Cliff Lee's Start in Tacoma Goes Well

by Matthew on Apr 25, 2010 7:23 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners Good News

Over six innings, Cliff Lee faced just 20 batters and struck out four while walking none. He scattered a couple singles, one coming off a bunt and allowed no runs. Of the 16 balls put into play, five were on the ground and seven were fly balls. There were two bunts, an infield fly and a single line drive as well.

I don't have any word on his velocity during the start*, but he certainly cruised through Salt Lake's lineup with little trouble. The only concern that I have is the low pitch count. Lee tossed just 68 pitches in his six innings, which means I would hardly be expecting him to step right into the Seattle rotation and start putting up Felix-length starts. Which, hey, maybe Jesus Colome will finally get to do something besides working on his popsicle stick scale model of Monticello.

Hey, go read Marc W's account here

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Am I the only one not really excited about Lee

because of the 100% chance of him being gone after this season?

I don’t want to get too excited just to watch him leave in November.

by craig3410 on Apr 25, 2010 7:45 PM PDT reply actions

Why would he want to leave after becomming WS Champs?

I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul - Invictus

by EequalsMc2 on Apr 25, 2010 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Stop that. Stop that right now.

Milton Bradley apologist

by sanford_and_son on Apr 25, 2010 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

100% is a little overestimative.

by Mariner John on Apr 25, 2010 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Be excited that this team is going to win more with Cliff Lee pitching.

And trust in Jack Zduriencik will make the proper decision in the offseason.

by Wilder. on Apr 25, 2010 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions

We get draft picks if he leaves anyway

Mariners/D Broncos/BSU Broncos fan in Seattle

by appleshampoo on Apr 25, 2010 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions

In what is considered a stacked draft.

by russak on Apr 25, 2010 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Let yourself fall for the laid back country boy.

It usually works out pretty well. Watch a romantic comedy. You’ll see.

by Ballard Erik on Apr 26, 2010 6:15 AM PDT up reply actions

I was at the Cliff Lee game today.

It was pretty outstanding. His velocity was hovering right around 90 mph, hitting 91 a couple times that I noticed. I only really watched the first four innings before the guys i was with wanted to get food, so I didn’t really see much more after that, but he experienced no real trouble with the batters.

by Bodenhamer on Apr 25, 2010 7:54 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I was there as well, he looked strong and didn't have any problem with the minor

league batters. I hoped he would pitch another inning as things deteriorated after he was done.

by TrustBaseball on Apr 25, 2010 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Was there as well.

Bodenhamer is right about his velocity; 90 mph consistently on the fastball.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Apr 25, 2010 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Also

Welcome, Bodenhamer! Nice early post.

angels fan in seattle

by Eyebrows on Apr 25, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I had the exact same experience as you.

Watched the first four innings and then sat in line until about the bottom of the 7th inning. A third of the stadium must have been in line because the stadium was only about two thirds full the whole time.

"LARGENT! UNLOADED! and he got the ball!

by seattle_since_81 on Apr 25, 2010 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Poor Cheney stadium isn't built for big crowds.

by marc w on Apr 25, 2010 10:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Soon, though.

Link.

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Apr 26, 2010 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Divish quoted Lee as saying he felt really comfortable

Besides a little bit of control problems with his curve, btu that it still looked fine.

He came in with a pitch count of 80 to 85, but after six innings it was enough. Though Lee said if it were a normal game, he’d have been back out there.

Still at war with Fred Peete

by blueside714 on Apr 25, 2010 8:00 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, he bounced a few curves, but his change was so good it didn't really matter.

by marc w on Apr 25, 2010 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I was at the game as well.

He didn’t throw the curve much at all. I am going to take a wild guess, as I wasn’t counting, and say he only threw five curves. While he may have been struggling with the control of that pitch, he wasn’t with the break. He has a beautiful sharp, late break to them.

He also had so pretty pathetic fielding attempts. One he didn’t cover a bunt and two he had a half ass attempt at an infield single, which I think was okay with everyone!

I think when people are being funny, they are actually being serious and when people are being serious, it's actually really funny.

by Rich Langford on Apr 25, 2010 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd rather Cliff Lee not agitate something in his abdominals while fielding a bunt in an inconsequential Triple-A game.

… and I’m pretty okay with him not doing so at the major league level too. Let’s not break the prize acquisition.

I'd sleep at the Internet, but I've found servers don't make for good pillows.

by thehemogoblin on Apr 26, 2010 12:34 AM PDT up reply actions

3 hits given up.

The first hit he gave up was a bunt single, followed by a pop fly that should have been caught but Carrera in center lost it in the clouds and it was ruled a hit, and the third hit was an infield single. He looked pretty good. The thing I like about Cliff is that he is a quick worker and it keeps his defense behind him in the game.

by Rainierfan on Apr 26, 2010 8:42 AM PDT reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised if the Carrera hit gets changed to an error.

Who knows; I guess the only person who’d want it changed no longer plays for the Rainiers, but whatever. You often see them changed a day or two later.

by marc w on Apr 26, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions