MLB Playoffs 2011: Cliff Lee, Jose Valverde and 3 Stars That Need to Step Up

The 2011 MLB playoffs make for one of the most exciting times of the sports year, and the suspense built up from the first few games is enough to keep fans glued to their televisions.

While some big-name players are hitting on all cylinders already, a few of the best in the business are struggling or haven’t come to play in the manner their teams need them to.

The following players all need to step up for different reasons, but the one problem that all three face is that without them their teams won’t make it very far in the postseason.

Cliff Lee—The Philadelphia Phillies come into the 2011 MLB playoffs with one of the greatest starting rotations of all time, but they won’t get very far if they don’t get veteran Cliff Lee back on track.

Lee looked solid for most of the game, but just like Phillies ace Roy Halladay the night before, it was one bad inning that sent his team to their first loss of the postseason.

If Philadelphia gets past St. Louis in the first round, the Phillies will desperately need a more consistent outing from their high-paid starting pitcher.

Jose Valverde—As if a closer for an MLB team in the playoffs needs any more pressure, Detroit Tigers finisher Jose Valverde has put his foot in his mouth and he needs to make sure he backs up what he says.

Valverde told ESPN:

"

It's over for the Yankees. No more. One hundred percent. I want it over, because I want my team in the second round.

"

I’m sure the Yankees don’t agree with Valverde’s assessment of the situation, as if they needed any more reason to give the Tigers everything they could handle. There may not be a hotter seat in sports than Valverde’s right now after that comment.

Alex Rodriguez—After starting the playoffs 0-8 at the plate, Alex Rodriguez is coming up small in the playoffs yet again for the New York Yankees. At some point, the Yankees have to do something.

I don’t know what the solution here is. Maybe dropping A-Rod in the lineup and letting Mark Teixeira bat clean-up is the only way to keep innings alive and not let Rodriguez hurt the team.

The fact that this issue is coupled with his lack of success in the regular season and his constant problems with injures will mean that A-Rod’s time in New York will be over sooner rather than later.

Check back for more on the MLB regular season as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Baseball Page to get your fill of MLB.

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