Cliff Lee: too much of a good thing
The dangers of bringing in Cliff Lee.
Cliff Lee: too much of a good thing
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
I know this is probably a little bit counter-intuitive, but that's the mood I'm in today. And when the subject turns to Cliff Lee, and whether or not the Phillies should be involved in trying to reacquire the free-agent pitcher, what that means is that I really believe it would be a mistake -- because there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
Yes, it would be a rotation for the ages if you brought in Lee to join with Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. None of us has ever seen anything like it, and it would give the Phillies the undisputed best pitching rotation in the game. That is obviously a huge positive -- and if the money is there, well, why not?
But here is the question I ask: which one is the fourth starter in the post-season?
Maybe an injury takes care of the question. Maybe it becomes a non-issue that way. But these are elite people in their profession, and these are hyper-competitive people. And on the day that Lee was re-signed by the Phillies, all four of them would share a simultaneous thought: which one of us gets shoved aside, at least partly, at the most important point in the season?
Creative tension can be a good thing, and competition within a pitching staff can be healthy, but this would be unprecedented. There is a chance that the fourth starter would not get to pitch at all in the first round of the playoffs, and only one time in both the League Championship Series and the World Series. The difference is that never in the history of the game would a fourth starter carry the pedigree that is carried by either Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt or Lee.
From the distance where you sit, many of you are probably saying, "So what?" But these are human beings, and proud professionals, and at least part of the attraction that the Phillies hold for players today is that with this clubhouse, and this manager, you are going to be treated like a grown-up professional. Given that, how do you spend the summer with the unstated reality that these elite guys are auditioning for their position in the post-season rotation?
What if Halladay were the one who looked the most gassed as October approached? There is no way on earth that Charlie Manuel would be able to call him into the office and tell him that he's the fourth starter. The same with Lee, who will have signed the longest, biggest-money deal if he were to return. All of which would leave Oswalt and Hamels locked into a competition for which neither of them ever would have signed up if given the chance -- oh, and Hamels, when all is said and done, is the guy who is going to be here longer than any of them.
It just seems like the money could be spent in other ways -- ways that better balanced the roster. I'd spend it on Jayson Werth if I were Ruben Amaro Jr.. If they're not willing to go that way, I wouldn't spend it. I'd bank the cash and use it for in-season moves, specifically in-season bullpen moves. The bullpen remains the great unknowable in baseball, and a nimble GM with a checkbook in June and July always has the best chance of being the smartest guy in the room.
pdditty, you sound more incoherent than my wife. Were you even watching Game 6? Lincecum "shut us down"? Have another look at the game tape, champ.— fizzbin- As we saw in the World Series, pitching was the difference. Having Lee on the roster would undoubtly give the Phillies the 4 best starters in baseball history. Also, Werth should be brought back. The Phils need a spark plug, so I would trade for Aaron Rowland, have him play left field, and unload you know who. And, why are they letting Lopes go? Bad move. Package Blanton and make a trade for some prospects or a power hitter to give Howard a little competition.— clanceysclan
Comment removed.- We need hitters, not pitchers— javafiend
- Lee was in the WS again, the Phillies weren't but we didn't need Lee we had RH, blah, blah, blah...and lost to the Giants with a AAA lineup and better pitching.......no we don't need no stinkin' Lee!! Keep telling yourself that......H2O my AZZZZZ— boasocal
- The Giants have better pitching and will dominate for years, the Phils don't need pitching.....they got beat by a AAA lineup in SF....pathetic.— boasocal
- Well, Joe Blanton started game 4 this year. Not that he did badly, but it could have been Lee or Hamels...But the reason they lost is Howard, Utley and Rollins didn't hit.— JSaq
- We have other areas we need to fix and I think we're ok with our current rotation. Let's talk about fixing the offense.— Kanayd
"But here is the question I ask: which one is the fourth starter in the post-season?" Not wanting to refer to the question as being a "stupid question" I'd prefer to call it 'unnecessary'. It puts the cart before the horse, and assumes that the good pitching will get you into the playoffs. Maybe... Maybe not. Truth be told this particular post season for the Phils reveals the old adage that says "You can't win if you don't hit" Pretty much that simple. Take a look at the 66 World Series, and while you're at it the Giants in 1954 beat one of the all time greatest pitching staffs ever. So, let's get the pitching first, then see what happens. I'll worry about October in October...
- Rube blew it. Move on.— 517wildwood
I vote to bring back Lee.— ej610- the nationals would never give you zimmerman at his cap friendly number you are out of your mind.....why don't we just trade ibanez and his hefty contract for ryan braun......duh— SyddBarrett
- If resources are infinite, bring back Lee. But since resources are never infinite (unless you are the Yankees), lets attack our weaknesses instead: long relief, bench strength, and some youth. The Phils bats went silent at times throughout the year and stung us in the playoffs. Lets get a few more bats and a few less injuries and have a great 2011.— JohnFC
- bring back mitch!— jvd21
- the issue with cliff lee is that we let him go for nothing. i don't care as much about the fact that we traded him, but that we got nothing in return... that's a crime. the guy is going to be worth a quarter billion on the open market. and we got three players who will most likely never rise above AA ball. pathetic. one of the worst trades in phillies history.— tockeyhockey
