Trust in Cliff

"Trust in Cliff" was the motto I lived by yesterday and Cliff came through. In the biggest game in Texas Rangers history the former Cy-Young award winner never gave the Rays a chance. On a night when Cliff Lee didn't have his best fastball command he was completely dominating, holding the Rays to 1 run on 6 hits with 11 strikeouts. The Rays had no idea how to attack Lee and were off-balance all night. The Rangers offense did a tremendous job of manufacturing runs against David Price and a tough Rays bullpen. The base-running of Andrus, Cruz, and Vladdy were key parts to the game, and has been a point of emphasis by Ron Washington all year. But last night was all about Cliff Lee.


Cliff Lee has established himself as a big game pitcher. In 5 postseason starts Cliff is 6-0 with a .78 ERA and a 54-6 K/BB ratio. His team has never lost a game he started. Lee threw a season high 120 pitches last night, but their was very little doubt in my mind that he was coming back out after 8. Lee did an incredible job of pitch selection. Lee didn't throw anything but cutters and fastballs until the 3rd inning. Lee threw 1 curvball and 2 change-ups through the first 3 innings. Lee threw the curveball 24% of the time from their on out. Lee's ability to switch back and forth between his 2-seam fastball, cutter, and looping 76-78 mph curveball was simply too much for the Rays offense.

Lee's performance last night was not simply great, it was one of the greatest of all time. Look at these records Cliff and the Rangers set last night:

• Became the 1st Ranger pitcher to clinch a playoff series.
• Won the 1st series to ever have the road team win every game.
• Helped set the Division Series record for most strikeouts in a series-55.
• Set the record for most strikeouts in a winner take all game-11.
• Set the record for most strikeouts in a post-season series without a walk-21 (2nd place-14).
• Tied for 3rd now with most consecutive playoff decisions won-6 (leader 8).
• Has now tied every other pitcher in the history of baseball with four 10-strikeout, no walk performances in the playoffs. 

Those numbers indicate that last night's performance was one of the great ones of all time. Halladay was immaculate with his no-hitter last week. Lincecum was ridiculously good in his 2-hit win over the Braves the next night. But neither pitcher had his back against the wall in an elimination game on the road. I'm not knocking what those guys did. Halladay will be remembered forever for being only the 2nd pitcher to throw a playoff no-hitter. But what Cliff Lee did last night may be the best performance of all 3. Cliff Lee stepped up and put on a dominant performance in what was easily the most important game in the history of the Texas Rangers franchise. Last night may not have erased 38 years of futility, but it definitely made it seem more like a distant memory rather than an on-going nightmare. Cliff Lee has firmly placed himself in the forefront of Rangers lore no matter what else happens. 

Now as the Rangers return home to face off with the dreaded New York Bankees, the Rangers should be a more relaxed team without the burden of having never won a playoff series hanging over them. The Ballpark will be completely packed for the 1st two games this weekend as Rangers fans eagerly await the first Rangers ALCS game in history. In the words of the the new 'Secretariat' movie:
"You bout to see something you ain't never seen before".  Bring on the Yankees!