Cliff Lee’s return to the Phillies has been a disappointment, so far. Not entirely, but for the most part it has been.
The former Cy Young award winner is 4-5 with an ERA of 3.94. He’s only had several outings in which he has shown the dominant form that made him a beloved figure in Philadelphia, and a highly coveted free-agent last winter. After two months of pitching below his standards, is there something wrong with Lee?
Lee’s performance problems stem from issues with his command. The left-hander is a strikeout pitcher who relies on being able to locate his pitches in very precise areas. If his control is off, and he can’t locate his pitches properly, he’ll be forced to hang pitches in the strike zone, making things much easier on opposing batters. The Arkansas native isn’t an overpowering pitcher, so being able to keep hitters off-balance and not knowing when to swing and when not to swing is a critical element of his game.
Evidence that Lee is having problems with his command can be found by looking at the number of batters he has walked this season. A year ago, the 32-year old only walked 18 batters in the entire 2010 season. He’s already walked 19 batters this season, including a career high six against St. Louis. 
While Lee has struggled, it’s important to keep things in perspective: he’s still having a good season, not a great season, but a good season. In 12 starts, he’s only given up more than three runs in four of those starts (six runs against Atlanta, four runs against Arizona, four runs against Cincinnati, six runs against Washington). He’s struck out more than 10 batters in five of his starts.
Lee hasn’t been able to consistently dominate, but he’s still been able to give the Phillies quality outings. His poor win-loss record is an indictment of the poor support he’s gotten from the offense rather than his own performance. His ERA is inflated because of the two poor starts against the Braves and Nationals, and because it is still early in the season. Give the two-time All-Star some time to solve his control problems, and he’ll begin to live up to the high expectations that were set for him.
I said weeks ago that hes had issues with his command, he hasnt looked good this yr at all… there is alot of yr left to change it around but man hes been struggling… Good thing we have 3 other aces…
He’s overrated, and getthing his pitches up in the hitting zone and getting tagged when his misses with location
It’s funny, Lee was not known for being a Strike-out Pitcher before PItching for the PHils, He’s K’s are up but his control and command is not what it used to be..At his best, he’s up/down,side by siide and gives up a lot of ground balls with his downward projectory of his Pitches, This year, his ball is not moving as well and is up in the batters zone who are getting good wood on his missed pitches.. Is he Earning his $20 Million per Season..
He should be moved down to the #4 Spot after the All-Star Break
The Pitcher with no run Support all Season has been Roy Oswalt who should have 6 Wins ealisy.. His Overall ERA is still like a 2.70 and has a 3-3 Record to show for it..
After All-Start Break the Pitching Rotation should be
#1) Hallladay
#2) Hamels
#3) Oswalt
#4) Lee
#5) Blanton/Worley/Kendrick/Paulman …whoever
Lets find some more reasons too complain about the best record in baseball. He’ll be fine.He’s not hurt.Hes in the top of the league in strike-outs and he’s out there workin it out. O
Paul not gonna happen and noone in the org. is even joking about that idea.
G:
Yeah, there is something wrong with him. I think that he has not hit his stride this season, and is struggling to find his groove so to speak. His record in the playoffs and World Series gives me great pause in jumping the gun on his struggles. I say he wins at least 16 games this year.
I’d say Lee finishes up 14-12 with a 4.25 Era and just ho-hum #’s .. Hopefully he’ll be in top Form come in the Fall where he really needs to earn his Salary and where historically has been at his best.
Halladay/Hamels will get 20 Wins and Oswalt gets about 15 with many tough luck/no run support outings…
Yeah, there is something wrong with Lee. That money bag he carries to the bank every day, hurt his arm & shoulder. Question what other moves other than Halladay & Oswalt (raped Wade) that Amaro has made has been good. Baez, Lidge (contract X), Ibanez, Blanton (contract X), Romero (2nd contract), 2 years for Gload & Schneider, 25 million for Howard!! WTF!! Not to mention the dumpster diving garbage, Figueroa, Castro, Herdon, Martinez, & Orr. Did not replace Burrell or Werth. All bad moves & bad contracts. They are stuck to improve on the areas to make us World series Champs again. No trade able pieces, unmovable contracts, looming luxury tax. How are they going to move Ibanez, Blanton or even Rollins if they have too. God I love the Phils, but they aggravate me. Sorry still pissed they lost 2 of 3 to the freaken Nats. They just do not know how to hit the right way. Strand too many base runners, especially in scoring position, swing at too many bad pitches, watch first ball fast balls right down the middle, refusal to play small ball, & no power other than Howard. I am getting disgusted at watching this horrendous outfield. Ibanez, Mayberry, Martinez & Brown. They better hope Victorino can be healthy & productive or it’s going to be a lot more games like the last month.
“#5) Blanton/Worley/Kendrick/Paulman …whoever”
They could package that for a trade for a bag of balls & some big league chew. LMBO! Is everyone back down to earth now with Worley, I mean Maddux, I mean Worley bandwagon. Please for the love of god Philly peeps, stop over rating everyone in our organizations, before they are given ample time to prove themselves. Mayberry, Brown, Worley & Stutes have a long way to go, Jeez!
Lee’s mechanics off slightly, he is opening the front side too soon, results in flat fastball, loss of downward plane, and since he opens up early, the batters see the ball sooner and hit him hard. Simple mechanical tweak and he will dominate again.
Jake are you a pitching coach? That’s good observation. He also looks as though he’s forcing & aiming his pitches. If he doesn’t correct this, he is going to hurt his arm.
People are so funny. I guess we should send Lee back to the minors Paulman?
DDCAR, they replaced Burrell with a better player named Raul Ibanez. He carried the team for the first half of his first season, and the 2nd half of his second season. He is currently hitting his strie after a poor start and had an excellant May. Burrell Sucks dude. He is terrible. Couldnt throw/field/hit in any spot other than solo hrs in blowouts. We will see where burrell is when he is 39. Then you mention the Howward contract??? THey saved moneyon howard by signing him before Fielder and Pujols sign. If you can name 4 first baseman who you would rather have, Ill call you a liar. Plus you mention Brown a few times like he isnt an excellent player. He had 27 at bats last season from aug 12 – the playoffs. I guess we should have expected 9 3 run hrs. I hear people all over bashing brown, who is currently hitting .300 in the majors. Just relax people the team has the best record in the majors for a reason.
forcing or aiming is the result of throwing too soon, not alowing the kinetic chain to complete the cycle, resulting in loss of movement on the fastball, opening up early and allowing the hitters to “see” the fastball. He is forcing it, needs to relax and let the body do the work before the arm gets into play. If he throws later, the movement comes back and more importantly the hitters pick up the ball late and he becomes”sneaky” fast again
now he can pay me handsomely for that little bit of pitching advise, maybe he is lurking here at gcobb, jakedog could use some beer money
Lee had a sub-par first half of last season…Let’s not jump the gun here, as we are just getting into the warmer weather…I also notice that the umps have been pinching him a bit; actually the umps have been rather inconsistent this year in general…Lee will be fine.
Sub par ??? he walked 3 people once, more than 3 people 1 time in 12 starts !!!!!!!!!
what the hell, his ERA is right near his career average, and if you take out the 9 walks in 2 starts.. he has 10 walks in 10 starts !!! why the hell would you move him? why the hell would you complain ? and why the hell would anyone worry about the phillies when they are in first place… and its only JUNE!!!!!
just insanity….
insanity, that’s right, welcome to gcobb land