Cliff Lee News: Pro Sports Daily

Phils exercise Lee's option; Feliz may go

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November 7

Florida Today

"With their first move of the offseason, the Phillies did what was expected: They exercised their $9 million option on ace left-hander Cliff Lee's contract for 2010. That was the easy part. Now, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has more difficult decisions to make, namely whether to stick with third baseman Pedro Feliz. The Phillies have until Monday to pick up their $5.5 million option on Feliz's contract. "He had a solid year for us," Amaro said Friday. "I like the man personally. He's a great person and a great teammate. But I also believe in trying to improve the club, and sometimes change can be for the better." A year ago, Amaro said he was leery of leaving the lineup unchanged from ..."

Game 5 starter Cliff Lee able, could help Philadelphia Phillies in a Game 7

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November 3

New York Daily News

"Cliff Lee's turn was worth the wait, even if his final line wasn't eye-popping. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was second-guessed for not using his ace on short rest Sunday in a rematch with CC Sabathia, but the decision looked better after Philadelphia's 8-6 win over the Yankees Monday night in Game 5. After tossing a complete game in the World Series opener, the former Cleveland Indian held the Yankees to two runs into the eighth inning Monday night, when he departed with an four-run lead after surrendering hits to the first three batters, including a two-run double by Alex Rodriguez off the glove of left fielder Raul Ibanez. Lee was charged with five runs when A-Rod scored on a ..."

Lee 'ready' to go if Phils force Game 7

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November 3

New York Post

"Cliff Lee wasn't dominant or even particularly sharp here last night, but he did enough to help the Phillies live to see Game 6 of the World Series. Although Lee was charged with five runs, the ace left-hander limited Philadelphia's bullpen exposure by pitching into the eighth inning of an eventual 8-6 win over the Yankees. Lee's timely, 115-pitch effort to stave off elimination was less than 20 minutes old when the question on every Philadelphian's mind came rushing forward: Could Lee pitch on two days' rest in Game 7? "As far as my availability [for Game 7], I'm available," Lee said with a smile. "I'll be ready to pitch when they want me to pitch. I'm ready. I don't really get that sore. ..."

Lee wins a cliff-hanger

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November 3

Boston Globe

"Cliff Lee could not wait to pitch Game 5 of the World Series last night, if only because he could stop answering questions about why he didn't start Game 4. When Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel decided not to rush Lee back into the World Series on three days' rest, it triggered a debate over how best to use the lefthander against the Yankees. That the Phillies lost Game 4 only intensified the talk. With his team facing elimination, Lee helped extend the season by pitching effectively into the eighth inning as the Phillies beat the Yankees, 8-6."

Lee trade helped Francisco, too

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November 2

Buffalo News

columnist Mike Harrington

"Back in April, former Buffalo Bisons star Ben Francisco became the answer to a trivia question when he scored the first run in the new Yankee Stadium. He told me after that game he didn't realize the significance until his phone was flooded with text messages when he came into the clubhouse. Of course, Francisco was with the Cleveland Indians that day so there was no way he figured to be back in the Bronx in the World Series in October. But there he was Wednesday night, starting in Game One against CC Sabathia for the Phillies. Francisco is the "other guy" for the National League champions, the other piece of the trade that brought ace Cliff Lee from the Tribe before the July 31 deadline. ..."

Blanton's ready 4 action

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November 1

New York Post

"Joe Blanton does not have the resume of CC Sabathia or Cliff Lee. There is no Cy Young Award on his mantle. He has never won 20 games, and no one is clamoring to see him on three days' rest. But Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has faith in the right-hander, and that's why he chose him to start Game 4 of the World Series tonight instead of Game 1 star Lee. "He's definitely been one of our consistent pitchers this year," Manuel said. "He's a guy that when he goes out there, he has to have command of his pitches, and he'll use all of his pitches, and he can make adjustments. On nights that he doesn't have his good fastball, he can make adjustments and throw his slider, change-up, curveball." ..."

Lee trade helped Francisco too

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November 1

Buffalo News

columnist Mike Harrington

"Back in April, former Buffalo Bisons star Ben Francisco became the answer to a trivia question when he scored the first run in the new Yankee Stadium. He told me after that game he didn't realize the significance until his phone was flooded with text messages when he came into the clubhouse. Of course, Francisco was with the Cleveland Indians that day so there was no way he figured to be back in the Bronx in the World Series in October. But there he was Wednesday night, starting in Game One against CC Sabathia for the Phillies. Francisco is the "other guy" for the National League champions, the other piece of the trade that brought ace Cliff Lee from the Tribe before the July 31 deadline. ..."

Lee hopped on subway to escape N.Y. jam

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October 31

New York Daily News

"Phillies ace Cliff Lee has concluded that the subway is the way to go in New York . Lee was stuck in a taxi at 5:45 p.m. en route from his team's Manhattan hotel to Yankee Stadium before his Game 1 start, when the driver told him they were hopelessly stuck in traffic and it might take two more hours to get to the ballpark. Lee instructed the driver to find the nearest subway stop. A veteran of the underground system from his visits to New York with the Indians , Lee successfully navigated from the 6 to the 4 train and arrived about 15 minutes later - in more than enough time to toss his complete game opposite CC Sabathia . "I still had plenty of time," said Lee, who went ..."

After Lee, Phils' rotation question mark

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October 30

New York Post

"Cliff Lee's dominance in Game 1 of the World Series masked a potentially very big problem for the Phillies. Namely: What do they have after him? Manager Charlie Manuel has so little confidence in his rotation aside from Lee that he started 37-year-old midseason addition Pedro Martinez against the Yankees in the Phillies' 3-1 loss in Game 2 last night and might pitch Lee on three days' rest in Game 4 on Sunday. Pitching Lee on short rest, which Manuel refused to rule out yesterday, would be a huge indictment of the Phillies' rotation because the left-hander has never done it before in his eight-year career. The reason for the turmoil centers on fellow left-hander Cole Hamels, last year's ..."

A.J. and Lee put on rem-Ark.-able show

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October 30

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"The last time the World Series visited The Bronx, A.J. Burnett did, too. That's what he felt like in 2003: a visitor, an outsider, a stranger in the strange world of the World Series. This was across the street, the day before Game 1 between the Marlins and the Yankees, and Burnett reached a milestone that day: across the vast, historic lawn of old Yankee Stadium, he long-tossed with a teammate. It was the first time he'd done that in six months. His elbow, still recovering from Tommy John surgery, felt great. But Burnett, now 32, was equal parts brave-faced and bittersweet; even if he felt good for the kids he'd grown up with on the Marlins, for Josh Beckett and Miguel Cabrera, for Carl ..."

Following Game 1 gem, it's a no-decision on Lee

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October 30

Washington Post

"Twenty-four hours after tossing one of the finest games in recent World Series history, Cliff Lee on Thursday enjoyed a well-earned night off. He is likely to throw a short bullpen session on Friday, then rest again on Saturday -- the typical life of a starting pitcher. But on Sunday night, in Game 4 of the World Series, Lee, the Philadelphia Phillies' ace left-hander, may take the mound again against the New York Yankees -- in what would be the first start of career on just three days' rest. Then again, maybe he won't. The Phillies have not announced their pitching plans beyond Saturday's Game 3 (which will be started by lefty Cole Hamels), and Manager Charlie Manuel on Thursday said he ..."

For Indians, tough to watch Phillies starter Cliff Lee beats CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

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October 29

New York Daily News

columnist Bill Madden

"In case you hadn't heard, Shapiro's Indians, like a lot of middle-to-small-market clubs in baseball, are experiencing some tough financial times that revenue sharing apparently hasn't been able to cure. As a result, Shapiro was forced to trade off Sabathia last year before he reached free agency, receiving the Milwaukee Brewers' top two outfield prospects, Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley. This year, he had to move Lee and catcher Victor Martinez. For Lee, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Shapiro received four of the Phillies' top prospects: pitchers Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, infielder Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson. It remains to be seen, however, if any of them will ..."

Phillies starter Cliff Lee baffles New York Yankees in Game 1 of World Series

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October 29

New York Daily News

columnist Mike Lupica

"The first World Series for the Yankees in six years began the way the last Series ended for them, the Yankees having no chance against a brilliant pitching performance, the Yankees having no more of a chance against Cliff Lee in Game 1 than they did against Josh Beckett in Game 6 in 2003. They got shut out that night. They got a cheap run in the ninth Wednesday night when it was 6-0, Phillies. The defending champs walked into the new Stadium Wednesday night after a week off and showed everybody in the place how they did it last year. Lee carried his team the way CC Sabathia has been carrying the Yankees all month. Now the Yankees are behind in a series for the first time in October of ..."

Curtain rises, Lee takes a bow

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October 29

Washington Post

"Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium was a night of helplessness at the plate, a night of whiffing at infernal, unhittable pitches and making a U-turn back to the dugout, a night when some of the most feared sluggers in baseball -- the focal point of so much hype as Game 1 of the World Series dawned -- were rendered weak and powerless by the skills of two brilliant left-handed aces pitching like legends out of a 1960s highlight reel. At least that was how Game 1 went for 17 of the 18 hitters in the starting lineups of the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. The 18th hitter, though, was Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, and it was as if he were playing a different game. In Utley's ..."

CC Sabathia & Cliff Lee will set World Series tone for Yankees and Phillies

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October 28

New York Daily News

"They have both won a Cy Young Award and they once pitched in the same rotation. They keep in touch via text message and admire each other's talents. One is thrivingÂ in the playoffs after struggling the past two Octobers, while the other is thriving in his first postseason action. And Wednesday night, the two lefties will be facing each other in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series. Philadelphia's Cliff Lee and the Yankees' CC Sabathia are the two dominant pitchers of this postseason, aces who could face each other three times if their managers decide to push both pitchers on short rest. Lee's performance could determine whether the Phillies repeat as champs and Sabathia might be the key to ..."

Yankees get another shot at Cliff Lee

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October 28

New York Daily News

"Cliff Lee is no stranger to the Yankees. As a Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland last season, he saw his share of Yankee hitters. And this year Lee, starting for the Indians, handcuffed the Yankees for six innings on Opening Day at the new Yankee Stadium, allowing one run over six innings. Then the Indians traded him to Philadelphia and he began to show just how tough he could be on NL batters. Now the Phillies will throw Lee at the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series and the Bombers will counter with ace CC Sabathia, setting up a Stadium duel between two former Indians teammates and Cy Young winners. Can Lee pitch another gem for another team from another league on a World Series ..."

World Series starters Sabathia, Lee highlight Cleveland Indians' deconstruction

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October 28

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"They will be watching from Puerto Rico and Cleveland. From Texas to Virginia and a lot of places between. CC Sabathia vs. Cliff Lee in Game 1 of the World Series Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. "I'm mad because we'd like to have them pitching for us in the World Series," said catcher Kelly Shoppach, from Fort Worth, Texas. Even if you don't believe in the Curse of Rocky Colavito, the Curse of Jose Mesa and that evil forces guided Edgar Renteria's high-chop single over Charlie Nagy's outstretched glove in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, it's going to be hard to be an Indians fan in Game 1. "They'll probably be licking their wounds in Cleveland," said Darek ..."

Indians supplied aces Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia to World Series foes

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October 28

St. Petersburg Times

"Before CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee throw their first pitches in tonight's World Series opener, the Cleveland Indians are already the big losers. That's because the Indians traded away both pitchers, and now - having lost 97 games and fired manager Eric Wedge - have to watch their pair of former aces in the spotlight. "They can't be feeling too good about it," Lee said. "I mean, it's two guys they could have had on their team that are now on different teams facing each other in the World Series. That's the way this game works sometimes, though." Sabathia was traded to Milwaukee last season then signed with the Yankees. Lee was dealt to the Phillies this July. They became close friends in ..."

Lee and Sabathia goes from friends to foes

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October 28

Camden Courier-Post

"The friendship began seven years ago -- Sept. 15, 2002, to be exact -- when Cliff Lee made his major-league debut at the Metrodome in Minnesota and wowed CC Sabathia, his new Cleveland Indians teammate. "He went out and dealt," Sabathia said Tuesday. "He was the Cliff that he is now." Over the years, they've grown closer, kidding each other about their vastly different backgrounds, encouraging one another to become better. Even after Sabathia got traded last season, they stayed in touch via almost daily text messages. And after facing off in the first game at new Yankee Stadium in April, they dined at Sabathia's house. Tonight, the friendship will add another chapter. Sabathia and Lee -- ..."

Lee vs. Sabathia: A pitching matchup only Cleveland could hate

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October 28

Philadelphia Daily News

columnist Rich Hofmann

"The question goes to the very origin of the baseball species. CC Sabathia will pitch Game 1 of the World Series for the Yankees, Cliff Lee will pitch for the Phillies, and the city of Cleveland will lament what was. The lesson for everyone is simple, really primal.It is good to be the carnivore.Baseball is a zero-sum game. The Indians' loss was the Yankees' and the Phillies' gain. Lee vs. Sabathia. It is emblematic of what still can be the innate unfairness of this sport - less unfair than it used to be, but still so unequal when it comes to revenues. It is emblematic, too, of the journey the Phillies have taken as a franchise over the last few years. Because it wasn't that long ago when ..."

Manuel deflects questions on Phillies' rotation

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October 27

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Before the Phillies' final workout at home before traveling to New York for the World Series, manager Charlie Manuel continued to deflect questions about his starting rotation. Cliff Lee will face the Yankees' CC Sabathia in Game 1 tomorrow; everything beyond that remains unclear. Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels will likely start Games 2 and 3, with the order still unknown. Manuel did say that he would have no problem using Martinez at Yankee Stadium."

Manuel not saying who will follow Lee in Phillies' rotation for World Series

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October 26

Philadelphia Daily News

"Cliff Lee will start Game 1 of the World Series. Manager Charlie Manuel stated the obvious yesterday, saying he will send the lefthander with the 0.74 postseason ERA to the mound on Wednesday when the Phillies meet the Yankees. Beyond that, however, the rotation remains unsettled. The last time the Phillies had the luxury of setting up all four spots of their rotation was the National League Division Series, when Lee started Game 1 and lefthander Cole Hamels started Game 2. At the time, there was some thought that Manuel would tap Hamels to be the Game 1 starter, given his success last October, when he went 4-0 and allowed seven runs in 35 innings over five starts. Three weeks later, at ..."

Phils to open Series with Lee

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October 26

Camden Courier-Post

"Pedro Martinez threw approximately 60 pitches to 12 batters in a two-inning simulated game Sunday, another indication he will make at least one start for the Phillies in the World Series. But when? Before the simulated game, Charlie Manuel announced the obvious: Cliff Lee, the Phillies' playoff ace, will start Game 1 Wednesday night. And after the workout, the Phils' brass huddled to discuss the rest of the starting rotation. Two days ago, Manuel said he likely will use Joe Blanton and rookie left-hander J.A. Happ in the bullpen for the series' first few games. That seemingly would leave Cole Hamels and Martinez as the options to start games 2 and 3. Hamels, last year's ace and World ..."

Phillies' Lee likely to start Game 1

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October 24

Philadelphia Inquirer

"For the first time since late February, the Phillies have six days without a baseball game. But the players must remain sharp while management considers several important decisions before the World Series begins Wednesday. Before the team's two-hour workout at Citizens Bank Park yesterday, manager Charlie Manuel, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., and other staff members sat for the first of many meetings. Among the most pressing decisions: how to configure the starting rotation, whether to include Brett Myers on the roster, and how to be productive with all the time off. On the first point, Cliff Lee, the ace in the division series and National League Championship Series, likely will start ..."

Lee: I'm capable of pitching on 3 days' rest

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October 24

Philadelphia Daily News

"ASK CLIFF LEE if he feels capable of starting a game on 3 days' rest and the ace lefthander's facial expression seems to ask, "Why wouldn't I be?" The Phillies could find out the answer at some point during this World Series, although they indicated yesterday that such a scenario was not an ideal option. Lee, who has allowed just two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings in three starts this postseason, will almost certainly take the mound on Wednesday for Game 1 in either New York or Anaheim. He would then be on normal rest for Game 5 the following Monday, and 2 days' rest for an if-necessary Game 7 on Nov. 5. Although the Phillies could conceivably get their new playoff ace three starts by ..."

Phils' Lee plays leading role on a big stage

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October 23

Philadelphia Inquirer

"After calmly steering the Phillies toward the World Series this month, new ace Cliff Lee celebrated with grateful teammates at Cole Hamels' home early yesterday morning. Demoted by the Cleveland Indians just two years ago, Lee has quickly become an essential member of the close group that plays in Philadelphia.Athletes on championship-caliber teams see their reputations defined by performances in the fast and intense rounds of postseason play. With Hamels struggling this year after a breakout autumn in 2008, Lee has stabilized the team and is burnishing a legacy.The 31-year-old lefthander sailed through the division series and the National League Championship Series. He allowed two runs in ..."

Lee, Ibanez fit right in with this Phillies group

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October 23

Philadelphia Daily News

"Men have a funny way of showing affection for one another, especially men who play sports for a living. It is often brusque and never flowery. Basically, if your chops aren't being busted, you're probably not one of the boys.Cliff Lee became a Phillie on July 29 and promptly reeled off five gems. Those performances surely endeared him to his new teammates, who reciprocated when the Daily News featured Lee in two of our popular power pages this month.Sensing an opportunity to have fun at Lee's expense, a teammate tacked the two-page poster up to the humble lefthander's locker stall. It remains there today; a humorous reminder that no one is safe from shenanigans. We kid because we care."I ..."

A friendly foe for Lee?

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October 22

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Phillies lefthander Cliff Lee and New York Yankees southpaw CC Sabathia are former longtime teammates and still good friends from their days together with the Cleveland Indians. If the Phillies and Yankees meet in the World Series, it's possible those two could pitch in the opening game. The Yankees hold a three-games-to-one lead over the Los Angeles Angels in their best-of-seven American League Championship Series heading into Thursday's game at Angel Stadium. The two players have remained in touch throughout this season. "We have texted back and forth, but we haven't talked," Sabathia said before Wednesday's workout at Angel Stadium."

Sabathia and Lee Facing Possible Stadium Rematch

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October 22

New York Times

"When the new Yankee Stadium opened on April 16, the starting pitchers were C. C. Sabathia for the Yankees and Cliff Lee for the Cleveland Indians. There is a good chance the same pitchers could meet at the same stadium for Game 1 of the World Series. Lee, who now pitches for the Philadelphia Phillies, has been as dominant in the National League playoffs as Sabathia has been in the American League. Lee is 2-0 with an earned run average of 0.74 in three starts; Sabathia is 3-0 with a 1.19 E.R.A. Sabathia and Lee were teammates for parts of seven seasons with the Indians, and each won the A.L. Cy Young Award in his final full season with the team. Sabathia won it in 2007 and was traded the ..."

Cushion helps Lee dominate Dodgers

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October 19

Camden Courier-Post

"Cliff Lee didn't need the six-run cushion before he faced his fourth hitter of the game. Not with the way he was pitching. That's because Lee was dominating once again for the Phillies in their 11-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday, giving them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Lee went eight shutout innings, giving up only three harmless singles. He didn't walk anyone and struck out 10. Only one Dodger batter reached second base. It was just the third shutout for the Phillies in the postseason, the others coming in Game 1 of the NLCS in 1983, when Steve Carlton and Al Holland did it against the Dodgers, and in Game 5 of the 1993 ..."

From Trade Afterthought to Trade Commodity

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October 18

Washington Post

"Not for the first time, Cliff Lee, a reigning Cy Young winner, belongs to a franchise with championship aspirations, and the Philadelphia Phillies will deploy Lee with that goal in mind. Lee, on Sunday, will start against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, currently tied at one game apiece. If he pitches as he did in the regular season's final two months, or as he did in two starts in the NL Division Series, then Lee will fortify his status as the rarest of commodities: an ace capable of carrying his team to, and through, the postseason. Lee, 31, is completing his eighth major league season. Though Sunday marks his first LCS start, his career has ..."

Rockies, Phillies confident in Game 4 starters Jimenez, Lee

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October 12

Denver Post

"Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez gets Rockies manager Jim Tracy's nod to start on the mound for today's Game 4 of the National League division series against the Philadelphia Phillies. "You've got an opportunity with Ubaldo Jimenez and Aaron Cook, if there is a fifth game, to bring both back on their normal rest," Tracy said. "I think Ubaldo is battle-tested enough." Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is countering with Cliff Lee, one of his three left-handed starting pitchers. Lee gave Rockies batters fits in Game 1, pitching a complete game in his postseason debut. "I'm very confident with Cliff," Manuel said. "I've liked putting left-handers on the Rockies. I think we've got three of the top ..."

Lee strong to the finish in Phillies' Game 1 win over Rockies

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October 8

Philadelphia Daily News

"CLIFF LEE WAS READY. Standing on the mound, having completed his warmup pitches, the Phillies lefthander peered in toward home plate early yesterday afternoon. Up to that point, the day had progressed in routine fashion. During pregame introductions, when the rest of the Phillies basked in the applause of a record crowd, he and catcher Carlos Ruiz were in the bullpen fine-tuning the repertoire they would use in the game. Moments later, he jogged through centerfield at his usual three-quarters speed and took his place on the mound. But after throwing his customary warmups and preparing himself for the first pitch of a game he had spent all week saying he would treat like any other, Lee ..."

Start to finish, Lee has all the right answers

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October 8

Camden Courier-Post

"After Cliff Lee singled in the third inning, first-base coach Davey Lopes suggested that he take advantage of Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez's slow move to the plate and attempt a steal of second base. Lee listened. "I thought, "What in the hell is he doing?' " manager Charlie Manuel said. "But he said the right thing when he came back (to the dugout). He talked about Davey Lopes, and I told him Davey sees things I don't see. That was the right thing to say." Lee became the fourth pitcher to steal a base in the playoffs and the first since John Smoltz in 1995, who also swiped bases in 1991 and 1992. Wild Bill Donovan (1908) and Billy Loes (1952) are the other pitchers to steal in the ..."

Rock Solid

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October 8

Camden Courier-Post

"There was a moment -- with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday -- when Cliff Lee, who works with the speed of a man who's late for a train, stepped off the rubber, looked around sold-out Citizens Bank Park and listened to the rhythmic chanting of his name. It was the only mistake he made all day. "I wanted to give myself a chance to really absorb it, take it all in," Lee said. "But then I threw three straight balls and one down the middle that went in the gap (for an RBI double). So, I wish I wouldn't have done that." Otherwise, Lee had no regrets about his postseason debut. Facing the Colorado Rockies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, Lee was masterful, tossing a ..."

Cliff Lee aces Rockies from the mound, bases

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October 8

Denver Post

"Cliff Lee didn't just steal a base. He stole the Rockies' bats. "He got really, really good as the game went on," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "It was to the point where, by the third inning, I don't know if he missed a spot. ... We certainly didn't get too many pitches to swing at. He was pretty much on the corners." Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young award winner, was acquired by the Phillies to pitch big games in October, and he rewarded them Wednesday. The bottom line will say that he allowed six hits in a 5-1 victory in Game 1 of the National League division series. What it won't mention is this: Things could have been different, very different, if not for a couple of ..."

Rockies mauled by Lee, Phillies in Game 1 loss

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October 8

Denver Post

"Ubaldo Jimenez stood by his locker Wednesday afternoon, his eyes telling a story of disaster more eloquently than the scoreboard. Down the hallway, Cliff Lee talked triumph, about soaking in his first October moment. The playoffs demand victors and victims and the Rockies were nothing more than well-dressed mannequins in the Phillies' first-step of their title defense. Colorado was punchless, hitless for long stretches, and times, because of the swirling wind, helpless in a 5-1 loss in the National League division series opener. "This is hard to take. I thought I would do better," said Jimenez after getting tagged for five runs in five innings. "I just lost it." Disappointment was natural. ..."

Up first for Phillies: Ace Cliff Lee

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October 7

Denver Post

"At first glance, it would seem the Phillies, who won all three of their playoff openers last season, are off to a fast start this year. They have a defending Cy Young award winner pitching against the Rockies today. And not just any defending Cy Young winner. Cliff Lee won it in the American League, which no less an authority than Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca calls "the hairy-chested league." Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he considered last year's World Series MVP, Cole Hamels, for the Game 1 assignment, but decided to go with Lee. No surprise there. The only eyebrows Manuel raised came when he, unlike Jim Tracy, refused to identify his Game 3 starter. The Phillies acquired ..."

Manuel picks Lee to start Game 1

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October 7

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The Phillies considered Cliff Lee an ace in late July when they acquired him from the Cleveland Indians. And despite the lefthander's shaky September, the team still views Lee as its best option to start Game 1 of the National League division series.Lee, last season's winner of the American League's Cy Young Award, was selected over Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, for today's assignment. Hamels will start the second game; beyond that, the Phils' rotation is undetermined. Either Hamels or Lee could start a potential fifth game on full rest.Manager Charlie Manuel said he did not want to start Hamels because the 25-year-old lefty threw 47 pitches Saturday. Manuel said he "sat down and ..."

Add Lee to Phillies' worries

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September 26

Camden Courier-Post

"Given the injuries and ineffectiveness that have left the bullpen in utter disarray, and the on-again, off-again tendencies of the offense, Cliff Lee should be the least of the Phillies' worries. And, relatively speaking, he is. But every so often, like when Lee leaves a changeup over the plate or hangs a slider, you wonder about all the innings he has thrown the past two seasons and how they have impacted his performance the past month. Lee had a chance to nudge the Phillies closer to clinching the National League East title Friday night. Working on his regular rest after being limited to 52 pitches by a long rain delay last Sunday in Atlanta, Lee allowed seven runs, including two homers, ..."

Lee looks flat in Phillies loss

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September 26

Philadelphia Inquirer

"In a way, Cliff Lee's career is defined by extremes. Demoted to the minor leagues in 2007, Cy Young Award winner in 2008. Shutdown ace for the Phillies from late July to late August, up-and-down enigma in the weeks since.Two starts after a shutout, Lee endured his third alarming game in six starts last night, losing to Milwaukee, 8-4, at Miller Park. Troubled reliever Brad Lidge, attempting to salvage the end of his season, pitched an eighth inning that he called productive.Because the Atlanta Braves won in Washington, the Phils' magic number for clinching the National League East remained at four.In nearly two months with the Phillies, Lee rarely has been middling. Since the Phils ..."

Lee's woes against Brewers keep Phillies' clincher on hold

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September 26

Philadelphia Daily News

"The last two seasons, the Phillies clinched the National League East title at Citizens Bank Park in front of sellout crowds.This year, they appear headed toward a similar ending.Cliff Lee gave up seven runs in six innings and Brewers lefthander Manny Parra pitched seven strong innings as the Phillies fell to Milwaukee, 8-4, keeping their magic number at 4, with nine games to play.The second-place Braves defeated the Nationals, greatly diminishing the possibility that the Phillies will clinch the division before returning to Philadelphia for a seven-game, season-ending homestand. To clinch this weekend, the Phillies would have to win their remaining two games against the Brewers and the ..."

Lee masterful, and Phils do the little things right

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September 16

Camden Courier-Post

"With the sad-sack Washington Nationals in town Tuesday night for the opener of a three-game series, it was prime time for the Phillies to fine-tune some items on their pre-playoff checklist. Pick up a few hits with runners in scoring position. Check. Get a positive start from suddenly scuffling Cliff Lee. Check. Reduce their magic number to clinch the NL East. Check. In fact, the Phillies' 5-0 giggler before the 64th sellout crowd of the season in Citizens Bank Park was such a stress-free affair that the bullpen, the source of so much angst for manager Charlie Manuel, never even got involved. Lee threw a complete-game shutout, and for the first time since Aug. 24, the Phillies won by more ..."

Phils' Lee falls off cliff

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September 6

Camden Courier-Post

"Seven days ago, the Phillies would've felt comfortable, even invincible, with Cliff Lee on the mound in the first game of any series. Now? Maybe Cole Hamels should start the playoff opener. Lee, nothing less than Superman through five starts after being acquired in a July 29 trade, was blitzed Friday night, 7-0, by the playing-for-pride Houston Astros, marking the second consecutive start in which his mortality has been exposed. But six nights after lamenting his poor pitch location against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park, Lee believed he was the victim of too many softly hit flares finding too many gaps in the defense at Minute Maid Park. "I felt like I was making quality pitches ..."

Phils' Lee takes a beating

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September 5

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Cliff Lee's first five starts for the Phillies inspired hyperbolic praise, comparisons to CC Sabathia's impact on Milwaukee in 2008, and a quick ascension to the title of team ace. Lee's last two starts have inspired only confusion and concern. Six days after a loss that seemed an aberration, July's prize acquisition lasted just three innings tonight in the Phillies' 7-0 loss to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. He allowed nine hits and six earned runs, and forever halted parallels to the Sabathia of last year, who never endured a similar stretch after joining the Brewers before the trade deadline. Lee won five games in a row after the Phillies got him from Cleveland in late July, ..."

Braves hand Cliff Lee first loss with Philadelphia

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August 30

Philadelphia Inquirer

"It had become difficult to imagine Cliff Lee actually losing a game for the Phillies. Since he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his team debut, Lee has looked virtually invincible. But baseball always humbles those players who appear temporarily above failure. Last night was Lee's turn to look human, as the lefthander lost his first game after five wins for the Phils, 9-1 to Atlanta, in a contest delayed twice by rain and called in the middle of the eighth. In five innings, Lee allowed six runs and three homers - the most home runs he had surrendered in a game in more than two years. "Sooner or later you're going to have a tough game," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. "That's ..."

Lee, Bako win 5th as tandem

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August 25

Camden Courier-Post

"Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is not ready to say that Paul Bako is Cliff Lee's personal catcher the way Tim McCarver was for Steve Carlton back in the 1970s. But Bako said he's more than happy to catch for Lee if called on to do that. He has caught Lee all five times the former Cleveland Indian has pitched for the Phillies since being acquired July 29. After Monday's 6-2 win over the New York Mets, Lee is 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA with the Phillies, making him the first pitcher to win his first five starts with the club since Marty Bystrom did it in 1980. "It's awfully fun to catch him," Bako said. "He makes my job easy back there with the fact that he has so many weapons and the way he ..."

Howard and Lee lead way for Phils

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August 25

Philadelphia Inquirer

"After all these years, and all those home runs, who knew that Charlie Manuel had a secret, little pet name for Ryan Howard?"That's why I call him the Big Piece," Manuel said after watching his sizzling cleanup man belt two home runs and drive in five runs in the Phillies' 6-2 win over the New York Mets today at Citi Field."He was the game."There was no disputing Howard's importance in the Phils' 11th win in their last 13 games, but there was another significant contributor in this victory, and he deserves a nickname, too.If Howard is the Big Piece, then Cliff Lee has to be the Big Pickup.The lefthander did not allow an earned run in seven walk-free innings as he won his fifth straight ..."

Lee, Blanton waste no time

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August 23

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Cliff Lee and Joe Blanton would take financial hits if they got paid by the hour.The two pitchers are the quickest workers on the Phillies staff, which is the way pitching coach Rich Dubee likes it.Dubee said pitchers who refuse to dawdle not only benefit themselves by frequently preventing batters from getting too comfortable, but they also help the defense by keeping fielders alert."The fielders are better because they're ready for every pitch," Dubee said yesterday before the Phillies played the Mets at Citi Field.Lee may be as quick a worker as there is in the majors. In his four starts since the Phillies acquired him from Cleveland, three of the games were played in less than two and ..."

Lee adjusts as Phils dump Rockies

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August 7

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The pitching line for Cliff Lee in the Phillies' 3-1 win over Colorado yesterday was similar to the one next to his name when he made his debut with the defending World Series champions last Friday in San Francisco. It's a line his new club will likely see again and again, and rest assured that Lee's teammates and the loyal folks who shoehorn their way into Citizens Bank Park game after game will never tire of it. One run in nine innings against the Giants. One run in seven against the Rockies. But the 30-year-old lefthander arrived at his first win in his new home park differently, and therein lies his brilliance. It is why he won the Cy Young Award in the American League last season and ..."