Cliff Lee homers, acquires currency
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Cliff Lee homers, acquires currency
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — As the ball sailed deep into a California night, the first thing that entered Cliff Lee's mind was Kyle Kendrick. That is, Kendrick's money, now owed to Lee as a part of their wager for bashing another home run.
"Pretty much instantly," Lee said. "Right when I saw it go in the stands I was thinking of him."
Lee trotted around the bases at Dodger Stadium and savored every moment. He touched home plate and as he walked to the dugout, he looked to the Phillies bullpen in right field and rubbed his hands together.
Pay up, Kendrick.
In the bullpen, they could see it. Bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer said Kendrick started shaking his head. A few minutes later, Roy Oswalt called down to the bullpen from the dugout to laugh at Kendrick. Billmeyer hung up on him.
Oh, this is fun. The Phillies are 36 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1977 season. They are toying with their opponents and while conquering the National League, they will pause to smile.
Lee's home run provided not only laughter, but also the decisive run in a 2-1 win. When he is locked in, anything is possible. In two games on this West Coast trip, Lee has tossed 17 scoreless innings. He is unbeatable right now.
And he can swing it, too.
Jimmy Rollins was standing in the on-deck circle when Lee homered. His immediate reaction was, "Damn, Cliff." Later, Rollins said Lee has the best swing of any pitcher he's ever played with.
"Cole [Hamels] has a very pretty swing," Rollins said. "But Cliff is power-packed. When he hits the ball, he hits it hard. Hitting a home run here is saying something. It's not an easy place to hit a home run."
Lee is the first Phillies pitcher since Randy Wolf in 2004 with two or more home runs in a season. He's only the third Phillies pitcher to ever hit at least two home runs and steal a base.
Dodgers lefthander Ted Lilly fell behind 2-0 to Lee and countered with an 81 m.p.h. change-up on the outside edge. Lee said he thought it was a fastball. He swung like it.
"That's what happens when you swing the bat sometimes," Charlie Manuel said. "You might catch one."
After gesturing to Kendrick, Lee was mobbed in the dugout. Manuel, wearing a wide grin, slapped him. But the best celebration came with Carlos Ruiz. The catcher did The Claw, popularized by the Texas Rangers last season, and Lee made deer antlers with his right hand.
Ruiz couldn't stop smiling.
"I think I enjoyed that because he's the kind of guy who loves to hit," Ruiz said. "He likes to compete. He goes up to home plate and he always wants to swing. He gets mad sometimes because he has to bunt."
The bet with Kendrick lasts the whole year, Lee said. What's at stake?
"It's just a friendly wager," a smirking Lee said. "Whatever. I think we'll keep that between us. We can call it dinner or whatever you want to call it."
Kendrick denied such an agreement exists.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about," Kendrick said. "He's just being Cliff."
On most nights, that means incredible things for the Phillies.
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I love watching Doc because he's the most dominant pitcher of his era. I love watching Cole because we've had the privilege of seeing him transform from prospect to young talent to WS MVP to ace right before our eyes. I love watching Oswalt because he's got that gunslinger's mentality, trying to blow that rising fastball past flailing hitters. And I love watching Cliff Lee because he's clearly having more fun than any pitcher to previously play the game. He's just out there, playing catch, swinging the lumber, stealing bases, etc. You can't help but get caught up in that enthusiasm as you watch the game.— Mike P- um Mike P it is physically impossible for a human to throw a "rising fastball".— lonewolf 10
- This comment has been deleted. — justacarpenter
- Wolf is correct. The "rising fastball" is an old wives' tale. — phillyl0
- Its not that the ball "rises" but more that the ball has late movement and does not drop as much as a fastball should as it reaches the plat. With those pitches, catchers tend to say it is a "rising fastball" — Fo Fo Fo
- "Cole has a very pretty swing,"....""But Cliff is power-packed.."-Jimmy Rollins. Interesting how there is no mention of Mr. FrontRunner. Must have to do with all of the shenanigans he has displayed in his short tenure here.— lonewolf 10
Comment removed.- Don't forget that barehand catch behind his back at 1st base. Eyes in the back of his head.
Sigh* I love Cliff Lee! The embodiment of the joy and athleticism of baseball.— Michele Pasquarello - That is why we love Lee.— beefbre
- This is the guy that we fans hounded Amaro to get back. Thank goodness he listened.— Dave Clemens
- lonewolf10 (and you wonder why your a lone wolf) please describe said "shenanigans"? Why don't you just shut up— mbutley
- @lonewolf...4 months ago I e-mailed the King and asked him which pitcher would hit a home run first..Hamels or Lee?..He scoffed at such a dopey question...The competitive juices that flow through Lee are special...I'm picturing him in the Arkansas woods and I feel bad for the ducks...the reporters should try to find out what he CAN'T do.— bearsfriend
- Cliff Lee is the most interesting man in the world...Stay thirsty Phillies fans!— Hammer859
- Quite the statement about the teams confidence right now in Lee ... they were laughing and kidding around in 2-0 game, knowing they wouldn't squander such a small lead with Lee and Madson.
Comforting to not have to spend the 9th biting your nails.— FatBoy90 - Very good, Hammer859.— bigtbone
