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Timing is everything for Phillies' Lee

A young catcher with the Milwaukee Braves, Joe Torre was in his first full season in the big leagues in 1961 when a veteran lefthander, now in the Hall of Fame, boiled down the art of pitching to him in one sentence.

Cliff Lee smiles during a light Phillies and Dodgers workout day at Citizens Bank Park yesterday. (Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer)
Cliff Lee smiles during a light Phillies and Dodgers workout day at Citizens Bank Park yesterday. (Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer)Read more

A young catcher with the Milwaukee Braves, Joe Torre was in his first full season in the big leagues in 1961 when a veteran lefthander, now in the Hall of Fame, boiled down the art of pitching to him in one sentence.

"I was able to catch a guy like Warren Spahn," the Los Angeles Dodgers' manager said yesterday. "And he taught me a long time ago that hitting is timing and the pitcher's job is to upset that timing. I think Cliff Lee is that type of guy."

The timing for Lee to take the mound couldn't be better for the Phillies, who must overcome Friday's potentially deflating 2-1 loss to the Dodgers if they are to take the lead in the National League Championship Series with a win tonight in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park.

Lee established himself as the Phillies' go-to starter with two outstanding performances in the division series against Colorado.

Lee also showed he could be weatherproof when he pitched effectively in the clinching win in frigid Denver, which could be significant because the forecast for tonight is temperatures in the low 40s with a steady rain. He seemed oblivious to the bone-chilling conditions while pitching 71/3 innings and allowing one earned run in the 5-4 victory, in which he was not involved in the decision.

Lee believes that raw weather works in a pitcher's favor, and Torre concurs.

"You're steadily moving around and your heart rate is up," said Lee, who has a 1.10 earned run average and 10 strikeouts over 161/3 innings in his two postseason starts. "The position players, the guys behind me and the guys having to swing the bats, are more worried about the cold than I am.

"Sometimes, maybe the ball feels a little slick, so you've got to be conscious of that. But, you know, that's why you blow on the hand, lick the fingers, hit the rosin bag - things like that - to keep some feel in your hands."

Again, Torre reached back into his rich baseball past to illustrate his belief that cold conditions favored pitchers.

"Bob Gibson pitching in San Francisco, we used to watch it and enjoy it, especially when you're on his side, because no one wanted to hit against him," he said. "I don't know of any hitter who enjoys hitting in cold weather."

For the most part, cold-weather baseball is low-scoring. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels opened the American League Championship Series on Friday night in the Bronx in weather similar to what is expected tonight in South Philadelphia. And for only the second time in 84 regular-season and postseason games at the new Yankee Stadium, there were no home runs.

Most of the Dodgers are only vaguely familiar with Lee, who has pitched against them just once. He was with Cleveland when he went 71/3 innings and gave up one earned run and six hits while striking out six on June 20, 2008, at Dodger Stadium. At the time, Manny Ramirez was not yet a Dodger.

"We didn't face him this year, so we'll see what we've got and try to come up with a game plan," the Dodgers' Andre Ethier said. "It's going to be a tough battle."

Torre saw plenty of Lee while he was managing the Yankees.

"He's a guy who doesn't show a lot of emotion, but you know there's a lot there," Torre said. "Changing speeds. Changing speeds. But his command is the thing that's most impressive, because he's not overpowering if you're looking for one pitch. But he can hit both sides of the plate, and he's certainly not afraid to throw you the fastball."

Lee, who won Game 1 against Colorado, has had two games to get a read on the Dodgers.

"Obviously, I've had a chance to watch Cole [Hamels] pitch against them," he said. "And, obviously, Pedro [Martinez] pitched unbelievable. But it's kind of hard for me to compare me to him. It's a little easier with Cole because we're both lefthanders."