How the Yankees can beat C.Lee

by moose35 on Oct 13, 2010 5:43 AM EDT

Well, the 5-game series is over. The Rays are out of the playoffs and are probably looking at their last season as a contender for a long time. But, more importantly, the Yankees know the name of their next playoff opponent-the Texas Rangers. And I'd like to take a little time to talk about their ace, Cliff Lee. Jump!

I think this was already discussed on some other sites, but believe me when I say that I was thinking about this during the regular season, before Yahoo or SBNation decided to look at Cliff Lee a bit closer.

Lee is a completely dominant pitcher and there is no arguing that. He completely shut down the Yankees last playoffs and we would probably be cursing his name had we not secured #27 in that series. His cutter, among other pitches, is probably causing nightmares for Yankee batters already. But the cause for his amazing season this year has been his impeccable command. His K/BB ratio is 8. 8!! So it becomes obvious that there's a small chance anybody is going to be getting a walk off of the Rangers' ace.

But one more thing is also interesting: Batters almost always see a fastball as the 1st pitch in their AB against Lee. 78% of the time, in fact. Now, this is a reasonable strategy for Lee - it allows him to get ahead early in the count, which his command usually allows him to do. From then on, it's an AB that's starting at 0-1. The hitter gets more anxious, is prone to chase pitches, and ends up striking out.

The reason I'm saying this is because it's what I expect the Yankees' hitters to do against Lee. Work the count, wait for a pitch to hit deep into the count and try to force walks and put runners on base. That has and probably always will be the Yankees "strategy" when they walk up to the plate. Problem is, Lee is not the type of pitcher you want to do that against. Wait deep into the count and you'll end up with a 1-2, 2-2 count. I understand the reasoning that you want to tire Lee and get to the Ranger's bullpen. I really do. But we'd get him out of the game sooner if we tack on runs and force the bullpen to start warming up, instead of waiting for pitch # 110.

Now all we have to do is hope Long or Girardi log on here and read this, or do their research and tell the Yanks to be ready to swing at the first pitch if need be. 'Cause that's the only way I see our lineup getting more than 2 runs off of Lee.

Tweet Comment 57 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Or...

they don’t. Lee if he’s really this mythical god figure that it seems more Yanks fans then fans of the team Lee’s on praise him to be….then he wins the games he pitches.

Most likely, he’s pitching games 2 and 5 (they aren’t waiting till next Monday to pitch Cliff Lee in game 3. Dead that idea).

So..if they win those games, all that means is….win the other games!

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 13, 2010 6:34 AM EDT reply actions

I would imagine him going Game 2

However, if anyone can do it, Cliff Lee can shut up Yankee Stadium like it’s nobody’s business. They very well might stick him in Game 3 to “assure” a road victory

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 13, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Cliff Lee has never pitched on short rest, he will go in game 3

by Wraithpk on Oct 13, 2010 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

that doesn't make any sense.

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 13, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Lee is most likely pitching game 3

by Now Batting on Oct 13, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Game 3 is Monday.

The Rangers aren’t going to hand this series over to the Yankees.

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 13, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

How do they hand it over?

Going into game 2 the series is going to be 1-0 either way. Game 3 they could be down 0-2, making Lee’s start that much more important. They could be up 2-0, where Lee’s start is more important since 3-0 means the Yankees are effectively done (I know I know ‘04), or it will be split 1-1 which means its effectively a 5 game series with Cliff Lee going game 1 in Yankee stadium. Game 3 is more important than game 2, especially since it means Lee will be on full rest when he has NEVER pitched on short rest. If he was ever going to pitch on short rest it would have been game 6 last year in the WS and he didn’t then. Why would he in game 2?

by Now Batting on Oct 13, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

CC never or had rarely pitched on short rest until he did with Milwaukee.

Its not about game 2 or 3. Its about 5, 6 or 7.

Lee can and most likely will pitch on 3 days rest. Aces like Lee who are workhorses have no problem going on short rest after they’ve logged as many innings as they’ve had during the season.

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 13, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

If you can’t get a 3rd game out of Lee by pitching him on short rest, it makes very little difference.
Hopefully the Yankees can wrap it up early.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 13, 2010 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

it may make sense if the Rangers were facing elimination heading home

Would you go with Lee in Game 6 on short rest to keep them alive, or gamble that they win that game and save Lee for the Game 7?

I’d go with Lee in Game 6. Gotta get to a Game 7 first. So it’s not as if it makes no sense to throw him on short rest even if he’s not getting three starts.

He’s still gonna pitch Monday though against Pettitte probably.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 13, 2010 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

My point is that if he went in game 2, it would be on short rest, and he has never pitched on short rest. I’m pretty sure I remember last year that he told the Phillies he couldn’t do it.

by Wraithpk on Oct 13, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt he told the Phillies he's not talking the ball if they needed him.

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 13, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

They’re waiting till Monday! Alive that idea!

Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish,
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Big Yankees and Rangers fan!

by Brandon C. on Oct 13, 2010 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

good for the Yanks

dumb for the Rangers.

Winning cures all...even stupid

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 14, 2010 7:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed, you don’t play to win in 7, try to win in 6 if you’re any team, especially the Rangers.

Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish,
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Big Yankees and Rangers fan!

by Brandon C. on Oct 14, 2010 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

In the games Lee won last year, the Phils jumped out to large leads. When Lee tired, the Yankees came back in the later innings.

The problem was that they didn’t come back enough. The way to beat Lee is the same way that they have always attacked great pitchers- keep the game close, try to run up the pitch count and win late.

If you swing at the first pitch every time up, Lee will be through 5 innings having thrown 40 pitches.

The presence of Le makes it imperative to run when we do have baserunners. By this I mean Jeter, ARod, Granderson, and Gardner must be looking to steal and play hit and run when they are on base.

by designatedquitter on Oct 13, 2010 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

I disagree

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Oct 13, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

The biggest thing about Lee

Is that he doesn’t walk guys… ever. Fouling pitches off and working for the hit is going to be huge in the games the Yankees have against him. Like you said, swinging at the first pitch every time will lead to another complete game for the man. He’ll most likely shut down the Yankees the first time through and the Yankees will have better shots against him the 2nd and 3rd times through the lineup. Keeping his pitch count up will be very difficult though.

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 13, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Either way

Lee has 2 job interviews for the 2011 Yankees this series.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Oct 13, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Lee said he's looking forward to taking down the Yankees

Bold fighting words there Leeboy!

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 13, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

MLB (Harold) said the same thing

But the Rays grounded every time when they swung at the first pitch… and you are right he throws fastballs on his first pitch but the Rays where getting on base by going after his changeup, curveball and fastball. He used his cutter with 2 outs with men on base got Crawford and Longoria to ground out, crawford reached on his speed. (he used it as first and second pitch then)..Bartlett, Zobrist and Rodriguez all hit on the third inning not on the first pitch but second pitch and third i think Bartlett went 3 for 4.. Lee gets better as the game goes his control and knowledge of hitters gets better. The best time to strike in on the first four innings as he still trying to work his pitches.

by YANK77 on Oct 13, 2010 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

Hit homeruns.

Preferably with men on base.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Oct 13, 2010 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Getting basehits JUST may be the key to victory!

"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III

by Chris McKeown on Oct 13, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do people keep forgetting that our 2nd 5 run comeback of the year was against this guy?

Not to mention Game 5 of the 2009 WS…we put 5 runs on him for Edgware’s sake…

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Oct 13, 2010 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

Hush

Those things never happened

concentrate... concentrate... I've got to concentrate... concentrate... concentrate... Hello?... hello... hello... Echo... echo... echo... Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon... Manny Mota... Mota... Mota...

by MattF15 on Oct 13, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yankees can't beat him.

No one can.

And if you forget our names, just tell them we were Yankees

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Oct 13, 2010 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

he's never lost a game?

Hello everyone, my name is Curtis Granderson, and I'm a bus-o-holic
A supporter of the MFY.

by Edgware on Oct 13, 2010 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Never.

And if you forget our names, just tell them we were Yankees

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Oct 13, 2010 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

and he never will

by Yankees10 on Oct 13, 2010 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Ever.

by MattF15 on Oct 13, 2010 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Team with Cliff Lee always win the World Series!

Never has it ever happened differently. Look at all those rings!

And if you forget our names, just tell them we were Yankees

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Oct 13, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly!!!

Hey…..wait a second….

by MattF15 on Oct 14, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Look 8 posts up. I remembered it. The Yankees are a much more patient team than the Rays.

by designatedquitter on Oct 14, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice article, but it could have been shortened to a few words

Just hit the ball hard and beat the pr*ck.

I hate all Boston sports teams

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 13, 2010 6:42 PM EDT reply actions

I would have shortend it more. Beat him.

Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish,
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Big Yankees and Rangers fan!

by Brandon C. on Oct 13, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Shortened*

Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish,
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Big Yankees and Rangers fan!

by Brandon C. on Oct 13, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe if they score more runs than the Rangers they would beat Lee, correct? Question for anyone who isn’t as lazy as me…is it possible for Lee to go 2-5-7? (Basing it on off days, could he get 3 days rest between 5 and 7?)

Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish,
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Big Yankees and Rangers fan!

by Brandon C. on Oct 13, 2010 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

no, would be two days between 5 and 7. Even if it were 3 days, that would be two short rest starts in a row, and he’s not comfortable going on short rest, so I doubt he will do it even once.

by Wraithpk on Oct 13, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions