Alison texted me with the news late last night about Cliff Lee spurning the Yankees, and turning his back on Texas, to sign with the Phillies. Although, I am extremely disappointed in the turn of events, the Yankees really needed him, I do not like that Lee is back in the National League, I am impressed with the whole deal. The whole process was handled in a classy way, unlike the manner in which Derek Jeter was subjected to in re-signing with the Yankees. Apparently, Cliff Lee wanted to go back to Philadelphia all along, and did not seem to try and squeeze every last dollar out of the process. Don't get me wrong, $24 million a year is nowhere near the sympathy level, but he could have asked for, and gotten, more from the Yankees and the Rangers. Put together in a rotation with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, it doesn't get any better, even the 1971 Orioles with Palmer, McNally, Cuellar and Dobson, or the 1995 Braves with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz and Avery. I honestly don't remember the 1954 Cleveland Indians, but their staff of Early Wynn (23 wins, 270 IP, 2.73 ERA), Bob Lemon (23, 258, 2.72), Mike Garcia (19, 258, 2064), Art Houtteman (15, 188, 3.35) and an old veteran by the name of Bob Feller (13 wins in 19 starts, 140 IP and 3.09 ERA) pitched in a different era, but the Indians won 111 games that year, then were swept by the Willie Mays-led NY Giants in the Series. That was the last title for the NY Giants, who then moved to San Francisco for the 1958 season.
But, back to Lee and his signing with the Phillies. Quietly, and under the radar of the magpie New York press, nothing was heard about his being even mildly interested in anything but the NY-Texas competition. Always like it when the Eastern press gets caught with their pants around their ankles. And, I like when a professional athlete carries himself with class and meritorious comportment, on and off the field. Like Jeter, Longoria, Mauer, Pedroia, Ubaldo and, yes, Tulowitzki. Troy Tulowitzki signing a long-term contract extension is a calculated exercise in team-building. Hopefully it leads to Carlos Gonzalez convincing his agent Scott BorAss to let him stay with the Rockies long term. The Rockies have a chance to keep a solid core of plus-players to contend for the future in a very tough division. Even the Diamonbacks are getting better. The Yankees and Mets and Red Sox have proven that simply throwing money at expensive, and talented, free agents does not ensure success over the course of a long season, and post-season. The supporting roster, and player-developmental process are just as important. Yankees, alas, are getting old, and I fear the Hated Boston Red Sox with Adrian Gonzalez should pass them by this year. Matter-of-fact, they might be the best damn team ever to play in the Major Leagues! (my weak attempt at jinxing the Red Sox, after all, I bet on the Colts Thursday, and the Texans last night to cover the spread, two losses with a combined 16 seconds left)
And I end with the news report that Carmelo Anthony has asked (in so many ways) to be traded to the NY Knicks. Let him go, good riddance. He'll get crushed by the expectations and weight of the New York scene, and I dare say, the temptations of stardom in a Manhattan life-style, will bring him down. The very fact that Denver's social atmosphere pales in comparison to the Big Apple's, protected Melo from the temptations that he and LaLa so richly covet. Sign his whiny butt to the extension, and get rid of him. He's an asshole for conducting the process this way, the Knicks knowing he will only go there, means they don't have to offer the Nuggets squat. I would like to see Denver area professional super-stars that want to be here and contribute to the significant progress and history of our sports scene. John Elway, Floyd Little, Alex English, Bill McCartney, Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Joe Sakic, and of course, Bob Uecker, Denver Bears 1959. Front-row kinds of guys.
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