Lee at his best
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Lee at his best
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- Cliff Lee laughed at the simplicity of it all. But he was happy, so happy that he bounced around the visiting clubhouse wearing flip-flops with his full uniform still on. When his shutout was over, he pumped his left fist.
"Basically everything was working," Lee said. "It was one of those nights when I was locating everything." He paused. Then, he chuckled.
"That was it," he said.
It was the fifth complete-game shutout of the season and that leads all of baseball. That figure represents half of his career total of 10 shutouts.
And when Lee stepped into a ballpark that has such conflicting memories for him -- the place where he began his Phillies career and the place where he was rocked in the World Series as a Texas Ranger -- he tossed one of his finest games ever.
"I felt like I could throw any pitch at any time in any location," Lee said. "When that’s happening it’s going to be a good game."
It also helps that Lee threw 29 first-pitch strikes to the 33 Giants he faced. He used all of his pitches because he was ahead in the count all night. Nineteen of his 21 change-ups were strikes. Seven of his 18 curveballs were, too.
"The way he was throwing," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said, "it looked like he could've thrown 14 innings."
No Giants reached third base. They had their chances, specifically in the eighth when two runners reached on singles. But Lee caught Aaron Rowand looking on a curve and Jeff Keppinger bounced out to second on a change-up.
Lee said he felt better on the mound than he did any other day this season. So when did he know it?
"When the game was over," Lee said. "I felt like I was locating. It still doesn't mean they can't hit the ball. At any moment you can make a mistake. So I stayed on top of what I was doing, kept my mind in the moment, and focused on each pitch."
And the Giants encountered a weapon that could haunt them come October.
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Speaking of Wheeler, I watched the game last night. He has gotten worse. Kalas, Ashburn used to keep him in line. McCarthy et al, seem to see him as the 'dean' of live broadcasters so he has his way with them, and parenthetically, with us. The Dodge 'Stump the Fans' act has carried beyond being introduced in the 3rd inning and reconciled in the 7th. Phillies - you better check him up. I agree with turning off the sound and turning up the radio, switching when he does. I do the same with FoxSports and McCarver, singularly the worse self serving hubristic sore losing former frontrunning (Lonewolf!) Met-ty ever. BTW, have you ever listened to McCarver diss the Phillies? Awful. God forbid they do the WS.— Dadof24
Comment removed.- Love that Lonewolf and his posse AbeVigoda, Herndon's pal - three's funny. I will agree with this: when Lee is on, he could be better than Halladay, and lord knows, I admire 34. Like the lineup, 33, 34, 35 all feed off of one another - clearly we see that happening with 6, 3, 29 and the rest in the lineup. Keep it going boys. Lonewolf and his sidekick Abe, will eat crow marinara come fall. Looks like Herndon BTW is competing with Ben Francisco for last spot. Loney, better hope your buddy Herndon stays on top.— Dadof24
- we are in the mist of the phillies glory years. This team has clicked with the addition of Pence. It feels good to be the king.— Philly_guy86
- Every player is going to go through awful days, so-so days, good days and great days. So it is important not to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Let's just enjoy the ride, the best record in baseball, the great pitching rotation, the certainty of post-season and a hope for the World Series win. Can we have a 'stop the nitpicking' campaign?— cleansports
- As that endless self absorbed bag of wind Wheeler would say..."Lee is playing all loosy goosy"— kelprod2
- I think there are really only 6 different posters on here and 5 of them have 20 different screen names.....— Mark1npt
- Two interesting reports on Phillies from FoxSports. In the first, the writer compares the Phils/Giants roster and finds the latter wanting. See:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Morosi-Philadelphia-Phillies-Cliff-Lee-shuts-out-San-Francisco-Giants-revenge-World-Series-080411 The second asks, "How do the Phils match up with the best rotations ever." That comparison only involves four-man rotations. If Oswalt comes back on track and if Worley continues performing as he has, I don't know if we'll ever see a 5-man rotation to match the current Phils. The capacity for free agency also makes it difficult to match, considering the portential salaries involved. For the comparison see:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/lists/MLBs-best-pitching-rotations-of-all-time-121410#photo-title=Which%20team%20has%20best%20rotation%20ever?&photo=29710749— FG - I see lonewolf has another login— John Klink
- AbeV - that tongue had better be firmly in cheek— robinlupe
- Lee's dominance is contrasted with Halladay's floundering. Halladay needs to observe Lee and try to mimic his competitiveness. It is ashame that Halladay has no heart because otherwise he would be up there with Lee, Hamels and Herndon in terms of fire-in-the-belly.
- You were a loser in Fish and you still are. You're also wolf or his lover or just a dope like wolf. — PhillySubsMac
- Man, the Phils are 72-39. Unbelievably good...they are a superb and veteran baseball team and odds on favorite to win the Series. The Eagles look like the team to beat in the NFC and in SB XLVI. Now if we can get the Sixers and Flyers looking as good, I can see many parades in Philadelphia's future.— Eaglesman_in_DC
- Halladay, Lee and Hamels....WOW...Phils will win World Series!— frank105
- At this point the Giants should hope they get to see Lee in October, they are no lock to make the playoffs. They have a negative run differential and are headed for a return to the mean unless they start playing better. Let's hope the Phillies can win this series and do their part to help that slide.— Phils Phan 28
- 29 first pitch strikes...excellente'
— righty - Still smarting from losing that bet on the Reds last year in game #1 the playoffs last year, eh lonewolf????? May Roy Halladay haunt you for years to come!!!!— flying pig
- Time and time again Lee does what Halladay can't. Also nice to see the John Mayberry Jr. make a push for his rightful spot to start in the outfield preferably on the right side.
— lonewolf100 - What's that, lonewolf? You mean pitching lefthanded? — The Pack Leader
