Cy Young sequel for Tribe’s Lee?
February 27, 2009
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Stretched out on a chair in front of his locker, Cliff Lee delicately balanced a laptop computer on his thighs.
Scratching his head, the AL’s reigning Cy Young Award winner plotted his next move in an online chess game before heading outside for another day of spring training.
Cleveland’s ace surveyed the virtual board pieces. Sacrifice a pawn? Attack the bishop? Defend the queen?
Lee was locked in — just as he was all last season. Baseball’s king of the mound.
The left-hander, demoted to the minor leagues a year earlier, came out of nowhere to have an historic 2008. Lee went 22-3, led the league in wins and ERA, became the Indians’ first 20-game winner since 1972, started the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium and pitched with a single-minded purpose every time out.
“Unbelievable. I can’t even try to explain it,” said Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, who was behind the plate for 29 of Lee’s 31 starts.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before. You rarely see it for an inning and he was able to do it for an entire season. It was pretty impressive, to say the least.”
Lee spent the offseason collecting hardware for his efforts. He picked up awards from coast to coast and even had his high school jersey retired in his hometown of Benton, Ark., where they celebrated Cliff Lee Day.
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He’s a great teacher.
Sorry, I meant pitcher.