It was perhaps the most anticipated Spring Training start ever for a Phillie, and the weather on the morning of it should have been a sign.
It was a dark and gloomy morning on Tuesday here in Clearwater, as Clff Lee prepared to make his first start ever in a Phillies Spring Training uniform. The excitement was in the air as he entered the stadium. Applause rained down on the Phillies new ace as he stretched, jogged, and threw pitches in the bullpen at Bright House Field.
Unfortunately, it was all down hill from there.
Lee’s number one stated goal for the game was to work on the control of his fast ball. The veteran lefthander had said if he was able to control the location of his fastball, he would consider the outing a success. It wasn’t a success.
I could tell it wasn’t going to be Lee’s day as I watched him warm up. Lee struggled yesterday, even before he hit the mound for the game. A wild pitch which he threw in the bullpen hit back up catcher Brian Schneider, who was starting in place of Carlos Ruiz.
When the game did start, just as sure as day, Lee’s control issues continued. He hit the first batter he faced which was astonishing. In order to understand how rare an occurrence that is, a look back at Lee’s stats from last season showed that he hit only 1 batter in the 842 he faced.
Lee allowed 2 runs in the first inning, much to he disappointment of the over 5,000 fans who showed up to watch the ace’s debut- although it seemed at times that most were Tiger fans.
Lee sharpened up in the second, allowing no runs in the inning to finish his day. His final line was 2 innings pitched,1 hit, 2 earned runs, 1 batter walked and 3 strike outs. His ERA now stands at 9.
Needless to say, little should be made of Lee’s struggles in his first start. He still received a standing ovation when he along with fellow aces Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt took there now routine walk down the third base line into the clubhouse in the 4th inning.
But for one afternoon, Phillies fans were reminded that Cliff Lee’s name alone does not mean the World Series trophy is already on the way back to Broad Street.
He struggled and then settled down. STFU. This article is so much of a stretch it’s not even funny. It’s a yoga stretch like Kobe said.
I hope this Media and Fan base stop talking about the World Series..
Nothing is going to giving to this squad and in case anyone notices, are not
off to a very good start this Spring on their biggest questions going into the Season
#1) Is OF D Brown ready to the Big Leagues– it doesn’t appear so
#2) Is Utley,Ibanez,Rollins,Victorino all healthy and can they get back to
previous seasons productions level… it appeaes Utley is hurt again with the type of Knee tendinitis that never goes away and will plauge him for remainder of his career..
#3) Can relief pitchers D Baes & Romero, come back strong after disappointing seasons last year… Baes has not too good so far..
#4) Can B Francisco step up and take advantage of more playing time
and so far, so good as he has looked real good and is hitting the ball hard
I think Lee struggles out of the gate this year and doesn’t really warm up
until the stretch run.. He will be like 14-11 with 3.50 ERA and nothing really special to about mid-August and then he turns it up a notch his last 6-7 Starts for the Playoff push
Paul, if you know more than the fans, the media, the bookies, why don’t you parlay up and put your money where your mouth is
I am independantly wealthy Jake and really don’t need the $$$
This Phillie Team is going to be the biggest disappointment in the MLB this Season and probably the biggest disappointments in a long-line of failures for the Philadelphia Sport Franchises.. time will tell..
Paulman, you are an evil stupid fool
Sorry Schill,
Someone has to tell it like it is and it may as well be me…
Paul, but that’s just it – you’re NOT telling it like it is – it ISN’T. Again, I don’t think you are capable of comprehending the future. What you think might happen in the future is different than what is. You dope.
And to build off of that, NOBODY has to ‘tell it like it is’ if it ISN’T.
Schill,
You are starting to sound like former President Clinton..
Please define what “Isn’t” is …
Paulman, thank you, I am truly flattered.
And you sir, are starting (scratch that) CONTINUING to sound like someone with severe brain damage.
I’m not worried about the starting pitching or the bullpen. I’m not overly worried about offense either as I think Rollins will bounce back, and Ibanez should be able to put together at least half a year of production. I’m not worried about right field because I think between Brown, Francisco Mayberry and Gload they’ll be able to put something together.
My main concern is Utley and Howard (mainly Utley). Utley has been in an injury induced funk for the last couple of seasons. I wonder if he can regain his former greatness.
utley can be a problem; he looks/ plays older than he is, his defense is average and prone to huge throwing errors, and he is breaking down.
To Schill,
For what it’s worth, My mom always told me the story, that she took a pretty nasty tumble down the Art Musuem’s steps while she was carrying me..
So maybe that explains it…
to E-Money
I am not sold on this Phils Bullpen either..
Madson and Lidge I think with be fine and even Contrerars if not overworked . but Romero,Baes, Herndon ,Bastardo all have control issues and they still lack that tough Left-HAnded SItuational Pitcher wh ocan come in and throw strikes and get those tough outs late in games against the big Left-Hand Batters (and especially when playing at Citizens Park)
Romero and Bastardo are not that Pitcher..
You ain’t telling it like it is. You are secretly a Braves fan that is hoping the Phillies fall. Only a moron would look to Spring Training to prove his “predictions” right.
I do not tlike the Braves, I respect them but have never liked or root for them.
I am a Phillies fan and sometimes too critical but I expect them to play better and win some Championships and I don’t think just because they sign Cliff Lee that you should think a World Sereis Championship is in the bag.. I see many areas not addressed on this squad and it will come back to haunt them.. I don’t drink any Kool-Aid from the home-town teams like most of the Fans do.. Utley is a concern, their OF Defense is a mess, their Bench is weak and their Bullpen has a lot of ??? and history of recent Injuriy problems
The good thing is that it’s a long 6 month season so there is plenty of time to work things out.. but anyoen who thinks the Phils with this group is gooing to march right thru the season doesn’t follow baseball and some of the other good teams in the NL which is much improved this year