Cliff Lee
 

To Philly.

WHAT A POS.
POTRASH.
SCUMBAG.
MUTT.
SMUTT.
TRASH BUCKET.
RAT.
WEASEL.

Yeah he is a bad guy for not wanting to play for the Yankees

I hope he turns into an often injured bust.

don't be a fucl<wad.

Maybe if Yankee fans wouldnt have spit on his wife it could have been a different story.

Halladay, Lee, Hamels, & Oswalt. doesnt get much better than that.

Good for him. Money isn't everything

No excuses for the Phillies now. They're the World Series favorites.

I really don't see what the big deal is. He took less money to play on a championship caliber team in an area that he and his family enjoyed living in. More power to him and the Phillies for getting the deal done.

I just think it's surprising considering how every media report said how spurned Lee felt with the Philliies dealt him last year.

He missed us. it was just like a one year break up to see if we're really meant for each other..

Oh boy - already have my Phillies fan friends claiming this may be the best rotation ever.

its up there.. especially modern rotation.

wasnt there 3 hall of famers on koufax's rotation though?

It all boils down to if they have to pitch to Cody Ross in postseason again. Noone wants to do that.

Come on, best ever? Better than any iteration of the 93-98 or so Braves? The early 70's Orioles? The '20's Yankees? I'll buy that it's the best rotation in baseball today, but ever? Not quite yet.

I didnt say it was the best ever... but it is up there with the best ever, at least at this point.

& yeah I think it compares quite well with the Braves in 93-98.

halladay is our maddux lee our glavine oswalt our smoltz

and yes.. they all compare quite favorably

Hamels > Steve Avery &/or Danny Neagle

We have four legit #1 starters. four players who could be #1 starters on Playoff Teams. a fourth starter who is a World Series MVP, and pitched as well as ANYONE in baseball after the All Star break last year.

we have four of the top 21 starting pitchers in baseball

WAR totals for the past 3 years combined:

Halladay: +21.5 (#1 in baseball)
Lee: +20.9 (#2 in baseball)
Hamels: +11.9 (#16 in baseball)
Oswalt: +11.2 (#21 in baseball)

dont forget Oswalt went 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA with the Phillies last year. Thats right, 1.74 ERA

so yes... on paper I'll take my top 4 over the top 4 from any of the Braves 90's years. Cant comment on the 70 O's or 20 Yankees. There are probably better rotations out there. Ours, on paper right now, is the best in modern times.... if you look at the top 4. Obviously Kendrick or Vance Worley are kinda the 5th wheel.

1971 Baltimore Orioles squad featured four pitchers who won 20 games each -- Jim Palmer (20-9, 20 CG), Pat Dobson (20-8, 18 CG), Dave McNally (21-5, 11 CG) and Mike Cuellar (20-9, 21 CG).

:L:

Come on, Antitrust. The 93 or 98 Braves had three HOF'ers. The 60's Dodgers had three HOF'ers. The 1971 Orioles had 20 game winners. Who on this staff is a HOF'er if their career ended today? Halladay, and that's it.

Could it become the best rotation ever? Maybe, but is it the best rotation ever? Not close yet.

P.S. - you're legitimately crazy if you'd take Lee, Halladay, and Oswalt/Hamels over Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux. Or a homer. Your choice. :)

I'd say Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale & Don Sutton rotation tops the Phillies also. easily. Koufax may be the greatest.