Making snap judgments after one start is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine, especially when you're facing the Rangers in their launching pad in Arlington. That said, Cliff Lee didn't do much to inspire hopes of a second straight Cy Young award. He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 9-1 loss.Lee's day started going downhill with one out in the second inning when Hank Blalock slapped a grounder off his left arm. Lee seemed okay and got the second out before the wheels came off the bus.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled in the first two runs, Elvis Andrus doubled in his first big league at-bat and Ian Kinsler plated them both with another single. Those four runs equaled the amount Lee gave up in his first seven starts a year ago.
He made it to the fifth before Blalock added insult to injury with a three-run blast that made the rest of the game little more than a formality. Saltalamacchia added a homer in the eighth against Jensen Lewis, and Texas mouths water at the prospect of adding another big piece of lumber to their already loaded lineup.
Unless doctors find something wrong with Lee's arm, and there really didn't appear to be anything physical troubling him, there's no reason to worry. Pitchers get abused in Texas all the time, even ones with as much talent as Lee. That said, anyone who was expecting Lee to duplicate his spectacular April of 2008 was guilty of too much optimism.
Speaking of optimism, FanHouse's own Matt Snyder is likely doing a little happy dance at the thunderous debut for the Rangers. There's very little to like about the red jerseys they wore on Monday and a pitching staff that is, as always, full of landmines, but that offense is going to be a handful for the rest of the American League.
Scenes From Opening Day
St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, left, jogs across the field as he is introduced along with the rest of his team before the start of an Opening Day baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, April 6, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jeff Roberson, AP
Former President George W. Bush throws out the season opening first pitch with Nolan Ryan looking on before the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Tony Gutierrez, AP
The grounds crew runs across the infield to spread a tarp as it starts to rain at Fenway Park during a practice after opening day was postponed due to the weather in Boston, Monday April 6, 2009. The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Charles Krupa, AP
A general view of the pregame festivities before the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season.
Ezra Shaw, Getty Images
Cameron Dallas, 10, front, and her dad Jay Dallas, of Mansfield, bundle up to stay warm before Opening Day as the Cleveland Indians play the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Max Faulkner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT
Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew, right, slides safely under the tag of Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the third inning of an MLB baseball game Monday, April 6, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Matt York, AP
Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, left, looks back after grabbing the throw to see Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd (22) sliding safely home in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009. Byrd and Hank Blalock scored on an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Groundskeeper Angel Avila carries shoveled snow off the field at US Cellular Field after the Chicago White Sox's home opener baseball game against the Kansas City Royals was postponed until Tuesday due to snow in Chicago, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Led by pitcher Jamie Moyer, the Philadelphia Phillies are greeted as they pass through two rows of fans in center field during opening night ceremonies before the start an MLB baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Philadelphia.
Tom Mihalek, AP
