SOT Holy Crap the Phillies Got Cliff Lee- Best Starting 4 Pitchers Ever??

[Michael Peich]

As a Phillies season ticket holder, I'm glad they're spending my $5/ticket increase on bringing back Cliff Lee. (Read Jayson Stark's piece on Lee's return.) Oswalt as a #3? How about a #4? And, yes, Jayson "Effing" Werth must be questioning his greed. He will become the next Aaron Rowand to leave the Phils for more $$$s, have disappointing seasons, and regret his decision.

Red Sox and Phillies in a seven game series. I love it!

Cheers, Mike

[Rob D.]

Maybe the Phillies will go with a four-man rotation.

[jb217676]

It's great he didn't sign with the Yankees. This could set my Blue Jays up for second place in the AL East. The time is now Jays, let's make a move!

[kcohen]

Originally Posted by Michael Peich

As a Phillies season ticket holder, I'm glad they're spending my $5/ticket increase on bringing back Cliff Lee. (Read Jayson Stark's piece on Lee's return.) Oswalt as a #3? How about a #4? And, yes, Jayson "Effing" Werth must be questioning his greed. He will become the next Aaron Rowand to leave the Phils for more $$$s, have disappointing seasons, and regret his decision.

Red Sox and Phillies in a seven game series. I love it!

Cheers, Mike

Mike,

As a Nats fan, I say bite your tongue. I will say my friend, you are the first Philly fan I ever met who's actually a decent human being. For all I know though, it could be that you turn into Mr. Hyde at the ball park.

[kcohen]

Could it be that the Yankee fans who abused Mrs. Lee will become the "Steve Bartmans" of Yankee fandom?

[Michael Peich]

No Mr. Hyde for me, Ken. I'm the consummate baseball geek who even keeps track of the pitches in his score-book! Yes, the Yankee's fans who hassled Mrs. Lee are the new Steve Bartmans. Good analogy.

Actually, we Phillies fans should thank J. Werth for leaving--he freed up salary for Cliff Lee.

Cheers, Mike

[kcohen]

Yes Mike. I thought of that after I hit send. Phils fans should thank Werth for freeing up that salary. As to how this rotation compares historically, at least on paper - must be top three or four. Maybe at the top if Hamels reverts to form. Comparable rotations that come to mind would be Feller-Lemon-Garcia-Wynn, Ford-Lopat-Reynolds-Raschi, and Spahn-Sain-rainout-rainout.

That said, there are no guarantees that they'll be able to outpitch the Giants' young guns in a seven game series.

Hope my bashing won't stop you from inviting me up for a game someday.

Ken

[Griffins]

Palmer-McNally-Cuellar- Dobson wasn't too shabby either, at least for Dobson's one big season.

[M's_Fan]

A question to you Phillies fans from an uninterested 3rd party-

The problem in last season's postseason wasn't pitching, it was hitting. Now you've lost Werth and added one of the greatest pitchers of our era, but do you really think you can go head-to-head with the Red Sox lineup? I would be excited if I were you, but you should temper your enthusiasm, as your batting lineup has some questions to answer.

That said, I'm glad to get Lee out of the American League. He could have created a dynasty by signing either with Texas or the Yankees. I think Texas will be okay but the Yankees are getting older every year and Cashman can't seem to bring in the free agents like he used to. They have CC and Hughes and it goes nowhere from there, I bet Pettite retires now too.

[tbob]

We all know that in best of 5 and best of 7 playoff series that the best team doesn't always win. I wouldn't go penciling in the Phils and Red Sox just yet. Injuries, chemistry issues, momentum, just plain luck, etc. can all play a part.
It's a long season and although both are favored to win their respective leagues, stranger things have happened, and happened many times as we all know. My favorite examples are these: the hitless wonder White Sox, the 1914 Boston Braves, and does anyone really think the Minnesota Twins in 1987 were the best team in baseball with a pitching staff of a young Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven who was past his prime, a mediocre at best Les Straker and an over the hill Joe Niekro? Don't go rushing out to Vegas just yet

[TexasLeaguer]

1948 Indians: Feller, Paige, Lemon, Bearden

1906-07 A's: Coombs, Waddell, Bender, Plank

1995 Braves: Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery