Around the Yankee Universe: That Cliff Lee guy is pretty good

by Ed Valentine on Oct 29, 2009 8:13 AM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

The only way to sum up last night's Game 1 World Series loss is to say this. Cliff Lee was just too good. That's going to happen sometimes. The guy does have a Cy Young Award, you know, so the fact that he can be dominant in a big game should not exactly be a shocker.

Chad Jennings summed it up this way.

On this night, though, Lee could do no wrong. The casual catch of a popup. The behind-the-back grab on a comebacker. The 10 strikeouts. Lee was the best player in this game, and that’s what cost the Yankees. Their bullpen didn’t help matters, and neither did Utley, but Lee pitched a heck of a game.

Lee didn't seem surprised, and he definitely wasn't nervous.

"Not nervous at all," he said, before pausing and adding: "It’s been a long time since I’ve been nervous playing this game. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life. I put all the work in. You do everything you need to do to prepare, and I try not to leave anything to chance. So what’s the point in being nervous? I’ve already done the work. It’s game time. Time to go out there and have fun and execute and let your skills take over."

So, now what for the Yankees? The fans might be stunned, but the Yankees are not. They know they are in a fight.

"We're both good teams," Johnny Damon said. "That's why you play a series. They kicked our butts today but tomorrow is another day game and hopefully A.J. comes out throws as well as we know he's capable of."

Although the Yankees aren’t quite in panic mode, they do know how big Game 2 is going to be for them.

"We definitely don’t like this situation," Damon said. "We know we can't lose three more but we're shooting to win four. We look at every game in the World Series as a must win. We have to win tomorrow."

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Comments

The Game threads had people constantly saying "this is embarrassing"

well, a little bit.

BUT the guy has shown he’s one of the top ONE pitchers in the game. The guy was more dominant than any great pitcher we’ve seen all year against the Yanks, from Felix, Halladay, Grienke..no one was as good as this guy.

The Yankees didn’t embarrass themselves, Cliff Lee embarrassed them.

Now, its over. Big deal. Yanks can and will come back.

Pedro on the hill. Aside from what Fox says, this isn’t CY Young Pedro. Even if it was..the Yanks kicked the crap out of him too.

Lets uhh…do that.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 29, 2009 8:23 AM EDT reply actions

yep

Cliff Lee is the reigning Cy Young winner.I assumed he’d deal.and he did.Derek Jeter is the Man for a reason,but he can’t hit 9 times.Hughes,Robertson,Brunet,Coke absolutely stunk.Marte (who normally sucks)pitched well.CC would’ve won a game where he only gave up
two runs almost everytime,but he was pitching against a robot last night.We lost homefield,but now we have Daddy,Hammy, Blanton in our path.Time to nut up or shut up.

TheAddisfaction

by Addisfaction on Oct 29, 2009 12:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

let me just say this. F@#$ THE CLEVLAND INDIANS!!! there, lets kick pedro's ass.

"I'm not superstitious, just a little stitious"- Michael Scott

by GTWYankee on Oct 29, 2009 8:34 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

well that sucked

But were kicking grandpa’s ass tonight so fuck em. Pedro hamels and blanton ain’t no cliff lee. Just hope somebody is getting n somebodis ass in that yankee locker room.

by NYYWinsRings26 on Oct 29, 2009 8:48 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Can we stop..

Talking about how were gonna beat pedro up, kick his ass… I mean I’m confident about tonight.. but anyone remember Brett Tomko?

by Yankz09 on Oct 29, 2009 9:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

My memory of tomko is faint buddy....i get your point though...

by NYYWinsRings26 on Oct 29, 2009 10:01 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Im so glad that woman was not a Yankee fan. They just date a rich guy to get tickets.

She was going to cheat on her husband for tickets to take him to the game? Wow.

by ryanwk628 on Oct 29, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

Lee was great

Just being honest, that’s as lights out as you can get. So now we’ll see if the Yankees can take a punch. I think they can . In my heart ,I hope the beat Pedro like a small dog, don’t want to lose to him and go to Phiily down 2-0.
As an aside, does anyone on this team know how to run the bases ( Matsui and Cano?) What was that all about?
No one saw Rollins catch the pop-up? Why was Matsui standing on the grass? Even if he saw the catch, why wasn’t he trying to get back to first? All six umpires had to have a meeting to figure it out? Really?

by fredny on Oct 29, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

I still maintain that

while Lee is a very good pitcher. He is not as good as we made him look. You’re talking about a performance that hasn’t been accomplished in over 100 years – as good as he is, he’s not that good. The difference last night was not Lee, it was the difference between the Yankees’ approach to good pitching and the Phillies’ approach. The Yankees almost always make good pitching look great. CC made two mistakes and Utley capitalized. Lee was dealing, to be sure, but there were multiple 3 ball counts where a walk was not even in the equation. The Yankees swing at everything, while the Phils are patient. Same problem we had with the Red Sox. Look for that patience to be the difference maker with a 13 to 10 k/bb ratio pitcher on the mound tonight.

by ScottBrosiusWSMVP on Oct 29, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah

He’s not as good as the Yankees made him look…
Or the Dodgers made him look…
Or the Rockies made him look…
Or winning the AL Cy Young made him look…

Must have been a fluke

by SullyBaseball on Oct 29, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

eh...

Lee is very good but I didn’t think he would do that…..

But I disagree on the fact that our ab’s were a little suspect. Tex, a rod, posada, matsui…….there were as patient as always but…the guy was just throwing strikes. And even the ones that LOOKED like meatballs down the middle of the plate weren’t hit at all. He was just that good.
But like I said….I hope somebody is getting in SOMEBODIES ass after that. …and I hope it was a wke up call to all the newbies on the squad that the mission is to win the WS not just get here. But I can’t front, and I know ima hear some of you guys for saying this, not like I really give 2 shits but…I would reeeealy rather andy pitch game 2 then a.j. I just feel safer with him on the mound but, I defintely hope a.j. delivers.

by NYYWinsRings26 on Oct 29, 2009 10:12 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Yea..

you can’t be patient when the guy’s throwing the ball over the plate and hitting whatever spot he wants.

Tip the cap, beat the hell out of Pedro.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 29, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

I totally tip my cap

to Cliff Lee. He was excellent and I don’t take that away from him. But I don’t think we made it hard on him at all, just like the Phils fan says below. You can’t argue that Matsui and Tex were as patient as always [are they even always patient?]. The Yankees have a way of convincing themselves they can’t get a hit. And while he is so good that he can’t be used as the standard, Derek showed that Lee was hittable. Cano is a regular season .320 hitter. You don’t hit .320 without hitting good pitching. Problem is Cano can’t even hit bad pitching at this point.

by ScottBrosiusWSMVP on Oct 29, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Phils fan checking in.

Here’s the thing with Cliff Lee. he’s all about timing and momentum. Throw the ball, catch the throw back from the catcher, ready to throw the ball again. When he catches Ruiz’s throw, he is already in position to throw again with his feet set. No wasted motion or movement. What the Dodgers did and the Yanks would need to do to get to him in game 4 or 5 is take their time, step in and out of the box. basically exactly how Jeter handled him. They’re never going to be able to keep up with his pace, and he doesn’t get rattled until he slows down.

With that said, tonight should be interesting. If Martinez can figure out a way to take the W or Burnett decides to implode like he is know to do tonight, Rollins prediction will come true.

Go Phils!

by ajr142 on Oct 29, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Good post

nice intelligent post from a Phillies fan, and I couldn’t agree with you more, they let that man work waaaay too fast last night.

by BlackandGoldSSgt on Oct 29, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

for the most part we are intelligent, some of the best in the league. Maybe 90% normal fans. We were/are just exhausted and venting frustrations from decades of terrible or average teams. And bringing up the stereotypical philly fan snowball, battery, santa incidents is a quick way to get us fired up and we end up living up to the stereotype haha.

by ajr142 on Oct 29, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

now add craigslist whores to the stereotype

But these guys are my fav.

"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"

by rocKStark5 on Oct 29, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

i'll add her...

but she was just stupid enough to get caught. i’m sure there are plenty of broads doing the same thing in NY, just not getting caught. Case in point, Kate Hudson.

and i can’t see that link, but i’m hoping it was the moron that got thrown off the roof of the cab after we won the pennant this year.

by ajr142 on Oct 29, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Most fans

Most fans are really cool

Most fans love their team and while they will have some fun with a rival fan, it doesn’t break down into ugliness.

Most Yankee fans have Red Sox and Met fan friends
Most Giants fans have Jet fan friends
Most Cardinal fans have Cub fan friends

It’s the 10% of idiots who make the rest of us look stupid

I’m a Boston fan who lived in New York for 15 years and now lives in Los Angeles. Despite being a Red Sox fan, I always loved hanging out and talking with Yankee fans because most of them were cool and knew their stuff.

by SullyBaseball on Oct 29, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Those 10% make it tough on the rest of us.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 29, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm surprised they couldn't figure that out....

Damon did….Jeter of course did.

Everyone else? Just stepped right in and waited.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 29, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Bullpen needs to throw strikes

putting the first two on in the eighth…(yes I am talking to you Phil Hughes) is unacceptable, a team like the Phillies will make you pay….They obviously were not chasing anything out of the zone but a lot of those counts were going to 3-1 really fast. Put your best stuff over the plate and let them swing…unless it is Chase Utley I guess, I cringed watching the spots for the pitches he hit the home runs off CC. It’s just one game but they need to get their heads together.

by BlackandGoldSSgt on Oct 29, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

Ugh... and history shows this could be very bad

I was watching Sportscenter and they showed a stat that the team that wins game 1 has won 11 out of the last 12 World series. The only exception is the Anaheim/SF series back in ‘02, that includes our last two World Series visits too, both losses as we all remember. I’m not trying to pour on us, and I’m not going to give up. Still as we can see adjustments must be made or the Yankees are looking at another very disappointing championship run.

by Reg O on Oct 29, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

history blah

this team has heart and if you are old enough to remember 96 then thats all that matters.

by justinxyankeesfan on Oct 29, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

they LOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVEDD!!!

mentioning that fact.

These are the Yankees. The history of the postseason is a shell of itself without them.

If anyone’s gonna buck the trend of game 1 losers…..it will be them.

..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...

...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.

---Carl

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 29, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

history has no bearing on this team

Thank God for making us Yankees.

by noonoo on Oct 29, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

We face Lester, Beckett and Halladay on a year round basis

I’m pretty sure this team will get over being beaten by Cliff Lee

by lololol on Oct 29, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

Is there anything really to wonder about????

Cliff Lee pitched incredible. End of story. They don’t have 3 or 4 Cliff Lee’s!!! Just ONE.

So, don’t worry, and get ready to see Pedro’s daddy even up this thing tonight!!!

GO YANKS!!!

by Ragnar808 on Oct 29, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

... And we didn't add Cliff Lee because?

I’m sorry, but Lee was stunning. This wasn’t about our bats not ringing, or making the plays or even Hughes apparent loss of composure on the hill. Game one of 2009 WS was all about Cliff Lee and his mastery of his craft. That ladies and gentlemen was a freakin’ clinic.

Fortunately, I believe we’ll see a demonstratively steep drop off after what we saw last night.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Oct 29, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

Ahhh yes

You can’t get around the yankee mentality.

“What? There’s a good player on another team? WHY DIDN’T THE YANKEES GET HIM???”

I guess signing CC, AJ, Tex and resigning Pettitte and bringing back A-Rod and Rivera and Posada before the 2008 season wasn’t aggressive enough?

By the way, the Cardinals have a guy named Pujols. THE YANKEES SHOULD GET HIM! And Ryan Howard, and Roy Halladay, and Kevin Youkilis, and Andre Ethier, and Tim Lincecum and Ichiro Suzuki, and Hanley Ramirez and Evan Longoria.

by SullyBaseball on Oct 29, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Now there's an idea!!

Thanks, Sully! But you forgot Joe Mauer. And Josh Beckett. And Carl Crawford. By the way, I hear you about the mentality. There are still many Yankee fans who believe the other major league teams are just there to be the Yankee farm system.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 29, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Mauer for sure ...

I rather like Markakis, too.

Sorry Sully, but right up the middle we are homegrown with more on the way. Few teams can boast the same level of homegrown talent—and our deep pocketbooks.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Oct 30, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

you missed my point

I am 100% AGAINST a salary cap and my owner is one of the few that DOES spend money.

And I think there should be a salary floor instead of a cap. Teams like the Marlins, Pirates, Nats, Rays and A’s should be able to pocket the revenue sharing but they should put it into their roster, either by resigning players or acquiring others.

if the Yankees want to spend $300 million a year, I say go for it. They put a quality product on the field and guess what? It’s good for baseball!

Guess which team draws the most on the road? Guess which team fills up ballparks in Oakland, Kansas City or Minnesota.

It isn’t my Red Sox… it’s the Yankees

What I was making fun of was the FAN reaction of indignation that the Yankees didn’t acquire another star when they are the best at what they do.

by SullyBaseball on Oct 29, 2009 5:53 PM EDT reply actions

Sux hater ...

Sully, you’re just a bitter loser. I don’t care that we didn’t get Lee. But I just regurgitated the mantra moaned by haters like you whenever a player shines.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Oct 30, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with the SAWKX fan....

I really can’t stand when people look at a good player on another team and say..“we should have traded for him”.
I mean I’d want Cliff Lee on my team. I know that basically every fan of any team looking at Cliff Lee right now would say they want him on their team…

but the Yanks “should have traded for him”. Get out with that crap.

Yet Sully….maybe you should check Over the Monster. I’d say your Sox fan brethren are worse with the ’he’s good why don’t we trade for him" mentality…..

DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 31, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions