I don't think I have ever had as much desire to sit and watch a baseball game solely to watch a player perform as I did Friday night (July 31st, 2009). Cliff Lee's first game as a Phillie was going to be watched by many intrigued Phillies fans that is for sure, so I am not unique. I am however not one to make it a point to be home to watch a game; and rarely do I sit and watch an entire game.
But there I was sitting in front of the new Dell Inspion 15, watching him pitch, and hit, the Phillies to their 20th win in July, and 59th overall. I loved the way he pitched, his quick style and how he ran off the field after each inning. His calm nature, the way he was attacking hitters and keeping his composure, just kept me wanting more. In an odd way I was eager for him to get back on the mound. Not wanting to rush the Phils through their half of an inning but not finding myself too frustrated if the Phils didn't score.
While knowing he had a no-hitter going for most of the game, I was not all bothered if he did not end up with a no-hitter. But just worried the Phillies on the field brain trust would want to take him out the moment he looked as if he was in trouble. Once the Phillies were able to open up the game a little bit thanks to the Giants pitchers walking the bases loaded and then walked in a run, the thought of him pitching a complete game began to settle in. Again there was a fear manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee would decide to save him for this next start and give it over to the bullpen.
This fear grew more once Lee began to falter a bit at the beginning of the 7th. Fortunately, Lee was able to coax a very aggressive Pablo Sandoval to swing at a pitch high and outside of the strike zone, to get his pitching back on track. And while the Giants scored in the 8th, there really wasn't a concern of Lee losing the game, just hoping that he could finish what he started.
The game is done and the Phillies believe at least for now, their decision to trade for Lee and not Halladay was the right one. This will, of course, all pan out in the near future, but for now there is a lot of excitement in Philadelphia. Cliff Lee has given us hope that our chances for repeating are solid.
