What a way to start the postseason Cliff Lee vs David Price
October 5th 2010 13:08
Great artice by Lyle Spencer of MLB.com
When the discussion focuses on elite southpaws, CC Sabathia, David Price, Cliff Lee and Jon Lester are names that generally leap to mind.
Two of those four will be engaged in an old-fashioned showdown on Wednesday at Tropicana Field in Game 1 of what promises to be a rousing American League Division Series.
While the Rays haven't announced their rotation for the series nor the order, it's expected that Price and Lee, carrying the banners and hopes of AL East champion Tampa Bay and AL West kingpin Texas, respectively, will likely match heat and precision in what shapes up as a classic confrontation.
Both clubs are hoping to be at close to full strength with the return from injuries of marquee stars. Evan Longoria, the Rays' dynamic third baseman, is expected to be recovered from his quad ailment, while Josh Hamilton, the Rangers' AL MVP candidate, showed the Angels over the weekend that his bat can still sing after missing 24 games with two small fractures in his rib cage.
Lee, acquired from the Mariners on July 9 in a six-player swap, established himself as a big-game pitcher with few peers last October with the Phillies. He was 4-0 in five postseason starts, his team winning all five. In 40 1/3 innings, he yielded 27 hits and six walks, striking out 33.
Price also has impressive October credentials, but in a different role.
During the Rays' magical ride to the 2008 World Series, the kid from Vanderbilt University fashioned a 1.59 ERA in five relief appearances.
He is best remembered for getting the final four outs -- three on third strikes -- in a 3-1 Game 7 triumph over the Red Sox. It was merely the biggest game in franchise history.
A starter now with Cy Young Award-worthy numbers, Price was named the AL's All-Star Game starter and came through with two impressive innings.
The big stage, clearly, doesn't bother the 6-foot-6, 220-pound athlete from Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Lee is also a native of the South from Benton, Ark. He is, by most statistical measures, the most precise pitcher on the planet. In 212 1/3 innings this season, he walked 18 batters while striking out 185. Nobody is even remotely close to that strikeouts-to-walks ratio.
"He's kind of like the impact player you need this time of year," Rangers veteran southpaw Darren Oliver said of Lee. "You'd rather have him on your team than against you.
| 65 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
