It's not a rarity when the Phillies win a game using only the long-ball. It is a rarity, however, when the big shots come via lead-off man Shane Victorino and his No. 2 man Placido Polanco.

But that's exactly what happened Wednesday afternoon as the Phillies prevented what would have been the team's first real slump of the season.

Down 3-0 in the sixth, Polanco smacked a ball into left field with two runners on to tie the game up at three a piece.

Victorino then broke the tie in the eighth with a monster shot to right-center field. Jose Contreras then finished things off by recording his fourth save of the season in as many attempts.

Starter Cliff Lee had to battle through this game, giving up eight hits and three runs (two earned) along with one walk and only one strikeout in six innings pitched.


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Signing Cliff Lee to a record-making contract definitely shows a commitment to winning the whole thing once again in 2011, but it's the move of keeping Joe Blanton that really tells the story of the team's mindset heading into the upcoming season.

With Lee in the rotation along with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, there is no need to keep a fifth starter who is making $17 million over the next two seasons -- especially when the Phils have guys like Kyle Kendrick and Vance Worley making a fraction of that.

Granted, both guys aren't quite on the level of Blanton, but how much would it really matter with those four pitchers ahead of them?

It apparently matters enough to the Phillies management that they're not willing to risk Kendrick or Worley potentially costing them a much-needed win down the stretch just to save some money.

They're telling the fans and the rest of the league that they're going for the whole thing in 2011 and will be looking for their second World Series title in four years.


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Lee, unlike most athletes, put a title ahead of dollars.


In today's age of professional sports, it's not too often that you find superstar caliber players that truly value winning championships over the biggest, most lucrative contract one can get his hands on when testing the free agent waters.

Every pro athlete in every sport claims that their No. 1 goal is to win a championship. They claim that it's what they come to the ball park every day for, why they practice, why they play the game, however in most cases, it's not really why they're in the game.

It's all about money in today's generation.

With money taking over as the top priority of all in both sports and reality, it's rare to find a player or the average folk who would take less money to ensure happiness for their family. Nine times out of 10, the player/person is going to go where the money is at.

Not Cliff Lee.

Lee turned down about $20 million from the New York Yankees to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies because he loved his short time in Philly, and felt that they gave him the best chance to win a World Series over New York and Texas.

The Yankees reportedly offered the 32-year-old lefty a seven-year, $148 million contract to play in the Bronx. New York's contract would have guaranteed Lee $132 million. He signed a five-year, $120 million deal with the Phillies.

Another major factor in Lee signing in Philly was that's where his family would be the most happy. The Phillies fan base embraced Lee, and he became an instant favorite when they acquired him from Cleveland at the trade deadline in 2009.

Lee was 7-4 with a 3.39 earned run average in 12 starts with three complete games for the Phils. He wrote his legacy in Philly during the postseason when he was 4-0 in five games with a 1.56 ERA. He threw 40.1 innings with two complete games.

The name Cliff Lee reached legendary status in the city of brotherly love.

For the Phillies, it's not the first time a superstar turned down more money to come to Philadelphia. In fact, it's the second straight winter the top prize took considerably less money to play for the Phightens.

Last offseason, Roy Halladay agreed to waive his no-trade clause to come to Philly and signed a three-year, $60 million extension. It's a little bit of a different animal in Halladay's case because he was acquire in a trade, but it's still the same principal.

Halladay made a name for himself as the game's top pitcher for more than half a decade. Had he reached free agency, he would have been heavily rewarded with a huge contract. Let's just say, he would have made at least $60 more million than he did when he signed his extension with Philadelphia.

Doc cited that the reason he wanted to play in Philly was that he made enough money in his career, and at this point in his career, it was more important for him to have an opportunity to win a World Series.

The irony here is that Ruben Amaro Jr. traded Lee to Seattle when he acquired Halladay to replenish the farm system that lost seven players in obtaining Halladay and Lee at the deadline. It was not fully about the money.

That enraged Phillies fans even though they were getting the league's best arm. The reason was if it wasn't broke, why fix it?

Lee is the game's best southpaw, no question. His dominance the last couple years proves the point, and his play in the last two playoffs makes it even stronger. When you had a chance to go into a season with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee atop your rotation, you're going to be the favorites.

Amaro opted not to do that because he didn't think he could resign Lee last winter, and wanted to get more prospects lost in getting both pitchers.

In trading Lee, Amaro acquired Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee.

Sounds like one heck of a master plan.
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Does Cliff Lee make the Phillies the NL's best team?


According to multiple sources, the Philadelphia Phillies have injected themselves into the bidding for Cliff Lee and currently have a slight edge over the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees -- the only two other teams still in the mix for the star lefty.

The Yankees especially are "extremely negative" about their chances to land Lee, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. The Yankees reportedly believe that the Phillies entering the picture late has effectively ended any opportunity they had to land Lee.

The details are of course very shaky right now, but the reasoning for Lee returning to Philly would be very interesting on his end. For the Phillies it's fairly obvious why they'd want him back, but he would almost certainly be turning down more years and money from the Yankees and Rangers.

According to an unnamed Phillies source, the team would not be willing to match the seven-year deal the Yankees offered Lee. However, they might be willing to offer the same $18 million per season the Yankees did.

Over the next three years, Roy Halladay -- who is undeniably a notch or two better than Lee -- is scheduled to make $20 million per season. So paying Lee $17-18 million per season would not be unreasonable.

The key is that the Phils have liked to keep years down. That way, should a player not pan out, they're not left paying his guaranteed contract for another three or four years down the road.

There are always the misses, however, and that brings us to Joe Blanton.

Apparently the Phils have gotten positive feedback regarding Blanton from teams around the league and now feel better about the prospect of trading him. The only caveat is the Phils would likely be asked to eat about half of the remaining $17 million he's owed.

Being able to part ways with his contract, even only half of it, might be enough to convince Ruben Amaro, Jr. that the expense related with Lee would be worth it to have him, Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels all in the same rotation.

Then, with Blanton gone, they have cheap but effective options for the fifth starter in either Kyle Kendrick or Vance Worley, and can toss the guy who doesn't make the rotation to the bullpen or, in Worley's case, perhaps to Triple-A ball.

Blanton could be a piece the Phils put together in order to acquire a right-handed outfielder they can stick in the middle of the lineup.

With Lee in the rotation and a mid-level replacement for Jayson Werth out in right field, the Phillies would once again have to be considered the top contenders in the NL. Without Lee they are still in the upper-echelon, but with him the Phils became nearly unhittable in at least four of every five games.

UPDATE: Several sources are now reporting that the deal is done. Numbers are not yet available, but several guys "in the know" have confirmed it. Rejoice, Philly.

UPDATE(2): ESPN's Jerry Crasnick is reporting deal is for five years and will be worth over $100 million with an option for a sixth year.
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Was moving Cliff Lee Ruben Amaro's biggest mistake?


I drive a Honda CRV.

It might be the first of its kind; it could be the prototype. There is nothing modern about it. The only gauge I have measures gas; mileage stacks up via flipping digits, and mechanical failures are indicated when the appropriate circle lights up red.

Some people call them idiot lights. That’s because when they glow, idiots wait a few weeks to see if they’ll go out—all by themselves.

I think Ruben Amaro Jr. has a few on. The problem is there’s one that won’t go out all by itself.

Admittedly he’s concerned about pitching. And admittedly he has what it takes to get what he wants. That can only mean two things: Jayson Werth should keep the beard to accent his sex appeal for a trade and the love affair with Cliff Lee continues to be the quintessential story.

Where do I begin

To tell the story of how great a team can be

A great love story ‘bout the man they call Cliff Lee

Another year with a World Series victory

Oh Ruben please.

The way I understand it, Cliffy’s “Dear John” letter traded him to a soggy AL port so Ruben could restock a farm system with guys a lot like the ones he traded for a Cy Young winner he hoped could pitch as well as the Cy Young winner that earned him the only two wins of the last Series.

Did I get that right?

Well, anyway you say it, it broke my heart.

It was like missing a blue light sale by an aisle.

It was like watching any movie by Nicholas Sparks.

It was like finding out Ricky Martin is gay.

And it was like fumbling for your ID at the liquor store and hearing the clerk say, “I won’t be needing that.”

Now the media is teasing Cliffy because he got flustered when someone whispered the name of his ex World Series partner upon his arrival in Texas. That caused him to commit the faux pas of saying he was a Mariner when he was actually obligated to the Rangers.

Cliff, that’s why you never specifically speak a name when you’re in bed together.

Not that I’d know anything about that—darlin’.

I know I’m not alone in wanting him back, and as a devoted fan I’d like something more concrete than reports that Philly is missed by Cliff.

Even a cheesy commitment will do. Something with no legal basis like a promise ring—or a clanky oversized class ring with a tacky stretch of yarn encircling the bottom.

Actually, all it’d take is a steak dinner and a few catchy lines. Come to think of it, if you drive your own car, have enough teeth to eat a steak, and can at least split dinner, I’m yours.

My point is, I don’t care how you do it, just get the job done.

Hold on. What were we talking about?

Oh yeah, Cliff Lee.

I miss his behind the back defense, the way he quick pitches cocky batters, and his ability to yawn while fielding a ball. Don’t get me wrong, I love Roy Halladay. He throws with surgical precision, he’s devoted and proven, and he tossed the perfect game. But in my book there are two perfect number thirty-fours: Cliff and Roy. Call them 34a and 34b if you like, just don’t call them by the wrong name.

Obviously with all the recent whining Ruben’s been doing about his desire for pitching, he knows this too. So when he considers improving his rotation, he should remember one thing: It takes two.

The Phillies and Cliff Lee were meant for each other.

That’s the only way to make that idiot light go out.

See you at the ballpark.
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