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Cliff Lee

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For other people named Cliff Lee, see Cliff Lee (disambiguation).
Cliff Lee
Lee pitching for the Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 34
Starting pitcher
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
September 15, 2002, for the Cleveland Indians
Career statistics
(through October 5, 2009)
Win–loss record90–52
Earned run average3.97
Strikeout900
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Clifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee (born August 30, 1978) is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball.

Lee's repertoire features a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, a cut fastball as well as a circle changeup and a curveball. Lee won the American League Cy Young Award in 2008.

Professional baseball career

Lee was drafted by the Florida Marlins with the 12th pick of the 8th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school, but instead chose to attend the Meridian Community College. Later, Lee was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th round of the 1998 amateur draft, but did not sign, opting to attend the University of Arkansas.

In the 2000 amateur draft, he was chosen in the 4th round by the Montreal Expos and signed in July of that year. During 2002, Lee played for Double-A Harrisburg, and compiled a 7–2 record with a 3.23 ERA in Eastern League play by mid-summer. In June 2002, the Expos traded him with Brandon Phillips, Lee Stevens, and Grady Sizemore to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew.[1]

Following the trade, Lee pitched three games with the Akron Aeros before he was promoted to the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple A affiliate within the Cleveland farm system. He compiled a 3–2 record with the Bisons before being called-up to the Indians during September of that season.He rejected an offer from Kansas City, due to family reasons. [2] Lee made his major league debut in a start against the Minnesota Twins on September 15, 2002, giving up a lone run in 5.1 innings, resulting in a loss due to lack of run support.[3] He pitched once more that season, giving up one run in 5 innings against the Kansas City Royals, resulting in a no decision for Lee but a loss for the team.[4]

Lee won at least 14 games in each of his first 3 full seasons and tossed more than 200 innings in both 2005 and 2006. In 2005, he finished the season with an 18–5 record and a 3.79 ERA, earning him 4th place in the AL Cy Young Award voting that year.[5] In 2006, the Indians rewarded him with a midseason, 3-year, $14 million contract extension through the 2009 season.[6]

In 2007, Lee suffered an groin strain during a spring training start, forcing him to begin the regular season on the disabled list. He returned to the Indians rotation in May, but struggled to a 4–9 record and a 5.38 ERA in his first 16 starts. On July 21, Lee hit Texas Rangers' right fielder Sammy Sosa in the head with a pitch on a night when the Rangers were honoring Sosa for hitting his 600th home run. The beaning sparked an altercation between Lee and Indians' catcher Víctor Martínez and led to a players-only meeting immediately after the game.[7] Cliff encountered even more problems on July 26, 2007, when he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings. When he left the ballgame, the fans booed him and right before he entered the dugout, he tipped his cap to the fans. The next day, July 27, the struggling left-hander was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.[8] He was called back up on September 1 when rosters expanded, but only appeared in 4 games, all out of the bullpen.

2008 season

Cliff Lee pitching for the Cleveland Indians on April 18, 2008.

In 2008, Lee had a career year. Despite the Indians playing with a .500 winning percentage for the season, Lee started the 2008 season with much success. Lee was one of only eight pitchers since 1920 to win 19 or more of his first 21 decisions. He was the first Cleveland pitcher to win his first six starts since Greg Swindell in 1988. He also recorded his first career shutout on April 25, 2008, against the Kansas City Royals, allowing just 3 hits and 0 walks.[9] He had the lowest On-base percentage-against at .163 through five starts since 1909. For his efforts and success, he was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April, when he went 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA.[10] Lee was selected to his first All-Star game in 2008, and was selected to start the game. Lee worked two scoreless innings for the American League team, surrendering only a Chipper Jones base hit and striking out three.[11]

On August 26, Lee won his 19th game of the season, yielding only 2 runs to the Detroit Tigers.[12] This victory set a new career high for Lee, besting his previous mark of 18 wins set during the 2005 season. On September 1, Lee won his 20th game of the season, throwing a complete game shutout. He was the first Indian to reach 20 wins since Gaylord Perry in 1974.[13] In August, for the second time in the 2008 season, Lee was named American League Pitcher of the Month. He went 5–0 with a 1.86 ERA in the month. On September 12, Lee won his 22nd game, making his record 22–2 on the season. This marked the first time a pitcher had gone 20 wins over .500 since Bob Welch in 1990.[14] Overall to end a career year, Lee went 22–3 with a 2.54 ERA and 170 strikeouts. He started 31 games, completed 4, and had 2 shutouts. He pitched a total of 223⅓ innings. Lee ended the season as the American League champion for both wins and ERA.

Lee's 2008 winning percentage of 88% was the twelfth best of all time, and the fourth best by a pitcher starting a minimum of 30 games, Behind only Randy Johnson, Ron Guidry, and Lefty Grove (all also left-handers). Lee's winning percentage is the second best in Indians history, behind Johnny Allen's 93.8% (15 wins, 1 loss, in 24 games) in 1937.

Lee earned several awards following his 2008 season. These included the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award, the Players Choice Award for AL Outstanding Pitcher of the Year, The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award, The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award, and the Warren Spahn Award for best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. On November 13, 2008, Lee was awarded the AL Cy Young Award. This made Lee the second straight Indian (and third overall) to win the award, following former teammate CC Sabathia, who won it in 2007.

2009 season

On June 14, 2009, Lee took a no-hitter into the 8th inning vs. St. Louis, striking out 6 and walking 2. Lee allowed 3 hits in a complete-game shutout, improving his record to 4–6 and his ERA to 2.88.

On July 29 (just before the July 31 trading deadline), the Indians traded Lee—along with outfielder Ben Francisco—to the Philadelphia Phillies, in exchange for Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, Lou Marson, and Jason Knapp.[15]

In his first career game with the Philadelphia Phillies, Lee pitched a complete game in a 5–1 victory. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and had two hits as a batter, including his first career double and a run scored. Through his first five games with the Phillies, Lee amassed a 5–0 record, 39 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched, and a 0.68 ERA.

Charlie Manuel named Lee his Game 1 starter for the World Series after he posted a 2–0 record in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Family

Lee and his wife Kristen have a son, Jaxon and a daughter, Maci.[16] George Steinbrenner states, "I must say Cliff Lee definitly fu--cked the Yankee line up today."<

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cliff Lee.

Notes

  1. ^ "Indians deal Colon for Stevens, prospects". ESPN.com. June 28, 2002. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  2. ^ "Cliff Lee Statistics (Minor Leagues)". Baseball-Reference.com. August 31, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  3. ^ "Twins wrap up AL Central title". USA Today. September 15, 2002. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  4. ^ "Tucker's clutch single gives Royals a boost". ESPN.com. September 21, 2002. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  5. ^ "COLON 1ST ANGELS' CY YOUNG WINNER IN 41 YEARS". Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  6. ^ "Indians sign Lee to three-year, $14M extension". ESPN.com. August 8, 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  7. ^ Hoynes, Paul (July 23, 2007). "Cleveland Indians' meeting called after Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez have altercations". Cleveland Live, Inc. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  8. ^ "Indians send Cliff Lee down to minors". Cleveland Live, Inc. July 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  9. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (April 25, 2008). "Lee completely dominant in nightcap". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  10. ^ Briggs, David (May 3, 2008). "Lee named AL Pitcher of the Month". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  11. ^ Hoch, Bryan (July 16, 2008). "Night is Young: AL walks off in 15th". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  12. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (August 26, 2008). "Lee wins No. 19 for Tribe's ninth straight". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  13. ^ Herrick, Steve (September 1, 2008). "Dominant Lee breaks 20-win mark". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  14. ^ Gribble, Andrew (September 12, 2008). "Lee wins 22nd as Indians rout Royals Left-hander first hurler to be 20 games above .500 since 1990". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  15. ^ Castrovince, Anthony, "Lee, Francisco traded to Phillies: Indians acquire four top prospects in six-player pact", July 29, 2009. Cleveland Indians official website; MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  16. ^ Cliff Lee:Biography and Career Highlightsindians.com


Awards and achievements
Preceded by American League Cy Young Award
2008 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
Fausto Carmona (September 2007)
Jon Lester
 American League Pitcher of the month
April 2008
August 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by American League All-Star Game Starting Pitcher
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by American League Wins Champion
2008 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by American League ERA Champion
2008 		Succeeded by
Zack Greinke
Preceded by AL Comeback Player of the Year
2008 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by Players Choice AL Outstanding Pitcher
2008 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
Carlos Peña
 Players Choice AL Comeback Player of the Year
2008 		Succeeded by
incmubent
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