Cliff Lee

by Gladiator on May 5, 2008 2:30 PM EDT

Found this on mlb.com, regarding trades that didnt happen that have had an impact.

1. Cliff Lee, Indians
• Then: The Tribe was desperate to find a taker for Lee, who had spiraled from a top Cy Young Award contender in 2005 to a Minor League journeyman in 2007. But the $10.5 million remaining on the 29-year-old left-hander's contract turned off potential suitors.

A couple of weeks into Spring Training, the Indians appeared stuck with Lee. He'd been bombed for 17 hits and eight runs in his first 8 2/3 exhibition innings. Only his guaranteed contract kept earning him more chances,

• Now: This is the guy keeping the new name of the '07 AL Central champs' ballpark from being Regressive Field. **At 5-0, he owns one fewer win than the rest of the rotation (Fausto Carmona, C.C. Sabathia, Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrook) combined.

His statistics read like typos, with an 0.96 ERA, 32 strikeouts to two walks, and one baserunner allowed every two innings.

Says the AL April Pitcher of the Month's manager, Eric Wedge: "That's nothing you'd expect from anyone at this level, the highest level in the world. To have a month like that is very special."

** I bolded that part because eventhough I am a fan, I found it a bit humorous

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“desperate”: no
“journeyman”: no
“Regressive Field”: almost funny

by FranklinScott on May 5, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

no
no
pretty funny

The Disabled List just called ... it was trying to unload Joe Borowski. I offered a bagel but balked at giving up a ham sandwich. It wanted to keep Westbrook.

by westbrook on May 5, 2008 9:51 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

no
no
pretty funny

The Disabled List just called ... it was trying to unload Joe Borowski. I offered a bagel but balked at giving up a ham sandwich. It wanted to keep Westbrook.

by westbrook on May 5, 2008 9:51 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

“All apologies to Brandon Webb, but through baseball’s first five weeks, [Anaheim’s Ervin] Santana has been its best pitcher [...]”

Thus spake Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan this morning.

Hmmmm.

Santana has an ERA of 2.02, having allowed 34 hits, 9 walks (and 1 HBP), and 3 HRs in 49.0 IP (WHIP of .90). He’s started seven games, winning six with one complete game (last night vs. KC.) He has 38 strikeouts, an average of about 7 per 9 IP, with a K:BB ratio of 4.2:1. Very impressive.

Webb’s ERA is 2.49, with 34 hits, 16 walks, and 2 HRs in 47.0 IP (WHIP of 1.06). His seven starts have resulted in seven victories, but no complete games. His K rate is just under 7.1, and his K:BB is about 2.3 to 1. Also very nice, albeit against NL hitters.

Cliff Lee has an ERA of 0.96, with 19 hits, 2 walks, and 1 HR (on the last pitch he’s thrown) in 37.2 IP (WHIP is 0.56). He’s made just five starts, but won all of them with one CG. He’s struck out 32 hitters, an average of better than 7.6 per 9, and his K:BB is an astonishing sixteen to one. And his name is not mentioned even once in Passan’s article.

by Fiddlesticks on May 6, 2008 12:53 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs