Mr October....Cliff Lee 7-2 post season, 2.13 ERA....80 K's

[tbob]

Cliff is the pride of Benton, Arkansas. Tonight another native Arkansan, A.J. Burnett, goes for the Yanks.

[tedzan]

Here's some of my observations of last nite's game......

Cliff started off in Cliff Lee fashion, striking out 3 in the first 2 innings. In the 3rd, Renteria gets on by an error, and Lee uncharacteristically
hits Torres. At that point, it seemed that Lee had momentarily lost his focus. Sanchez followed with a double to left to start a 2-run rally.
Then Lee recovered by striking out Burrell and Ross.

In the 5th, Lincecum led off by grounding out. Then Torres doubled to Left.

I have to insert this observation here....I thought both Sanchez's 1st double and Torres' double should have been (long) singles. Where the
heck was Texas Left-fielder (Cruz) positioned for these two Right-handed batters ? He was no where to be seen on the TV screen.

Anyhow, Lee gave up another double to Sanchez (which drove in Torres). Score is SF 3-2. Then Lee struck out Posey for the 2nd out. About
that point in the 5th, we all saw O'Day & catcher leave the Texas dug-out to go to San Fran's "pseudo-bullpen". And, so did Cliff Lee see this
action. I would bet it probably rattled him. I think Ron Washington made a premature decision.

My point here is....isn't the San Fran stadium a relatively new park ? So, what kind of modern Major League stadium, nowadays, doesn't have
a well-structured, enclosed bullpen beyond its outfield ? ?



TED Z

[Anthony S.]

I seem to remember Peter Magowan, the driving force behind the new ballpark, specifically wanted the bullpens situated down the lines. He liked the fact the fans could watch the pitchers warm up. I like it too. The fans along the right field line have a little routine they go into whenever an opposing pitcher warms up. Two different sounds: One when the pitcher throws the ball and another when the catcher lobs the ball back. It's kinda funny.

The other factor is that tract of land on which the stadium is built is, I believe, the smallest in the majors. Something like 8 acres. Just over the right field wall there's a 10-15 yard wide walkway and then McCovey cove. Not really sure they could have fit in a bullpen back there if they'd wanted to, which they didn't.

[barrysloate]

Ted makes a good point in that isn't it distracting to a starting pitcher if he sees a reliever coming in to warm up? Wouldn't that put undue pressure on him if he thinks he's pretty close to being yanked?

[Anthony S.]

I think if Cliff Lee is mentally tough enough to accomplish the amazing feats he has in hostile environments over the past couple years, simply seeing a teammate warming up isn't going to send him into a tailspin.

[dstudeba]

So Cliff Lee can go from a dominant postseason pitcher to hitable because some gets up in the bullpen? Sorry I believe his mental ability is stronger than that.

Petco park was built recently and has no bullpen....for the visiting team.

[barrysloate]

I agree Cliff Lee didn't have his A stuff last night and was hit pretty hard. And a veteran pitcher shouldn't get easily rattled. But some pitchers, say those with less experience, might. Most relievers warm up out of sight of the starter, and I always assumed this was done intentionally. If a starter is struggling a bit and believes he has what it will take to stay in a game, the last thing he wants to see is the bullpen getting up.

[M's_Fan]

I agree with you Ted, if Washington would have just let Cliff finish that inning, I think Texas would have had a good shot at winning the game. He seemed to have trouble locating his curveball, and he lost confidence in it, but he wouldn't have given up that 3 run homer to Uribe, which broke the game wide open. It was a very premature decision by Ron W. Sure, a veteran shouldn't get rattled, but Lee is human after all.

[Robextend]

I think visible or not, Cliff Lee is sharp enough to realize there is probably going to be action in the bullpen given the fact he had thrown a ton of pitches, was getting hit pretty hard, and that the game was getting away from them.

[Dan Carson]

Cliff Lee got his butt kicked, plain and simple!!

GO GIANTS!