Cliff Lee

Cleveland Indians — No. 31
Pitcher
Born: August 30, 1978 (1978-08-30) (age 29) Benton, Arkansas
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
Major League Baseball debut
September 15, 2002 for the Cleveland Indians
Selected MLB statistics (through April 30, 2008)
Win-Loss	60-36
Earned run average	4.42
Strikeouts	588
Teams
Cleveland Indians (2002–present)

Clifton Phifor "Cliff" Lee (born August 30, 1978 in Benton, Arkansas) is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 8th round of the amateur draft out of high school, but chose to attend the Meridian Community College. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 20th round of the 1998 amateur draft, but did not sign, but chose to attend the University of Arkansas. In the 2000 amateur draft, he was chosen in the 4th round by the Montreal Expos and signed in July of that year. In June 2002, the Expos traded him with Brandon Phillips, Lee Stevens, and Grady Sizemore to Cleveland in exchange for Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew. This article is about the player in baseball. ... is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Benton is the largest city and county seat of Saline CountyGR6, Arkansas, United States. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... In Major League Baseball, a win (denoted W) is generally credited to the pitcher for the winning team who was in the game when they last took the lead. ... In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. ... For the typographical mode indicating deleted text, see Strikethrough. ... For other uses, see Cleveland Indians (disambiguation). ... This year in baseball: 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 8 - Ozzie Smith is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. ... is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Benton is the largest city and county seat of Saline CountyGR6, Arkansas, United States. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... People who are left-handed are more dextrous with their left hand than with their right hand: they will probably also use their left hand for tasks such as personal care, cooking, and so on. ... In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher, often abbreviated as starter, is the pitcher who pitches the first pitch to the first batter of a game. ... For other uses, see Cleveland Indians (disambiguation). ... Major Leagues redirects here. ... Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) East Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 42 Name Florida Marlins (1993–present) Other nicknames The Fish Ballpark Dolphin Stadium (1993–present) a. ... Meridian Community College is a two-year public community college in Meridian, Mississippi (USA). ... This article is about the contemporary American major league baseball team. ... The University of Arkansas is a public co-educational land-grant university. ... This article describes the now defunct Canadian baseball team. ... Brandon Emil Phillips (born June 28, 1981, in Raleigh, North Carolina), commonly nicknamed BP, is a second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. ... De Wain Lee Stevens (born July 10, 1967 in Kansas City, Missouri) was a Major League Baseball player from 1990 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 2002 for the California Angels, Texas Rangers, Montreal Expos, and Cleveland Indians. ... Grady Sizemore III (born August 2, 1982, in Seattle, Washington) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who currently plays for the Cleveland Indians. ... Bartolo Colón (born May 24, 1973 in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) is a Cy Young Award-winning starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. ... Timothy Andrew Drew (born August 31, 1978 in Valdosta, Georgia) is an American former Major League Baseball player. ...

Since his call up to Cleveland in September 2002, Lee had been a fixture in the Indians' starting rotation, winning at least 14 games in each of his first 3 full seasons and tossing more than 200 innings in both 2005 and 2006. In 2005, he finished the season with an 18-5 record and a 3.79 ERA, earning him 4th place in the AL Cy Young Award voting that year. In 2006, The Indians rewarded Cliff with a midseason, 3-year, $14 million contract extension through the 2009 season. An era is a long period of time with different technical and colloquial meanings, and usages in language. ... The Cy Young Award of the American League, 1983. ...

Lee's repertoire features a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball and cut fastball as well as a circle changeup and a curveball. He also added a slider after returning from the disabled list.-1... In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly as it reaches home plate. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

2007 Problems and Controversies

In 2007, Lee suffered an abdominal strain during a spring training start, forcing him to begin the regular season on the disabled list. He returned to the Indians rotation in May, but struggled to a 4-9 record and a 5.38 ERA in his first 16 starts. On July 21, Lee hit Texas Rangers' right fielder Sammy Sosa in the head with a pitch on a night when the Rangers were honoring Sosa for hitting his 600th home run. The beaning sparked an altercation between Lee and Indians' catcher Víctor Martínez and led to a players-only meeting immediately after the game.^[1] Cliff encountered even more problems on July 26, 2007 where he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings. When he left the ballgame, the fans booed him and right before he entered the dugout, he tipped his cap to the fans. The next day, July 27, 2007, the struggling left-hander was optioned to Class AAA Buffalo. ^[2] He was called back up on September 1 when rosters expanded, but was not a part of the regular starting rotation. is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations American League (1961–present) West Division (1972–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 26, 34, 42 Name Texas Rangers (1972–present) Washington Senators (1961-1971) Other nicknames None in common use Ballpark Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (1994–present) a. ... The position of the right fielder A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in right field (e. ... Samuel Sosa Montero (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a designated hitter and right fielder in Major League Baseball and is currently a free agent. ... The position of the catcher Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in cricket. ... For other persons of the same name, see Víctor Martínez. ... The Buffalo Bisons (Pronounced BI-zons by locals) are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

2008 Season

Lee has started the 2008 season with much success. In his first 14 starts, he has amassed a 10-1 record. He was the first Cleveland pitcher to win his first six starts since Greg Swindell in 1988. He also recorded his first career shutout on April 25, 2008 against the Kansas City Royals, allowing just 3 hits and 0 walks. As of May 26, he has a American League-leading 1.50 ERA; in 66 innings pitched, he has given up 11 earned runs and 9 walks, while striking out 54 batters. He also has a WHIP of only .88 which is second in the AL. He had the lowest On-base percentage at .163 through five starts since 1909. For his efforts and success, he was named the AL pitcher of the month for April. Forest Gregory Swindell (born January 2, 1965 Fort Worth, Texas - ) was a pitcher with a 17-year career from 1986 to 2002. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 10, 20, 42 Name Kansas City Royals (1969–present) Other nicknames The Boys in Blue Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973–present) a. ... In baseball statistics, on base percentage (OBP) (sometimes referred to as on base average (OBA)) is a measure of how often a batter gets to first base for any reason other than a fielding error or a fielders choice. ...

References

is the 204th day of the year (205th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Unofficial Cliff Lee Fan Club