IS BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
DENVER - Cliff Lee has done a lot of things in his baseball career. One thing he hasn't done is pitch at Coors Field.
That will change today when the lefthander starts Game 4 of the Phillies' National League Division Series against the Rockies.
"I'm not going to go out there and not use my breaking ball because somebody said it doesn't break as much here," he said. "I'm still going to pitch the same way. I'll go out there and pitch like I normally pitch. If I feel like a certain pitch is not effective, not doing what I want it to, then maybe I'll use it less. I don't know.
"Everyone hears the breaking balls don't break as much, the ball travels further, all that kind of stuff. But I'm not going to really buy into it. It's the type of thing I'm going to have to see for myself and prove to myself what's going on there."
The last time they faced off, in the series' first game, Colorado's Ubaldo Jiminez matched Cy Young Award winner Lee inning-for-shutout inning until the middle of the game.
Then, in the fifth, Jiminez suddenly couldn't get anybody out. Lee pitched a complete game six-hitter as the Phillies won Game 1 of the National League Division Series, 5-1.
"I was so good and then suddenly I just lost everything," the 25-year-old Jimemez said last night. "So that's what it is. Just try to stay focused the whole game and just keep going and challenge hitters. That's what I learned."
As important as winning the first game of a best-of-five series is, tonight's start will have added importance for both pitchers since it will set up a potential clinch situation.
"I don't feel any pressure at all," Jiminez said. "I'm not concerned [with what happened last week] at all. It was probably something mechanical and I think I fixed it in the bullpen. When I got to the fifth and sixth inning, I lost my control. I was falling behind in the count and had to throw my fastball right in the middle, use my breaking ball. And they took advantage of it."
Lee also dominated the Rockies (seven innings, six hits, one run) at Citizens Bank Park on Aug. 16, but this will be his first career start at mile high Coors Field.
One of the eternal questions of baseball is how a pitcher should approach a team he's had success against. Should he keep doing the same things because they've been effective? Or should he assume the opponent will make adjustments and try to stay a step ahead?
"I'm going to continue to try to do mostly the same sort of things I did last game," Lee said. "I felt like I was unpredictable then. I think I had them off guard and off balance and was staying out of the heart of the plate. Those are the things you have to do to be successful. I'll try to do some more of that.
"Obviously, they're going to watch the video of the last game and see what I did and make adjustments. They'd be foolish not to. That's the name of the game. I've got to do the same thing and so more of the same, but not exactly the same stuff."
Lee said the fact that he has been successful against Colorado twice already this season won't mean a thing when the first pitch is thrown today.
"I'm not going to sit here and say I think I've got it figured out or whatever because I pitched good the first time," he said. "I've still got to go out there and take care of business. I'm not going to take anything for granted. Once you start taking things for granted and thinking you've got something figured out, it's about to blow up in your face quick."
