Cliff Lee is on the way out.

There is a major rumor that has been swirling around the baseball universe since 3pm. Andy Martino of the Philly Inquirer says Roy Halladay and his agent are in town so that means a deal is near. Meanwhile, as much as Phillies fans were salivating at the thought of a Halladay, Cliff Lee one-two punch, the deal is apparently a three team move, with Lee going to Seattle and the Mariners sending prospects, along with some Phillies prospects (J.A. Happ, Michael Taylor), to the Blue Jays.

I guess we have to deal with the reality that Lee and Halladay were too expensive together. Personally, I’d like to see us keep Lee and pay him without giving up more prospects, but perhaps Ruben Amaro is concerned about having a pitching line-up with too many lefties.

Looks like we won’t have too long to wait for the final outcome.

Cliff Lee wins game 1.

Is Cliff Lee too cool for school or what? What an amazing start to the World Series for the Phillies phaithful.
Lee had ten strikeouts, including three of Alex Rodriguez. Lee did it all, masterful pitching and terrific fielding, including that “Is that all you’ve got” look on his face when he caught the Johnny Damon pop-up, plus the behind-the-back stop on the Cano rocket up the middle. The Yanks were lucky they were in the A.L. park so Lee didn’t get a chance to bat.

Chase Utley did bat. In my preview blog  yesterday I noted that, “Chase Utley has been quiet this post-season and needs to knock in a few more runs.” Mission accomplished.

C.C. Sabathia was good but Lee was better. The Phillies handled Sabathia in the division series last year when he was with Milwaukee. The key for the Phillies hitters was being patient. They made Sabathia work, didn’t swing at bad pitches. Cliff Lee did the rest, with the gravy provided by picking up four more runs against the Yankees bullpen. If they make Mariano Rivera a non-factor, the Phils should have continued success.

Do you like my pumpkin?

Charlie Manual is keeping his pitching rotation beyond tonight game three a secret, but my guess is he will not send Lee to the mound on three-days rest. He will keep Lee ready for game five.
The Yankees are as tough-minded as the defending champs. I expect them to hit the ball tonight. It might even be a slugfest, a round two heavyweight brawl.
I bet the New York Post is rethinking that silly “Frillies” cover with the Flying Hawaiian in a cheerleader’s outfit.
These might be the almighty Yankees but they are facing their Red October-tested doppleganger, a team as confident and tough-minded as they are.

Just ask a Mets’ fan.

Ruben Amaro

As I listened to Cliff Lee mowing down hitters (damn MLB for putting the Phillies game in the afternoon), and later heard Raul Ibanez contribute two key hits, I thought to myself, “Thank you Ruben Amaro, Jr.”

In his rookie season as general manager of the Phillies, after an eight-year apprenticeship as assistant GM, Amaro made all the right moves to give the Phillies the best chance to repeat. He knew we needed another stud pitcher. Not only did he obtain Lee in mid-season, he did it without giving up the Phillies top prospects. And, before the season started, he replaced Pat Burrell with 36-year-old Raul Ibanez. Were Phillies fans skeptical about that move? Damn straight, but Ibanez went on to tear it up in the first half of the season and wound up with 34 homers, the most of his career. While former GM Pat Gillick, still serving as an advisor to the Phillies, was the one who knew and recommended Ibanez, it was Amaro who pulled the trigger on the deal.

Lee wins 5-1 over Rockies.

Not only is Lee a stud pitcher, but he likes to finish games. I believe that is why Charlie Manual went with Lee over his reigning World Series MVP Cole Hamels in yesterday’s 5-1 victory over the Rockies. Yes, Hamels works better on his full four days of rest, but Manual pulled him early in his last start so he could pitch game one if Manual leaned that way.

What was most enjoyable about yesterday’s game was that Lee made sure Manual didn’t have to use his fragile bullpen. It was also nice to see contributions from the entire Phillies lineup (every starter, including Lee, got a hit) after how poorly the Phillies hit against the Rockies in the 2007 series. The Phils had clutch hits from Ibanez, Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard. Jimmy Rollins contributed fantastic defense on a day when the wind turned Citizen’s Bank Park into Candlestick Park in its heyday.

Best of all Cliff Lee went all the way. Yo, Ruben, thanks man.

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or my on-going battle to lose weight in our fast food world. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

I refuse to worry about the Phillies, despite all the pitching upheaval. This time last year we were clinging to first place, with a very competitive Mets squad ready to strike and pass us. Which they did, but the final results in October were what counted.
Summer is still here and the living is easy and we still have the lead in the NL East. The Mets are in shambles, the Fish are tough right now but will wilt eventually, and the Braves might wind up being the last competition standing in the division.

Pedro Martinez

So what if Brad Lidge is no longer “Light-Out” Lidge? So what if his nickname should be “All-the-lights-are-on” Lidge? All right, I’m concerned after another blown save last night, but I refuse to go crazy. It is not as if Lidge has become the reincarnation of Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams. Boy, did we have some fun with him in 1993. Yes, Lidge seems to have lost his confidence and his control. It is an issue and a solution does not seem to be available at the moment. Ryan Madsen flunked when he had the job, and right now he is pitching better in his more comfortable set up role. Brett Myers will be back in the pen by season’s end, but can he take that closer spot, coming back from hip surgery? It’s a big question mark.

Cliff Lee is 2-0 with the Phils.

GM Ruben Amaro Jr. addressed the starting pitching problem with Cliff Lee. Has he been fun to watch or what? Tonight we begin the great Pedro experiment. I wasn’t enthusiastic about the signing, but the way Jamie “I was misled” Moyer is pitching, it can’t hurt to take a look. J.A. Happ pitched great last night after a shaky couple of innings. He was impressive when he limited the damage after loading the bases with none out.
It would be nice if Cole Hamels would find his mojo again, and Joe Blanton has been the quiet, steady righty arm all year long.
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Well, that was fun, watching Cliff Lee go five and a third innings before giving up his first hit. Early on, it looks like the Phils were trying to make Lee feel like he was back in Cleveland with their lack of run support. However, thanks to three walks, a hit batsman and a key run-scoring double by Jason Werth in the seventh inning, the Phillies gave Lee more than enough offense for his first win as a Phillie, a 5-1 complete game.

Lee even got two hits, including a double smoked in the gap, the first extra base hit of his career. Not bad for a pitcher who has spent his career in the American League. Of course it is his pitching that matters and he was masterful.

Roy who? Cliff Lee is a hell of a pitcher, with an amazing ability to throw strikes. I am feeling a lot better about our post-season changes, aren’t you?

Dear Cliff Lee,

Hello and welcome to the Phillies. It was so exciting to see you chatting with Jamie Moyer in the Phillies dugout last night in San Francisco.
Good luck tonight. Please don’t get worried about the Phillies lack of offense and sloppy play last night. They really are a lot better than that. I guess they were too excited about getting a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher for the stretch drive.
This is something new for the players and devoted fans like myself. We are used to seeing our arch-rivals— you now officially hate the Mets and the Atlanta Braves by the way — get the big name pitcher or position player for the push to the playoffs.
Some of us devoted Phillies fans are still in a haze with a silly grin on our faces thanks to our cagey GM Ruben Amaro picking you up and right-handed bat Ben Francisco without having to give up J.A. Happ, Kyle Drabek, or Michael Taylor. Boy, no wonder those Cleveland Indians stink.
Thanks for coming to town. I look forward to seeing you mow down the Mets and make those stinkin’ Braves fans choke on their tomahawk chop.

Yours truly,
Lori Hoffman
Devoted Phillies fan since 1964

P.S.: After you pitch a gem tonight and are the star of the game and are being interviewed for TV, be on the lookout for Shane Victorino. He will be looking to smack you with a shaving cream pie. It is a rite of passage as a new Phillie.

New Phil-Lee

Instead of Toronto Blue Jay Roy Halladay, the Philadelphia Phillies have made a deal with the Cleveland Indians for 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. According to MLB.com, “the Phillies and Indians have reached an agreement that would send Lee, a left-hander, and outfielder Ben Francisco to the Phillies for prospects Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson.” Look out.