Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Sex-toy study at Duke University raises some eyebrows
Robbers order bar patrons to empty pockets
Akron man turns himself in after authorities turn up heat
Man appears alive at own funeral
Take comfort in knowing Browns could be bigger losers
Blogs:
Pets:
Not 101 Dalmations…but close!
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your perusal
Akron Zips:
The morning after
Tribe Matters:
Tribe makes roster moves
Cleveland Browns:
Lewis doesn't like boycott
Kent State Sports:
Kent State falls to Akron, 20-28
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Knicks
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Wrestling, bowling teams prepare for season
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (62) The Stupak Amendment
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Perfect Weather for an Autumn Drive
Let's Talk Real Estate:
RUMORS: Downtown Restaurant Explosion
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
By Mike Fitzpatrick
Associated Press
POSTED: 02:22 p.m. EST, Nov 13, 2008
NEW YORK: Cliff Lee won the American League Cy Young Award in a runaway on Thursday, capping a dominant comeback season that made him the second consecutive Cleveland Indians lefty to earn the honor.
Demoted to the minors last year, Lee went a major league-best 22-3 this season with a 2.54 ERA. He received 24 of 28 first-place votes and 132 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Toronto ace Roy Halladay was a distant runner-up with four first-place votes and 71 points. Record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels finished third with 32 points.
Lee became the third Cleveland pitcher to win the Cy Young, following Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in 1972 and CC Sabathia last year.
Trudging through a disappointing season and cognizant of budget constraints, the injury-depleted Indians traded Sabathia to Milwaukee on July 7. He is expected to fetch a huge contract this offseason after filing for free agency.
An 18-game winner in 2005, Lee was hurt in spring training last year and struggled so badly he was sent to the minors. He returned to the big leagues and finished 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA, then was left off Cleveland's postseason roster.
Determined to re-establish himself, Lee won a spot in the rotation during spring training and was the league's top pitcher from April on. He was 12-2 with a 2.31 ERA when he started for the AL in the July 15 All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.
Pitching for an inconsistent team that rallied late to finish 81-81, Lee was a mark of consistency. Confident in his pinpoint fastball, he walked only 34 batters in 31 starts and suddenly went from No. 5 starter to ace.
The 30-year-old Lee led the AL in ERA and ranked second in innings (223 1-3) and complete games (four). Halladay, the 2003 AL Cy Young winner, topped those two categories with 246 innings and nine complete games. The right-hander also was 20-11 with a 2.78 ERA, second in the league. He piled up 206 strikeouts to Lee's 170.
Still, Lee was a heavy favorite to win Thursday. The only question seemed to be whether the vote would be unanimous.
Lee became the first Cleveland pitcher to win 20 games since Perry in 1974, and his surprising comeback was crucial for a team that was hurt by injuries to starters Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook.
Lee received a $250,000 bonus for winning, and the price of Cleveland's 2010 club option increased from $8 million to $9 million. Halladay got $200,000 for finishing second.
Rodriguez, who set a major league mark with 62 saves this season, was listed second on seven ballots and third on 11.
NEW YORK: Cliff Lee won the American League Cy Young Award in a runaway on Thursday, capping a dominant comeback season that made him the second consecutive Cleveland Indians lefty to earn the honor.
Demoted to the minors last year, Lee went a major league-best 22-3 this season with a 2.54 ERA. He received 24 of 28 first-place votes and 132 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Toronto ace Roy Halladay was a distant runner-up with four first-place votes and 71 points. Record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels finished third with 32 points.
Lee became the third Cleveland pitcher to win the Cy Young, following Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in 1972 and CC Sabathia last year.
Trudging through a disappointing season and cognizant of budget constraints, the injury-depleted Indians traded Sabathia to Milwaukee on July 7. He is expected to fetch a huge contract this offseason after filing for free agency.
An 18-game winner in 2005, Lee was hurt in spring training last year and struggled so badly he was sent to the minors. He returned to the big leagues and finished 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA, then was left off Cleveland's postseason roster.
Determined to re-establish himself, Lee won a spot in the rotation during spring training and was the league's top pitcher from April on. He was 12-2 with a 2.31 ERA when he started for the AL in the July 15 All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.
Pitching for an inconsistent team that rallied late to finish 81-81, Lee was a mark of consistency. Confident in his pinpoint fastball, he walked only 34 batters in 31 starts and suddenly went from No. 5 starter to ace.
The 30-year-old Lee led the AL in ERA and ranked second in innings (223 1-3) and complete games (four). Halladay, the 2003 AL Cy Young winner, topped those two categories with 246 innings and nine complete games. The right-hander also was 20-11 with a 2.78 ERA, second in the league. He piled up 206 strikeouts to Lee's 170.
Still, Lee was a heavy favorite to win Thursday. The only question seemed to be whether the vote would be unanimous.
Lee became the first Cleveland pitcher to win 20 games since Perry in 1974, and his surprising comeback was crucial for a team that was hurt by injuries to starters Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook.
Lee received a $250,000 bonus for winning, and the price of Cleveland's 2010 club option increased from $8 million to $9 million. Halladay got $200,000 for finishing second.
Rodriguez, who set a major league mark with 62 saves this season, was listed second on seven ballots and third on 11.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 02:38 PM, 11/13/2008
Congratulations Cliff. Great year! Good luck for many years to come
Akron, OH
Posted 03:20 PM, 11/13/2008
Congratulations, Cliff! We're so proud of you. In a year when the Indians didn't do much that was praiseworthy, you are and were our bright spot.
edison, NJ
Posted 05:42 PM, 11/13/2008
Congratulations Cliff, well deserved, and you
are also one class act, a refreshing change around here !
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:24 PM, 11/13/2008
Cliff Lee was the only positive thing about the 2008 Indians' season. Congrats and let's do it again next season Cliff.
