Phillies' Lee Makes It Look as Easy as Falling Off a Cliff

PHILADELPHIA -- Apparently the only challenge for Cliff Lee in the National League will be getting used to fewer empty seats at home games.

Other than that, he might be pretty decent in the NL.

"He'll have a chance, yeah," catcher Paul Bako said Thursday with a laugh. "He should be OK."

In fact, it looks like Lee is going to slice up NL lineups like so much ribeye turned into cheesesteaks.

Over two starts since the Phillies got him from the Indians for four minor-leaguers, Lee is 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA. He has allowed 10 hits in 16 innings -- a .182 opponents' average -- with 15 strikeouts, three walks and no homers. Both runs he has allowed have scored on sacrifice flies.

In those 16 innings, he has allowed four runners past first base.

Four.

And those two starts came against the two teams leading the NL wild-card race, with the third- and fourth-best records in the league.

"The first few times with a new team, you're going to try to prove your worth and prove who you are and what you do, that kind of stuff," Lee said.

What's left to prove? Lee has now made 24 starts against National League teams and has gone 14-2 with a 2.97 ERA.

Going from the AL to the NL must feel like being sent down, especially after winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2008.

"From the American League to the National League," Lee said, "it's definitely different -- facing the pitcher and the bottom part of the lineup's a little different over here compared to over there."

And remember: He won't have to face the best offense in the NL, since it's composed of his teammates.

We refer you to a quote published here the day the Phils acquired Lee:

"He's coming to the National League, where they have half the hitters," the scout said. "It may be a Sabathia situation. The comparisons with Sabathia in Cleveland are eerie. [Lee] may go on a tear."

C.C. Sabathia, Lee's teammate for years with the Indians, last year went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA after being traded to the Brewers.

"I can only hope to have close to the success he had last year," Lee said. "He went over there and it was basically a joke, what he did."

Lee may be telling the same joke.

In Thursday's 3-1 win over Colorado -- which was third in the league in runs -- Lee gave up a run in the first inning and then cruised. He struck out nine in seven innings, and two of the eight men who reached base did so on bunts.

"From the American League to the National League, it's definitely different -- facing the pitcher and the bottom part of the lineup's a little different over here compared to over there"
-- Cliff Lee Bako, who has caught both of Lee's starts for Philly, was most impressed by an adjustment Lee made. Against San Francisco on July 31, Lee pounded the inside corner against right-handers with his cut fastball. But he didn't have as good command of that pitch Thursday, so he worked the other side of the plate and used a nasty, diving changeup.

"I know what I'm good at," Lee said, "I know what my strengths are. Those are the things that I try to stick with."

In his last five home starts for Cleveland, the average attendance (as CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler pointed out) was 18,990. Citizens Bank Park was sold out for the 47th time this season on Thursday, with a crowd of 45,316 -- the largest Lee had pitched in front of since April 16 at Yankee Stadium.

"The atmosphere is electric," he said. "It's nice to know you're going to have a crowd out there every game pulling for you. And it's something that definitely doesn't hurt. It can only help. It's a lot of fun knowing the stands are going to be packed very game."

Perhaps the only danger for Lee in the city that booed Santa Claus is that he might raise expectations.

"They're going to get some hits off him, and some runs, every now and then," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

You sure, Charlie?