Playoff Baseball Is Really Different

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 29, 2009 9:56 AM PDT in Miscellaneous

"Not nervous at all," he said, before pausing and adding: "It’s been a long time since I’ve been nervous playing this game. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life. I put all the work in. You do everything you need to do to prepare, and I try not to leave anything to chance. So what’s the point in being nervous? I’ve already done the work. It’s game time. Time to go out there and have fun and execute and let your skills take over."

Anyone that watched the game would have to agree that, yeah, Lee looked pretty at ease the whole time. This, mind you, was a guy with all of three starts of postseason experience, none in the World Series.

Huh.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

That was one of the most awesome sports interviews ever

I’m tired of the “I’m just out there trying my best” sports cliche post-game interview. I’m glad someone has the stones to say “hell no I’m not nervous, I’m good at what I do and I trust it!” like Lee did. And the Damon catch was awesome – all that was missing from Lee was a yawn as it was on the way down, and it would have been perfect.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 29, 2009 10:05 AM PDT reply actions

What a night he had

My wife asked me who I’m was rooting for. I told her, I’m rooting for good baseball. Cliff Lee sure put on a show.

This quote, "You do everything you need to do to prepare, and I try not to leave anything to chance. So what’s the point in being nervous? " , basically sums up how to be successful at any job.

Racer X. You have to love those amarillo hops.

p.s. fuck you angels

by InSpokane on Oct 29, 2009 10:18 AM PDT reply actions

Cliff Lee rocks.

I didn’t know much about him before, but now I’m a fan.

by b_rider on Oct 29, 2009 10:31 AM PDT reply actions

All I knew about Cliff Lee before now was that I didn't think he deserved that Cy Young Award.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Oct 29, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Even by advanced standards he was a monster

It’s one thing to thing someone else was slightly more deserving, but Cliff Lee undeserving?

Really?

by cwel87 on Oct 29, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

What's the difference?

Not that I agree (don’t remember; don’t really care), but if someone was better than you at what an award is given for, you are undeserving of that award.

by Teej on Oct 29, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Because if the margin is tiny, then a writer could point to a slightly different weight on any number of factors as the reason for preferring A to B

Halladay was worth more WAR in 2008, 7.4 to 7.2. But Lee had the better FIP, tRA, ERA, whatever. Halladay pitched more innings (hence the WAR lead), Lee pitched for a worse team defense.

Given that mishmash of stats, how can you really get bent out of shape if someone goes with Halladay over Lee (or vice versa)? And can you look at the above and say that it’s clear cut that Lee wasn’t deserving?

by marc w on Oct 29, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't get bent out of shape either way. Both guys were awesome.

I’m only addressing the logic of a sentence like:

“It’s one thing to thing someone else was slightly more deserving, but Cliff Lee undeserving?”

If you think Halladay is deserving, then you think Lee isn’t, since the award of “best pitcher” can only go to one pitcher and you’ve made up your mind who you think that is. Saying “I didn’t think [Lee] deserved that Cy Young Award” is perfectly reasonable.

by Teej on Oct 29, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

I think in that case the point would be that Halladay wasn't more deserving than Lee.

I cannot fully recall, but for what it’s worth, I believe the quality of batters faced adjustment threw the argument solidly in favor of Halladay last year.

by Matthew on Oct 29, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

The quality (and quantity!) of batters faced argument may tip the scales a bit

but I simply can’t understand anyone getting too upset one way or the other last year. If you’re going to get angry about these sportswriter awards, you’ve got so much ammunition – spending it on a truly close call just seems odd to me.

(And to address the point directly, addressing batter quality would be important, but so would team defense. tRA helpfully does address the latter, and lo and behold, gives Lee the advantage in pRAA, 49.2 to 43.6 – despite Halladay’s advantage in innings. Lee had a large lead in rate stats like tRA+, hence the pRAA edge.)

by marc w on Oct 29, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't recall anyone getting too upset over last year's vote.

Hopefully for that very reason.

by Matthew on Oct 29, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Cliff "Iceman" Lee

by sirbrianwilson on Oct 29, 2009 11:47 AM PDT reply actions

Cliff Lee is clearly being affected by the postseason pressure

by Gihyou on Oct 29, 2009 12:50 PM PDT reply actions

Nick Swisher has been benched tonight for Jerry Hairston Jr.

Ahaha

by OlSalty on Oct 29, 2009 3:10 PM PDT reply actions

and "Raul Ibanez returns to left field, and Matt Stairs takes over at DH against righty A.J. Burnett"

by msb on Oct 29, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

He actually sounds like a coach, or what a coach tells a guy in such a big game.

by mark sobba on Oct 29, 2009 3:22 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe that will be the new most important position in baseball.

The quarterback of pitchers, knows more than is required for his task. Looking for the sort of “Peyton Manning” as starting pitcher? I don’t know if one every five starts is beneficial enough to merit the increase in importance. I’m really just speculating. What do you all think?

by Slow Country on Oct 31, 2009 2:51 AM PDT up reply actions