Gaining Complete Control Put Cliff Lee on Path to Big Payday

by Ed Price

Filed under: Indians, Rangers, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

Cliff Lee has great control. But he wasn't always in control.

Ask Carl Willis.

Lee, the top prize on the free-agent market, has established himself, in just 13 months, as one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever (7-2, 2.13 ERA in 10 starts). Over the past three seasons, Lee is 48-25 with a 2.98 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.64.

Besides his remarkable command of multiple pitches, Lee's strengths include a competitive fire and an ability to focus on each pitch.

But there was a time the former interfered with the latter.

Bring up the game of Aug. 2, 2004, and Willis lets out a loud laugh.

"He showed good arm strength," Willis told FanHouse by phone.

That was the day, after getting pulled in the fifth inning of a loss at Toronto, Lee chucked his glove 23 rows into the stands.

 

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