| Patrick Daher. 1st May, 2008 - 5:51 pm
 Cliff Lee was supposed to be that 5th starter which every team has in their rotation who is counted on to eat up some innings to round out a pitching rotation. Five wins later and with a diminutive ERA of 0.96, the southpaw from Arkansas is tied for 2nd in the MLB for most wins and ranks 1st in ERA. Eliminate the 5th starter label, and Lee has performed like the Indians' ace at the outset.
The performance of Lee this season has been a far cry from what Indians' brass and fans saw last year. Cliff struggled mightily in 2007, posting only five wins and eight losses with an inflated ERA of 6.29 in 20 games pitched. The inability to pitch effectively led to the demotion of Lee to Indians' Triple-A affiliate Buffalo in midseason. He stayed there for the majority of the 2nd half of the season and was only called up when the rosters were expanded in September. Lee’s frustrations seemed to build when he got into it with some home fans after a bad outing. His confidence had left him and so had his emotions at times.
Although last year Lee endured a very difficult season, it seems to have been an aberration. From 2004-2006, Cliff has been a mainstay in the Tribe rotation. In those three seasons, mainly as the 3rd starter in the rotation behind C.C. Sabathia and Jake Westbrook, Lee won 14, 18, and 14 games respectively. He was also an innings eater, accumulating 179, 202, and 200 innings pitched in those years. Based on Lee’s quick start, he is on pace to better those numbers.
Lee’s resurgence could not have come at a better time for the Indians. Indians' ace C.C. Sabathia, due to become a free agent next year, has pitched poorly in the first month of the season. Sabathia is 1-4 with a 7.88 ERA. To add more injury to insult, Jake Westbrook is expected to be shelved with a strain oblique for four weeks. With all these occurrences and an Indians' offense that has been downright anemic, Lee has proven to be a bright spot and has picked up his teammates.
Cliff has accounted for five of the Tribe’s 13 total wins. Left-handers are hitting .122 against Lee while right-handers have not faired that much better, hitting .165. His WHIP is an astonishing 0.56. In his three starts away from Progressive Field, the lefty has an ERA of 0.00. Lee appears to have re-gained control of a very effective breaking ball. Also, his fastball appears to have more zip, and his location has been pin-point, as evidenced by surrendering only 2 walks on the season.
If the Indians hope to repeat as AL Central Champs and make some noise in the postseason, Cliff Lee must continue to pitch well while veterans Sabathia and Paul Byrd regain their consistency. For a pitcher who was not even certain to make the roster going into Spring Training, Lee has not only surprised, he has led. |
