Fromer MCC pitcher, Cliff Lee at ease before Game 1 start: 'I could see myself being here in the future'

By JEFF WILSON / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

(ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.) – The American League West wasn't clinched until Sept. 25, but the thought of it became more of a reality when the Rangers pulled off the biggest trade of the season 2 ½ months earlier.

News of the Cliff Lee trade sent the Rangers' clubhouse into a state of controlled euphoria July 9. Fists were pumped, but only in a team meeting announcing the deal. The music was played at just a slightly louder level.

The Rangers knew they had to carry their share of the workload, too.

"When we acquired him, it kind of put the onus on the team," pitching coach Mike Maddux said. "He addressed a need we had, and he was the best guy for it. It reminded everybody that we were playing for real."

The addition of Lee, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2008 and proved his mettle by winning twice in the 2009 World Series, gave the Rangers a true No. 1 starter. It also reaffirmed their belief that they could win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

That's where the Rangers find themselves today, with the West title in their back pockets and Lee on the mound as they enter the American League Division Series.
Lee knows he's the hired gun who is supposed to be great against Tampa Bay. But he might be the calmest guy at Tropicana Field.

"I expect as much out of myself as anyone expects out of me," Lee said. "But I'm not nervous or worried or any of those kinds of words that would go along with pressure. I'm more confident and excited and anxious."

A victory would be only the second playoff win in franchise history and would give the Rangers a leg up in the best-of-5 series.

Lee believes the Rangers can be competitive for the next several seasons, and that makes them attractive as he heads into the off-season as the top free agent.

"It's been a good ride so far, and, yeah, I could see myself being here in the future. But only time will tell on that," he said. "Hopefully, we do some damage here in the postseason, win the World Series, and that will make things a lot easier on me."

Lee went 12-9 with a 3.18 ERA this season, though he was only 4-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 15 starts with the Rangers. But four of those starts were made while trying to pitch through lower back stiffness.

Since resting his back for 12 days at the start of September, Lee is 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA in four starts.

"The back thing is gone," he said. "I feel 100 percent healthy and ready."

The first postseason pitch the Rangers have seen since 1999 is scheduled to be thrown at 12:37 p.m. Lee will take the mound after Tampa Bay gets the game's first three outs.
He is right where the Rangers want him to be.

"We acquired him to get that game [today], and to have him pitch it is icing on the cake," Maddux said. "He comes at you with what he's got, and what he's got is pretty decent."

Scouting report

Rangers LHP Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18 ERA): Lee was 4-6 with a 3.98 ERA for the Rangers after being acquired from Seattle on July 9. He was acquired to pitch Game 1 of a Rangers playoff series. A year ago, he did that twice for Philadelphia, pitching complete games on both occasions and allowing one run each time. Lee faced Tampa Bay three times this season and lost all three games (one with the Rangers), but allowed two or fewer runs in the first seven innings of each game. Lee has exceptional command, allowing just 18 walks in 212 1/3 innings this season. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10.3 was the second best in history.

Key matchup: Evan Longoria is 3-for-18 (.167) against him in his career.

Tampa Bay LHP David Price (19-6, 2.72 ERA): Price matched up against Lee on Aug. 16 and left the game in the seventh inning after allowing the two tying runs to reach base. In his three previous starts against the Rangers, all last year, he allowed 14 runs in 13 1/3 innings. But Price is a different pitcher this year. He tied for second in the AL in wins, was third in ERA, eighth in strikeouts (188) and had a 1.96 ERA at home. Still, he will throw a lot of fastballs up and out of the zone, and if the Rangers lay off them, they may be able to ratchet up his pitch count and force him to exit early.

Key matchup: Nelson Cruz is 2-for-4 with a home run and a pair of walks in six career plate appearances.