I wish I could take credit for todays title, but since it is Todd Zolecki's work he gets the credit. It is so appropriate in that Cliff Lee wanted to come here. He wasn't here a long time, but those few months showed him why Philly is the greatest city on the planet, and he viscerally needed to come back.
Some of the sports pundits are making a big deal about the money he left on the table by spurning the Yankees offer. Before we give Lee too much credit, let's understand that he is going to be paid a shitload by the Phillies. $20,000,000 a year ain't chopped liver although at the $9.00 a pound I paid this past weekend for the stuff he should have enough to buy 2.2 million pounds of it a year.
I have hated Ruben since he sent Lee to the Mariners for what amounted to some chopped liver, but atonement has been achieved and all is forgiven unless he trades one of the other studs to be able to pay for Lee. Since Ruben keeps his own counsel we won't have any idea of such a trade until it happens, and then I can hate him again. Now, if he sends Blanton or Kendrick somewhere I could care less, but this long suffering fan wants to hold on to all of our studs.
Can you imagine how tight the sphincters of the other teams will get when they see the candystripers on the schedule? Unlike facing most teams that may have one or two top pitchers on their staffs they have to face a foursome that some are already hyperbolizing as the best rotation in history. To have to go righty, lefty, righty, and then lefty again will leave all but the best of the best feigning injury in hopes of getting a few days off.
As far as them being the best of all time - we'll have to wait and find out, but we have to take a trip on the wayback machine to 1971 to see anything like the potential of our top four. Please fasten your seat belts because the wayback trip to Baltimore might have some turbulence. Ok, here we are on 33rd street about to go into Memorial Stadium to watch the Orioles take on the world. Memorial was a great place to watch a game as no matter where you sat you were close to the field. That team had Brooks Robinson at third, Boog Powell at first, with Frank Robinson patrolling the outfield. More importantly was the rotation of Jim Palmer (20-9 2.68 era), Dave McNally (21-5 2.89 era) Mike Cuellar (20-9 3.08 era), and Pat Dobson (20-8 2.90 era). Four guys winning 20 games may never be seen again, especially in the era of set-up guys and closers. How lucky I was to be able to see them play. They were of course managed by the great Earl Weaver who led the team to 107 wins and the AL pennant.
Weaver was a highly volatile guy who got tossed out of more games than some managers ever manage, and he fought with his star pitcher Jim Palmer constantly. Weaver wanted Palmer to develop a third pitch or at least use something other than his awesome fastball and curve combination. Palmer refused, and could usually be seen laughing at Weaver while Weaver was reading him. It was a sight to behold.
The Orioles lost the series that year 4-3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates who used to be more than a holding pen for other teams.
The Orioles back up catcher that year was none other than long time Phillies backstop Clay Dalrymple. Dalrymple, who played on some of the worst Phillies teams of all time, managed to hit .204 with 1 HR and 6 rbi's in 1971.
As I expected, the NYC tabloids are besides themselves with the news that the Yankees have lost out on Lee. The back page of the NY Post stated: Cliff Stiffs Yanks! One of the writers penned, "The Phillies stunned the baseball world last night when they STOLE Cliff Lee from the Yankees." A typical NY attitude of entitlement - we stole him, because the Yankees wanted him, and the Yankees always get who they want. NOT this time, assholes. In the NY Daily News, Mike Lupica wrote, "The Yankees swing and miss on Lee again." (He was referring to the two gems Lee pitched against in the post-season). Andy Martino writes,"Cliff Lee chases the memory of the series run made in Philly, but he may regret his decision." Martino speaks to the age and eroding skills of the Phillies. Sure, but if you can't hit our guys we won't need a lot of runs to beat you now, will we!
For me this is better than taking all the good stuff out of your kids Halloween trick or treat bag and leaving him with hard candy and Mary Janes. That's right, I inhaled the chocolate and the Good & Plenty. [Editor's note - He owes me about a million peanut butter cups.]
The euphoria of getting Lee back is still not enough to get me to sip the red Kool-Aid, but I've made a list of where to buy it. No gang, despite the awesome rotation (assuming it is kept together) there are still some holes to fill in the pen and a place they call right field. There are still some moves to be made. The talk is that the Phillies are shopping Blanton, Kendrick, and Ibanez. (They ought to call Brian Cashman, as the Yankees need some pitching.) What can be obtained for that unholy trinity remains to be seen, but Blanton could help some teams who need a decent number 4 or 5. I always liked the effort Blanton made, but the goatee has to go. I don't know why anyone would want to pick up Ibanez at the money he makes, but he might look good to a team like the Royals or even the Rays who have seen their line up gutted this off season.
Ruben, you sneaky bastard, you blew me away on this one, so I'll be a gentleman and say thank you lantzman. And thank you too to the gang of seven owners who in the past have tossed money around like it was man-hole covers.
Looking at the calender I see that we still have more than two months to wait until pitchers and catchers report. It will seem like an eternity, but oh how sweet it will be to have a former world series MVP as our number four.
There will be a matter the Phils will have to deal with. What if Lee wants his number 34 back? I don't think MLB will allow two guys to wear the same number. A duel is out of the question, so perhaps we can conjure up a non-lethal contest between the two uber studs to see which one of them gets to wear the number. And think about how each one of them wants to be considered the man, the guy, the juice, the truth, the ace of aces. That competition should have both of them pitching better than before - which will be a treat to watch. I can't wait - can you?
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