Steve Gann
Sandra 1
Cliff Lee's Resurgence
May 13th 2008 22:31
One of the best players in the MLB today if not the best has been on a roller coaster the last few years. Cliff Lee’s future was in doubt last year when he suffered an abdominal strain and never seemed to recover from that injury. He was sent down to the minors after starting 1-6. He came back for a couple of starts but never made it back to the rotation.
This off season Lee worked hard and was in the running for the fifth and final spot in the rotation this year. Lee beat out his competitors Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers in spring training.
Lee got his first start bumped back a game because C.C. Sabathia had enough rest to make his second start. In his fist start Lee 6.2 innings of shut out baseball and that trend has continued for most of the season. Lee didn’t give up a run until his tenth inning of pitching. Over 53.2 innings and seven starts Lee has only given up four runs, yielding an ERA of just 0.67 the best in the majors. Lee’s key to success is pounding the strike zone with his fastball which is not an over powering one. This pinpoint control is evident by only allowing four walks over those 53.2 innings of work.
In Lee’s last start against the Toronto Blue Jays Lee once again pitched a gem. This time Lee did not get the win because the tribe’s offense couldn’t get anything going. Lee got some help from an unassisted triple play turned by Asdrubal Cabrera, this was the only jam Lee found himself in with runners on first and second with no outs. Both runners were breaking on a hit and run when a line drive was hi and Cabrera made a diving catch, stepped on second base, and tagged the first base runner. Lee’s fastball is not an overpowering one as his maximum speed reach 93 mph. Lee broke his 28 inning walk less streak but kept the Blue Jays from scoring through nine innings. Then Rafeal Betancourt came in to relieve Lee in the tenth and gave up 3 runs and the Indians offense never put up a fight in the bottom half of the inning.
With a 6-0 record, an ERA of 0.67, 44 strikeouts and 4 walks Lee well on his way to winning the AL Cy Young and the best season of his career, especially if he keeps up his shut out performances.
This off season Lee worked hard and was in the running for the fifth and final spot in the rotation this year. Lee beat out his competitors Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers in spring training.
Lee got his first start bumped back a game because C.C. Sabathia had enough rest to make his second start. In his fist start Lee 6.2 innings of shut out baseball and that trend has continued for most of the season. Lee didn’t give up a run until his tenth inning of pitching. Over 53.2 innings and seven starts Lee has only given up four runs, yielding an ERA of just 0.67 the best in the majors. Lee’s key to success is pounding the strike zone with his fastball which is not an over powering one. This pinpoint control is evident by only allowing four walks over those 53.2 innings of work.
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