11/05/24
October 29, 2009
Cliff Lee Dominates as Phillies Take Game 1: Cliff Lee threw a complete-game six hitter as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Yankees 6-1 in game 1 of the World Series. Chase Utley had two solo homers off losing pitcher C.C. Sabathia, including the winning run -- becoming the first left-hander in the Series to hit two home runs off a left-handed pitcher since some guy named Babe Ruth. "You've got to go out there and think you're going to get everybody out, and think you can," Lee said. I think he can I think he can.
It was the sixth inning. From an ESPN article:
The first came in the sixth inning, when Johnny Damon thunked a broken-bat pop-up right back in Lee's direction. The rest of the infield backed off to let Lee catch it. But they burst into uproarious laughter as Lee barely moved, then one-handed it as casually as a guy flipping Frisbees on the beach."When he caught that, I was just, like, wow. I mean, WOW," Howard chuckled. "He was just so, I don't know, nonchalant."
"Hey, I caught it. He was out," Lee deadpanned. "So that's all that really matters."
posted by scully at 09:12 AM on October 29, 2009
I don't know that super confident covers it. Lee was pitching like he knew the outcome in advance. He didn't even seem that excited in the postgame interview.
posted by rcade at 09:36 AM on October 29, 2009
I just saw that nonchalant catch. Dude was in a zen state.
posted by rcade at 09:40 AM on October 29, 2009
Someone forgot to tell him that this was the World Series! He was great, and that nonchalant catch was just funny. I loved how he said in his postgame interview that he hasn't been nervous since he started playing MLB.
posted by bperk at 10:02 AM on October 29, 2009
It's funny how several months ago everyone, the Phillies included, were after Roy Halladay. It seemed like teams were going to be ruined if they didn't bring him onboard for a run at the pennant and/or World Series. Back then, when Philadelphia ended up with Lee, it was almost looked upon s a consolation prize. As soon as he came over from Cleveland, though, it showed from his first start the Phillies had acquired a tremendous pitcher. Lee showed last night how fantastic, and underrated for the most-part, he is. I've never seen a pitcher so cool on the mound, so in command of every pitch, as Lee was last night. After that first inning, I honestly felt the Yankees had no hope of winning that game.
posted by dyams at 10:57 AM on October 29, 2009
Between the Damon pop-up, the behind the back grab, and the overall domination of the Yankees, Cliff Lee had to have pitched one of the finest World Series games I have ever seen.
And did I see that he now has the lowest ERA of any player in the post-season with at least 3 games pitched? .054? Are you kidding me?
posted by THX-1138 at 11:10 AM on October 29, 2009
Cliff Lee is like the Chuck Norris of baseball. Somebody should start a CliffLeeFacts.com site.
posted by mikemacman at 11:29 AM on October 29, 2009
It's funny how all attention was on Halladay as the big fish to land this year.
posted by smithnyiu at 11:39 AM on October 29, 2009
Lee has gotten inside the Yankees heads already, too. Girardi said something post-game like, "well, he doesn't pitch every day".
Sometimes big Game 1 moments can provide a real tone setter for a team in the playoffs. Lee might have provided those type of moments last night.
posted by beaverboard at 11:53 AM on October 29, 2009
The way Lee nonchalantly handled Damon's popup (6th?)
That ball almost popped out of his glove. And you could sense that thousands of Yankees fans were rolling their eyes. I doubt he'll ever try to pull that move again.
posted by JButton at 03:08 PM on October 29, 2009
I just watched that play again using rcade's link. Is there a little homerism going on here?
posted by bperk at 04:03 PM on October 29, 2009
That ball almost popped out of his glove.
Ummm. Not really.
posted by THX-1138 at 05:39 PM on October 29, 2009
At the very least this makes things interesting.
Here's what Heyman of sports illustrated said on twitter about Lee's catch of Damon's pop-up:
"not sure, but i think lee was mocking damon by catching that popup while barely looking. cant say i blame him."
I have no idea why he thinks that, or if he knows something others don't, or if I'm missing something obvious (not that I'm against any mocking of Damon).
And you could sense that thousands of Yankees fans were rolling their eyes.
And you could sense one Cliff Lee not giving a damn.
posted by justgary at 06:49 PM on October 29, 2009
Lee was on another planet last night. The non-chalant catch was Three Stooges funny...and, well, non-chalant. The behind the back grab on the comebacker is the play that indicated that is was just Cliff's night, and hence, the Phillies.
posted by lab at 06:51 PM on October 29, 2009
The way Lee nonchalantly handled Damon's popup (6th?) and then fielded a check swing and patted the runner (forget who) on the butt with the gloved ball, you could tell he was super confident.