Never thought I'd say this...

by tom2323 on May 13, 2008 8:02 AM EDT

But...

CLIFF LEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not since Vida Blue in 1971 have I seen a pitcher so dominant at the beginning of a year...at least that I can recall. I had to say it somewhere, so I joined this site just to say...CLIFF LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! No one can hit him, and he can't help but hit the corners. He has nowhere to go but down, but when? If it wasn't for the hockey/basketball playoffs, it would be treated as the major story that it is.

0 recs | Comment 51 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

So this Cliff Lee guy…is he doing well then? I don’t seem to have heard much about it recently…

http://www.on-the-bench.blogspot.com - an irreverant take on EPL football (that's soccer!)

by Luis (Tribe Fan in London) on May 13, 2008 9:08 AM EDT 0 recs

Don’t get me wrong, I love Cliff as much as the next guy, but is that posting rule on the horizon?

by supermarioelia on May 13, 2008 9:33 AM EDT 0 recs

Dude, chillax. Can’t blame the guy for enthusiasm for the world’s greatest pitcher.

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on May 13, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

There’s no link, so I guess we can’t claim that it should be a Fanshot.

by Nat on May 13, 2008 9:44 AM EDT 0 recs

Aw, come on, guys, are you really gonna be down on this guy? I’m not.

by Jay on May 13, 2008 10:16 AM EDT 0 recs

I’m sure not! I spam game threads I can’t follow with stuff like this every time Lee pitches.

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Actually `round these here parts we go SLEEPY KITTEN!!!!!!!!!

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on May 13, 2008 10:40 AM EDT 0 recs

THE SLEEPY KITTEN IS AWAKE. I REPEAT: THE SLEEPY KITTEN IS AWAKE.

Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.

by AngG on May 13, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up 0 recs

As much as I love how Cliffy’s dominating, he still has a way to go to maych Fatnando’s start of the 1981 season: link

His first 10 starts were 7+ IP (with the first 8 all CGs and 5 shutouts, 4 games of 10+ Ks). ERA didn’t break 0.50 until his 9th start.

Again, I love how Cliff is doing this, today and vs the AL hitters, but Fatnando’s start of 81 will be very tough to beat …. ever.

by talonk on May 13, 2008 10:56 AM EDT 0 recs

I guess you really like the nickname “Fatnando,” huh.

by Fiddlesticks on May 13, 2008 11:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, leftover from our Fantasy drafts … we always wondered who would draft him. He wasn’t very svelte, even as a youngster. Sowwy!

by talonk on May 13, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

In Dodger Stadium, with no DH.

There’s a pretty good argument that what Lee has done is actually more impressive.

by Jay on May 13, 2008 1:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nice try, but nope, only 2 of first 8 starts were at home (and 4 of his first 10).

Home vs Hou (5 – overall finish out of 12 teams), Away vs SF (7), SD (11), Hou (5), Home vs SF (7), Away vs Mon (4), NYM (10), Home vs Mon (4), Phi (6), Away vs Cin (1). I think Cliff has faced slightly better competition standings wise, but not by a lot.

But yes, most of the NL parks were pitcher friendly back then. I acknoweldge today’s AL is a much tougher league to pitch in.

But I still don’t think we’ll see somebody pitch like that again.

by talonk on May 13, 2008 1:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

But nothing can match Cliffmania. I love seeing all those Arkansans flock to the park when Lee pitches.

by SuddenSam on May 13, 2008 1:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

You should be down here in Pine Bluff – next to McFadden, he’s the biggest thing down here.

"the most vehement Yankee-hating guy I know" - Jay

by mauichuck on May 13, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Impressed by the 2 out of the 8, but how many of the 8 games had the DH?

My guess: zero. And it’s not really a guess.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 1:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

Sure, Fernando

Fernando was the greatest baseball player I’ve ever seen, as a matter of fact. I lived in San Diego and was able to watch him often on KTTV 11 during those years. Not to be a jerk, but unless you saw him often—you can’t know just how many things Fernando did on a diamond that no one else could. But, Fernando began as Fernando.

Even for an already excellent pitcher, Lee’s run would be remarkable. But this is Cliff Lee. And coming off of 2007. That’s what makes it a truly singular achievement.

by tom2323 on May 13, 2008 8:46 PM EDT 0 recs

Fernando was the greatest baseball player I’ve ever seen

Well then I guess you haven’t seen a lot of baseball then.

"the most vehement Yankee-hating guy I know" - Jay

by mauichuck on May 13, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

This is why

This is why I don’t usually post in forums like this. Fools like mauichuck. Since 1969 I’ve attended hundreds of games and watched thousands upon thousands of games on TV-more baseball than anyone should watch in one lifetime. I’ve seen every player you’re imagining to be better than Valenzuela. And anyone who had the privilege to see him play every four days-as I did-I lived in San Diego and then L.A. from 81 to 86-anyone who watched Dodger baseball regularly, knows what I’m talking about. You hide behind your computer and throw out little snide comments-no useful information, nothing but attitude and cowardly words that you only think you’d say to me in person. I won’t post here again-won’t even visit again after I write these words. Maybe finally I’ll learn my lesson about these forums that bring out the worst in childish human behavior.

by tom2323 on May 13, 2008 11:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Not that I necessarily agree with Chuck’s statement, but a little quick on the all out retaliation response, no?

by APV on May 14, 2008 1:21 AM EDT up 0 recs

Looking at Fernando’s numbers from ‘81-’86…you think maybe they shouldn’t have let him throw 1400+ innings in a 6-year span while under the age of 26? In ‘86, his last really good year, they threw him out there for 20 complete games. I know that used to be more of the norm, but in retrospect….

by APV on May 14, 2008 1:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

It usually takes several rounds of back and forth before Chuck breaks someone.

And I didn’t even find it that offensive.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on May 14, 2008 6:34 AM EDT up 0 recs

Sometimes you feel melodramatic and nothin’ll fix you like a good flounce post.

Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.

by AngG on May 14, 2008 10:04 AM EDT up 0 recs

Gee, tom2323, it seems to me that the real reason you don’t post in “forums like this” is that you can’t take a little disagreement. And having met Chuck more than once, I’m pretty sure he’d have said that in person—and I would have, too. Nobody is hiding here more than anyone else — hell, Chuck even posted his cell phone number.

Valenzuela was an All-Star all six of those years and was Top Five in the Cy Young voting in four of them — these facts speak for themselves. But his ERA was slightly below-average in 1983 and not that far above average in 1984 and 1986 — these facts also speak for themselves. And even after that historic, beyond-insane 8-0 start in 1981, he had a below-league-average 3.66 ERA the rest of the way.

You saw what you saw, but the eye doesn’t see everything and doesn’t know everything. There may well be “many things Fernando did on a diamond that no one else could,” as you claim, but for about half that time, one of those things was not consistently preventing runs from scoring in an exceptional, consistent way. And outside of those eight incredible straight games in 1981, little if anything that he did was historic in its excellence.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up 0 recs

Tell you what Tommy, just let me know how I can get ahold of you and I’ll be happy to deliver the above quote to you in person and then you can tell me how “cowardly” I am.

"the most vehement Yankee-hating guy I know" - Jay

by mauichuck on May 14, 2008 7:31 AM EDT up 0 recs

Wow….that went downhill quickly. At least there’s one thing everyone agrees on now though…...this is definitely worthy of being a fanpost.

by Nat on May 14, 2008 8:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed. I rescind my criticism. Actually I’m going to stop complaining about these posts, because they always end up being hilarious.

by supermarioelia on May 14, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

...that bring out the worst in childish human behavior.

was that you being ironical? very clever.

by Brick. on May 14, 2008 10:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

I’m going to take my ball and go home!

by APV on May 14, 2008 11:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

Come back, Tom! We love your complete sentences!

by Jay on May 14, 2008 12:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

The lurkers support him in e-mail.

Disclaimer: this post doesn't mean what you think it means.

by AngG on May 14, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

I wrote to him.

I want him back. My gut tells me he’s got real potential.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 1:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

potential to be the best DH in mariners history?

by Brick. on May 14, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

That’s enough out of you.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Send him my email address so we can arrange I meeting. I’m serious.

"the most vehement Yankee-hating guy I know" - Jay

by mauichuck on May 14, 2008 1:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Maybe he’s a sock-puppet for Scott.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 1:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

See he doesn’t know me – or any of us for that matter – very well. I’ll be happy to show up at his door and get him out from behind his computer. We all know who the coward is here.

"the most vehement Yankee-hating guy I know" - Jay

by mauichuck on May 14, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

We know who the coward is, but I’ve forgotten—who is rubber, and who is glue?

by Fiddlesticks on May 14, 2008 5:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Okay, everybody … just simmer down.

I exchanged a couple of e-mails. Seems like a nice enough guy, just not the type who enjoys the back-and-forth of online forums.

Fair enough. Maybe he’ll stop back sometime, maybe he won’t.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 6:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

If he does come back somebody better teach him some manners.

"the most vehement Yankee-hating guy I know" - Jay

by mauichuck on May 14, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

OH MY GOD, Chuck, could you PLEASE go back on the estrogen treatments?

by Jay on May 14, 2008 7:33 PM EDT up 1 recs

I am beginning to think there is a computer somewhere which writes these comments. They all sounds the same.

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

I am beginning to think there is a computer somewhere that writes all of these comments. They all sound the same.

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

I get it.

by NickFantana on May 16, 2008 11:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

I promise you that didn’t go through the first time. At least not on my end. Or, I could pretend I was illustrating a point! Crap, my secret is out.

by Voltaire on May 17, 2008 12:40 AM EDT up 0 recs

i think i might change my name to Brick2323. I like having numbers to hide behind when i’m on the internet.

by Brick. on May 14, 2008 1:03 PM EDT 0 recs

..... Hey.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on May 14, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

My usupring of another entire person’s image has worked very well for me.

by Voltaire on May 14, 2008 10:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Me too.

by Jay on May 14, 2008 10:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

This brings up an interesting point that came up tonight with some friends of mine. I started telling them about LGT, about the guys we have here, lawyers, doctors, music producers, tv personalities, munitions experts, teachers, students, etc., and the response I got was “C’mon, it’s the Internet, I’m sure everyone who is they claim to be.”

And it’s weird, but I’ve never thought twice around here that everyone is pretty well honest about their lives. And really, it is the Internet. How the heck did we get so trusting of each other on this blog? Pretty unique if you ask me. And I think I need another more comprehensive article like that one on Philly.com last year to explain to friends what the heck I do on here.

by supermarioelia on May 17, 2008 1:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

That is an interesting point. I suppose we’re all so starved to find other intelligent, sharp, die-hard Indians fans (something I’m sure most of us can’t find in quantity in “real life”) that when we do we feel some sort of a connection with facilitates honesty. Or maybe we’re all still lying through our teeth. Either way.

by Voltaire on May 17, 2008 11:11 AM EDT up 0 recs