Lee on Phillies: 'You kind of like seeing them lose a little bit'
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Lee on Phillies: 'You kind of like seeing them lose a little bit'
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- Ah yes, baseball is not over. They will play the World Series without the Phillies for the first time in three years.
That doesn't mean this series between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants fails to offer intrigue for those back in Philadelphia. You know, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is starting Game 1 for the Rangers.
Some Phillies, Jayson Werth included, will be watching Cliff Lee on TV.
"I'm interested to see Cliff pitch Game 1," Werth said Monday.
Well, Lee was interested in the Phillies too. He was watching the National League Championship Series. Oh, he was watching closely.
"Kind of mixed emotions, to be honest with you," Lee said of how he watched the games. "I pulled for a lot of those guys, but it's weird, when a team gets rid of you, you kind of like seeing them lose a little bit."
Hoo boy.
"I know that's weird," Lee continued, "but part of me wanted them to win where I could face them in the World Series, too. It would have been a lot of fun."
No doubt, it would have. Instead of Lee-Tim Lincecum, it could have been Lee-Roy Halladay in Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park, with Lee -- a beloved figure in Philadelphia -- on the mound for the opposing team.
Lee said he would have enjoyed that.
"When a team gets rid of you, it's funny how you have a knack for stepping up a little more when you face them," he said. "There's a little more incentive to beat them, and that's definitely the case with me watching the game.
"I was in between. I didn't want to have to face them or want to have to face the Giants. I let that series play out, and I pulled for those guys individually, but I didn't mind seeing them get beat, either, just because they got rid of me. That is what it is."
So, Phillies fans, are you still rooting for Cliff Lee?
Love Cliff Lee. I can't stand the media in this town that will blow this up into a much large situation than it actually is. I would love to get him back here. He is THAT GOOD— kozykoz26
an HONEST guy we should have kept! he's a stud. with him we prob. go back to the WS. without him we are at home (watching Lee) and we have a handful of no name minor leaguers. OH BOY. good luck Cliff!!— tfcino1- He sounds like a big baby.— fireruben
- I LOVE CLIFF LEE and i will ALWAYS root for him. He just said what everyone else in his position would be thinking but too afraid to tell reporters. I was petrified of potentially playing the rangers in the WS because I could not root against him, but I instead would root for us to win a 1-0 game. Silver lining of losing is at least I don't have to worry about facing him anymore..— evelyn4542
- He has exactly the attitude that the rest of us would. If we were an important part fo some work group and out of the blue were let go, wouldn't our human nature take some satisfaction at that work group now failing a little bit? Its human nature, nothing more. If he trashed the city and the fans that would be different, but he didnt. He's a beast. The best pitcher in the game, especially when it counts most. He's entitled to feel that way. He wanted to be here. We all know that. Its not like he did a Scott Rolen and make it obvious that Philly was just not good enough for him. I for one hope he and the Rangers win it all. Anyone who feels that they now must root against Lee is a foolish child.— Sewellmatt
- I have a man crush on CLiff Lee, I will always hate Rube for trading him for NOTHING!!!— XPHAT
- Why are these writers trying to make Lee look like an a-hole? If everyone is honest, they would give basically the same answer as Cliff, except many of you wouldn't have been so diplomatic. All I got from this article is that Brookover and Gelb want to get something started by calling Cliff Lee an a-hole.— MrPhillie
- Cliff Lee can sat whatever he wants........He has proven what a team player is like........Hope we try to get him back!!!!— mick1107
