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BY MIKE VORKUNOV
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
COMMENTARY
If it's possible to be the loser in a trade acquiring a defending Cy Young winner for possibly nothing, the Philadelphia Phillies just found a way to pull it off.
In getting Cliff Lee, the Phillies added a very good pitcher, one having an underrated year for a bottom-feeding Cleveland team. But he is no Roy Halladay.
Lee makes Philadelphia the favorite in the National League. Halladay would have made them the favorite to win the World Series for the next two Octobers. Possibly longer if he agreed to re-sign in the City of Brotherly Love. He was the sure thing.
Since the turn of the decade, the baseball playoffs have become an unpredictable month-long tournament, akin to March Madness.Look no further than last year. The Tampa Bay Rays won more games in a tougher league, but were dominated by the Phillies. You no longer need to be the best team, you just need to get to the World Series and take your chances from there.
Halladay would have all but guaranteed Philadelphia of being the favorite every October. A 1-2 punch of Cole Hamels and Halladay would be the best out there. Having those guys start four of seven games a series would a distinct advantage.
Who cares if they would be the best team in the inferior league. That just means a trip to the World Series. That's the only opening a team needs.
Does Lee bring the same assurances as Halladay? No. Is he as good? No. And it's a huge opportunity missed by Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Kyle Drabek, the top prospect Amaro refused to trade away, may well develop into a front-line starter. But he might be pitching for last-place team. Or he might not turn out at all.
Halladay is a given. He is the goods.
Lee is a good addition though. His 3.14 ERA was seventh in the American League. He went out there and gave the Indians quality starts 82 percent of the time, second best in the AL.
He's still no Roy Halladay.
To get to the World Series Philadelphia will have to face the right-handed heavy hitting lineup of St. Louis or Los Angeles. Against Lee, righties are hitting with a .303 average and a .771 on-base plus slugging (OPS). Against Halladay, .252 and .618.
It may all turn out to be moot. Philadelphia could make another deep run into October, one that Halladay would have all-but guaranteed.
But why risk it? Playing the lottery is fun, getting a paycheck is rewarding.
Lee is the risk, Halladay is the reward.
HE WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN, NEVER.
I CAN'T BELIEVE SOME ARE COMPARING THIS GUY TO THE LIKES OF ROY HALLADAY OR JOHAND SANTANA.
HALADA IS THE ONLY PITCHER IN MLB I WOULD TAKE BEFORE EVEN SANTANA l
Yankees/BoSox right handed heavy lines up as well, will balst their all lefthanded SP staff this time around if they are lucky enough to sneak by the Dogers and Cardinals.
The team with best offense in the major leagues, just picked up a Cy Young caliber pitcher and they didn't sacrifice their future.
They won the World Series with less last year. You must be a Mets fans you loser.