No Brotherly Love In Philly: Lee looks to own the night, again.

Cliff Lee was brilliant in game one of this world series.  Shutting down one of the most productive teams in baseball. No earned runs, no walks and ten strikeouts in a complete game.

Now with his team crumbled and in a hole 3-1, Lee's simple instructions...Do it again.

Lee takes the mound in game five with what should be a lot of pressure. Not only because he is looked upon to keep the Phills series hopes alive, or because its the world series, (a first for Lee) or because he's facing one of the best lineups in the game.

But none of this probably bothers Lee a bit. As we saw in game one, he's a pretty cool customer. Lazy catches and behind the back scoops. And Lee's response, "I've put in the work my whole life, now that im here, why be nervous?"

Well there you go. That shows you what type of competitor is walking out to the mound tonight. The Yankees know it, the Phillies know it, and anyone in the world who watched game 1 should know it.

Lee is a stud. When he is on, he has proved that he is basically unhittable. What we saw in game one from Lee was unbelievable. And not just because of the results, but the way he does it.

He's old school.  The way he gets in that zone and it seems like he sprints back to the rubber after every pitch, ready to go again.  And the way he runs on and off the field after every inning. 

And then after his first world series outing, in yankee stadium, against Sabathia, and he pitches a gem. And his response, whats the big deal, thats what im supposed to do.

I love it, its good for baseball. But it doesn't make him untouchable.

I like the move by Manuel to rest Lee an extra day. That should really benefit Lee. But Lee is still facing the Yankees, and it is not easy to produce like Lee did in game 1 every night; actually its impossible.

And the competitor that he is wont let any other factor get in the way of his pitching. But there are definitly some around him. The sad fact is that up to this point, Lee is the only one who has proven he can win a game.

Cole Hamels already stated that he cant wait for the season to be over. I have nothing against Hamels and I know he's struggling, but he needs to realize he would be the Phillies only shot if they somehow forced a game 7.

Another factor against Lee is the pen. Even if Lee is sharp, i have trouble seeing him go the distance again. If that is the case, and Lee can pitch them to the seventh or eighth, who is going to finish it.

Not Lidge, he's done. They gotta try someone else.

Yet another possible factor for Lee; the guy on the other side. If unprodictable Burnett comes out sharp, thats just another thing Lee has to worry about.

But you know he won't. Nothing will be going through his mind except his work. He pitched a masterpiece the other night. 

If you know anything about the game, it's not often a pitcher has everyone of his pitches going as good as Cliff Lee had them going in game 1.

I tipped my hat to him in game 1, and if he does it again tonight Ill take a knee. Because he will have sulidified himself as one of the games best.

Unfortunatly i think thats all the good that can come from this series for Lee and Phillies, because I don't think they can save this series.