it was ..."

Lee’s injury leaves huge void

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August 10

Houston Chronicle

"The National League Most Valuable Player ballot arrived in the in box last week, and it appears as though Chase Utley is the favorite on this ballot. But it leads to the question who’s the Astros’ Most Valuable Player? At the start of June, Lance Berkman appeared like one of the favorites to win this year’s NL MVP trophy. Since then, Carlos Lee has been the Astros’ top hitter. But Lee, who leads the NL with 100 RBIs, broke his finger after being hit by a pitch during Saturday night’s game against the Reds. The left fielder is expected to miss a significant amount of time. Before the injury, Lee was on track to be the Astros’ Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year. “He just ..."

Berkman campaigns for Lee's All-Star spot

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July 7

Houston Chronicle

"Astros first baseman Lance Berkman barely had finished discussing how pleased he was to be voted as the starting first baseman for the National League for the All-Star Game when he began campaigning for teammate Carlos Lee. "Take nothing away from the two Cubs outfielders, but Carlos deserves to start ahead of either one of those two guys," Berkman said. "I'd like to see him in the game." Berkman and Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada, who was chosen by the players as a reserve, will represent the Astros at the July 15 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, but they could be accompanied by Lee."

Berkman issues challenge to Lee

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July 3

Houston Chronicle

"A day after saying he will compete in this year's Home Run Derby on July 14 at Yankee Stadium, Lance Berkman good-naturedly challenged teammate Carlos Lee to do the same. Berkman acknowledged that Lee was approached by Major League Baseball to see if he would consider participating in the Derby if he made the National League All-Star team. Berkman is the leading vote-getter at first base, and Lee is among the league leaders in RBIs. "He said no initially, and I pretty much called him out," Berkman said. "I was like, 'Let's go. I'll challenge you to do it.' He would be great in the Derby and probably would win it.""

Rays upset with Lee's slide into Iwamura

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June 22

St. Petersburg Times

"Akinori Iwamura isn't sure if Carlos Lee is the largest man he has ever had bearing down on him at second base, but the Astros DH is the first to attempt to tackle him. Lee's apparent tug at Iwamura's legs after being forced out during a potential inning-ending double play in the eighth inning ? preventing a throw and allowing the go-ahead run to score from third ? drew manager Joe Maddon from the dugout but no sanction from umpire Bob Davidson. It also puzzled the second baseman, who admired the hustle but not the method. "I've gotten spiked before. I've never gotten 'handed' in my baseball career," Iwamura said through an interpreter. "It felt like American football-style ..."

Should the Astros have a fire sale?

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June 16

Houston Chronicle

"Maybe it's time for the Astros to shop closer Jose Valverde to a team in contention. Perhaps they should get Carlos Lee, Roy Oswalt and — dare I say it? — even Lance Berkman to approve a trade elsewhere. I would keep Berkman, but I'd listen to trade offers for Lee, Oswalt and Valverde, as long as Lee and Oswalt bypass their no-trade clauses. If I had to trade one of them, it would be Lee. His two years into a six-year, $100 million deal, and that has the makings of a terrible contract in the near future. He's still an RBI machine, so shop him. That's if you can get him to agree to a trade. The bottom line is this club is in need of a serious overhaul, and there's not enough that can be ..."